Deuteronomy 6-Deuteronomy 8 occupy an important place within the book of Deuteronomy and in the Jewish and Christian tradition. This essay seeks to understand the context of these chapters. It first surveys its history of interpretation and offers an evaluation. The thesis and proposal of the article is that the Decalogue (Deuteronomy 5:6-21) and the covenant ratification ceremony at Sinai (Exodus 24) offer a plausible context.