Socio-Economic and Political Analysis
If it is presumed that the edicts in Deuteronomy were indeed written around the time of King Josiah, they are able to offer an excellent insight into the socio-economic and political status of Israel at the time they were written, as they reflect the various changes that were happening in the land at the time of Josiah’s reform.
Firstly, a reading of the story in 2 Kings suggests that the laws in Deuteronomy were put into effect all around the nation, with Josiah personally heading the movement to eradicate all traces of Israel’s previous idolatry and evil ways. Such a reform could only happen under dire circumstances – it suggests that Israel (or at least Judah) was facing a severe threat, and a consolidation of the king’s power was needed in order to allow him to unify and rule the kingdom. It suggests that the “discovery” of the book of law was in fact used to give Josiah divine backing in his quest to reform Israel – a purely political concern. However, the book does also reflect the economics of the land.
The commands in Deuteronomy 15.1-11 are that Israelites should drop all debts owed to them by other Israelites every seven years, and to be generous towards the poor and to help in eradicating poverty – “there should be no poor in the land”. This suggests that the kingdom was experiencing a time of economic success, so much so that it was able to focus on social justice rather than financial management. However, it does also suggest a degree of suspicion towards foreigners, for their debts are not required to be cancelled. The law also elicits a feeling of solidarity between Israelites – by having to drop one another’s debts, they are in a sense sharing their property with one another and so are one fellowship, one nation of brothers and sisters, rather than just compatriots.
All in all, the laws of Deuteronomy suggest that Israel, although experiencing a relative wealth and prosperity, was faced with significant threats from both inside and outside its borders and so needed to consolidate its power and unite its people under a single banner – that of Yahweh and, by association, King Josiah. In order to do this, reform was required, and so Josiah, who “before him there was no king like him... nor did any like him arise after him”, was the agent of the reform.
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