The Old Testament book of Deuteronomy can be described as expressing an intensely nationalistic faith. It centers on Israel, the elect community of brothers living in the land of promise and united in covenant, worship, and service with Yahweh its God. The full introduction to this commentary traces the probable history of the format and literary development of the law code first recorded in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, and restated and reaffirmed in Deuteronomy.