Analysis of the lexeme שִׂמְלַת in the book of Deuteronomy: An exegetical and theological exploration

Abstract

The book of Deuteronomy follows up the narrative of the exodus experience of Israel as a nation towards the promised land. This journey envelopes social affairs, spiritual experience, and apostasy, which were recorded for the sake of the coming generations. On this journey, the idea of clothing occupied a significant place in society and religious rituals such as the sacrificial system—priesthood—to guarantee social and religious order. Besides the social and ritual roles that clothes would play during Israel's exodus, there were theological implications that God wanted to communicate to his people and the next generations through their trip to Canaan. Furthermore, in the book of Deuteronomy, the person of God reveals Himself behind the clothing theme to confirm his presence in their journey from Egypt to the promised land. This study aimed to investigate exegetically and theologically how God expresses his divinity through the concept of clothing in Deuteronomy and how it should be understood in modern Christianity. Additionally, this research systematically analyzed each verse of Deuteronomy, which discusses the theme of clothing from the direct context of their pericopes to comprehend the theological implications and moral lessons God intended to let his people understand through their bitter experiences in the desert.