In the days of the wilderness wandering the Lord had made abundant provision for His children to keep in remembrance the words of His law. After the settlement in Canaan the divine precepts were to be repeated daily in every home; they were to be written plainly upon the doorposts and 465 gates, and spread upon memorial tablets. They were to be set to music and chanted by young and old. Priests were to teach these holy precepts in public assemblies, and the rulers of the land were to make them their daily study. "Meditate therein day and night," the Lord commanded Joshua concerning the book of the law, "that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:8.

Under Israels ørkenvandring drog Herren omsorg for, at hans børn huskede hans lovs ord. Efter at folket havde bosat sig i Kanaan, skulle de guddommelige love gentages daglig i hvert eneste hjem. De skulle afskrives tydeligt på dørstolperne og portene og indridses på mindetavler. Der skulle skrives musik til dem, så de kunne synges af både ung og gammel. Præsterne skulle undervise i disse hellige forskrifter i offentlige forsamlinger, og landets konger skulle læse dem daglig. "Du skal grunde over dem dag og nat," sagde Herren til Josua med henblik på lovbogen, "for at du omhyggeligt kan handle efter alt, hvad der står skrevet i den; thi da vil det gå dig vel i al din færd, og lykken vil følge dig." Jos. 1,8.