WHO WROTE:  Moses.  That the authorship of the Book of Deuteronomy belongs to Moses is clearly stated in Deuteronomy 31:9 & 31:24-27, and fully accepted by most Bible commentators and Jews as a whole.  To further prove the authorship of Moses, the first person is used predominately throughout the Book.  Examples are: “I commanded Joshua at that time,” Deuteronomy 3:21; “I charged your judges at that time,” Deuteronomy 1:16; “And I commanded you at that time,” Deuteronomy 1:18; “I have led you forty years in the wilderness,” Deuteronomy 29:5.  To Quote Zerbe, in “The Antiquity of Hebrew Writing and Lit.,” 1911, page 261: “The language surely purports to come from Moses; and if it was not actually used by him, it is a most remarkable case of impersonation, if not of literary forgery, for the writer represents himself as reproducing, not what Moses might have said, but the exact words of Moses.”

 

Anyone who would like to argue that this Book (and the other four Books of the “Pentateuch”) has to argue with Philip (John 1:45) and our Lord Jesus Himself (Mat. 8:4; Mark 1:44; 10:3; 12:26; Luke 5:14; 16:29 & 31; 20:37; 24:44; John 3:14; 5:45 & 46; 6:32; 7:19 & 22 & 23).  See also Exodus 24:4; Numbers 33:2; Deuteronomy 31:9 & 22; Joshua 8:32; Mark 12:19; Luke 20:28.

 

It is possibly Joshua who finished the Book with the death and burial of Moses.  However, Jesus quotes more from the Book of Deuteronomy than any other Book.  Also see Matthew 8:4; 19:8; 23:2; Mark 7:10; 10:3; 12:19-20 & 26; Luke 5:14; 16:29 & 31; 20:37; 24:37 & 44; John 3:14; 5:45-46; 6:32; 7:19 & 22-23; where Jesus specifically gives credit to the entire Torah (first five Books of the Bible) to Moses.  Therefore, your argument for any other author than Moses must be taken up with Jesus.

 

 

WHAT TIME PERIOD IS COVERED:  In this Book is contained Moses’ last discourses before his death, which were addressed to all of Israel in the Moabite plains East of the Jordan river, in the eleventh month of the last year of their wanderings, which would have been the fortieth year after their departure from Egypt.  His discourses must have been all spoken in the eleventh month; for on the tenth day of the 41st year the river Jordan was crossed (Jos. 4:19).  The reasoning behind this analysis is because three days prior to this were spent in preparations and waiting for the spies (Jos. 1:11; 2:22), and because the encampment at Shittim was on the seventh day (Jos. 2:1).  Thirty days before were spent in mourning for Moses (Deu. 34:8), such that Moses’ death would be on the seventh day of the twelfth month, and Moses began his address on the first day of the eleventh month, of the fortieth year (Deu. 1:3).  Hence, these discourses, being delivered about the same time, exhibit marked unity of style, which would be inconsistent with their being composed at distant intervals.

 

 

WHEN WRITTEN:  B.C. 1499 - B.C. 1489.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:  The Hebrew title of the Book is “elleh haddebarim,” meaning, “these are the words,” in keeping with the Hebrew custom of often titling a work by its first word(s).  The literal Hebrew could be translated as, “And he shall write out for himself a copy of this Law.”  The English title Deuteronomy stems from the “Septuagint’s”mistranslation of Deuteronomy 17:18, “this repetition of the Law.”  The “Septuagint” (or Greek version) translated those words as “deuteronomion,” with the breakdown being, “deuteron,” meaning “two,” or “second,” and “nomion” meaning, “Law.”  Thus, it would look literally as, “Second Law,” of which were rendered “Deuteronomium” in the “Vulgate” (Jerome’s fourth-century Latin translation of the Bible).  Therefore, the Book of Deuteronomy is literally considered to be (and is) “The Second Writing” or “Breakdown of God’s Law.”  Comparative Chapters are Deuteronomy, Chapter 5, and Exodus, Chapter 20, as the supreme example.

 

In all the Hebrew manuscripts, the “Pentateuch” (first five Books of the Bible, all written by Moses) forms one roll, or one volume divided into larger and smaller sections, which are called “parshioth” and “sedarim.”  It is not known specifically when it was divided into the five Books that we have today.  However, it was probably first done by the Greek translators of the Book; whom the “Latin Vulgate” follows.

 

Moses’ words were addressed to “all Israel,” an expression used 14 times in the Book.  Deuteronomy is essentially a series of sermons by this great Old Testament prophet.  Jesus Himself quoted more from the Book of Deuteronomythan from any other portion of the Old Testament.

 

What is interesting about the Book of Deuteronomy, as opposed to the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, is that Yahweh is represented as speaking unto Moses, whereas in Deuteronomy, Moses is represented as speaking at Yahweh’s Command to Israel (Deu. 1:1-4; 5:1; 29:1).

 

It should be noted that for the first time God numbers His Commandments as being “ten” in Exodus 34:28 &Deuteronomy 4:13, and again repeated in Deuteronomy 10:4.

 

In an interesting fact, the tribe of Simeon is not mentioned in the Book of Deuteronomy.  Possibly because he is the one who was most responsible for Joseph being sent to Egypt (see Gen. 42:24).  In Genesis 49:5-7 his father pronounces a curse on him, in that his offspring will be divided and scattered.  When we go through the numbering of Israel, we find that the tribe has nearly decreased by two-thirds.

 

The entire Book of Deuteronomy is written in the form of a covenant [see my Bible Study:  “THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS”], because Moses invites God’s people to enter into a “New Covenant” relationship with their God.  It expresses the “New Covenant” in the following manner:

 

1. Preamble (Deuteronomy 1:1-5);

2. Historical Prologue (Deuteronomy 1:6-4:430;

3. Stipulations or Laws ((Deuteronomy 4:44-26:19);

4. Blessings and Curses ((Deuteronomy, Chapters 27-30)

5. Witnesses ((Deuteronomy 30:19);

6. Special Provision ((Deuteronomy 31:9-13).

 

Many church denominations complain of the Old Testament God and rarely study the Old Testament at all.  An eye-opening verse in the Book of Deuteronomy (9:5), should open our eyes as to why and Who our God is:  “Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out.”  Our God is looking for a righteous people -- that’s all.  Our God is a God of Love, for “God is Love,” First John 4:8.  In other words, He wants us to be “Love.”  And how do you become that?  “Christ in you the hope of glory,” Colossians 1:27.