Old Testament · The Law · Book 5 of 66

Deuteronomy

Moses’ farewell words on the edge of the Promised Land: remember what God has done, love Him with all your heart, and choose life.

34 Chapters

Deuteronomy 1–34

Author

Moses

Written

c. 1446 – 1406 B.C.

Written For

Israel on the plains of Moab

Overview

Deuteronomy Summary

Deuteronomy is the last of the five books of Moses. It opens in the fortieth year after the exodus, with Israel camped on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River (1:1–5). The generation that refused to enter Canaan has died in the wilderness, and their children are about to cross into the land. Before they go, Moses, who will not enter the land himself, speaks to the whole nation. Most of the book is a series of speeches, closing with a song, a blessing and the account of his death.

In the first speech Moses looks back on the journey from Mount Horeb (Sinai), the failure at Kadesh, and the victories over Sihon and Og, and urges the people to obey God (1:6–4:43). The second and longest speech restates the covenant made at Horeb. It repeats the Ten Commandments (5:6–21), calls Israel to love the LORD with all their heart (6:4–9), and then gives laws for worship, festivals, leaders, justice, war, family and community life in the new land (chapters 12–26). Blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience follow (chapters 27–28). In a third speech Moses renews the covenant in Moab and sets before the people “life and death, blessings and curses” (30:19). The book ends with Joshua appointed as the new leader, the Song of Moses, Moses’ blessing on the tribes, and his death on Mount Nebo (chapters 31–34).

Several themes run through the book. Love and loyalty to the one God: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (6:4–5). Remember and do not forget: Israel is told again and again to remember how God rescued and cared for them (8:2–18). Obedience from the heart: “Circumcise your hearts” (10:16). Grace before law: God chose Israel because He loved them, not because they were great or righteous (7:7–8; 9:4–6). Care for the vulnerable: the poor, foreigners, the fatherless and widows are to be protected (10:18–19; 24:17–22). Choose life: “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (30:19).

Readers understand parts of Deuteronomy in different ways. Jesus quoted it more than any other book of the Law. He answered each temptation in the wilderness from Deuteronomy (Matthew 4:1–11; Deuteronomy 8:3; 6:16; 6:13) and called 6:4–5 the greatest commandment (Mark 12:28–30), and the apostles saw Jesus as the “prophet like me” Moses promised (18:15; Acts 3:22–23). Many scholars note that the book follows the pattern of ancient treaties between a great king and his people. Some compare it with Hittite treaties from the second millennium B.C., which fits a date in Moses’ time, while others compare it with Assyrian treaties of the seventh century B.C. and link it with the “Book of the Law” found in the temple in King Josiah’s day (2 Kings 22). This outline simply follows the text.

About the Name

Title

The Hebrew title is Devarim, “Words,” taken from the book’s opening line: “These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel” (1:1). The English name comes through the Latin Vulgate from the Greek Septuagint title Deuteronomion, “second law.” That title grew out of the Greek translation of 17:18, where the king is told to write “a copy of this law.” The book is not a different law but a second telling of the covenant given at Sinai, preached to a new generation.

Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible and the last of the five books of Moses, called the Pentateuch in English Bibles and the Torah (Law) in the Hebrew Bible.

Who Wrote It

Author Details

Jewish and Christian tradition identifies Moses as the author. The book presents itself as Moses’ own words (1:1), and it says that “Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests” (31:9) and wrote it “in a book from beginning to end” (31:24). Jesus and the New Testament writers quote Deuteronomy as the words of Moses (Mark 10:3–5; Acts 3:22; Romans 10:19).

The account of Moses’ death and burial (34:1–12) was clearly written by someone else, and Jewish tradition credits it to Joshua. Many scholars think the book reached its final form centuries later, in connection with King Josiah’s reforms and the time of the exile. Others hold to Mosaic authorship with a few later additions, such as chapter 34. This page follows the traditional view.

When It Was Written

Date of Writing

Deuteronomy records what Moses said in the eleventh month of the fortieth year after the exodus (1:3), just before his death and Israel’s crossing of the Jordan. Those who date the exodus to about 1446 B.C. place the writing of the books of Moses during the wilderness years, about 1446–1406 B.C., with Deuteronomy given at the very end, about 1406 B.C. Others date the exodus to the 13th century B.C., and scholars who see a later final form place it in the 7th century B.C. or during the exile.

Deuteronomy was addressed to the new generation of Israelites camped in Moab across the Jordan from Jericho (1:1–5; 34:1), who were about to enter the land their parents had refused to take.

Study Guide