Title
The name “Deuteronomy” comes from a Septuagint and Latin Vulgate mistranslation of a phrase in Dt 17:18, which means “copy of this law” in Hebrew; the error isn’t serious, because Deuteronomy is, in a sense, a “repetition of the law.”
Author and Date of Writing
The majority of Deuteronomy and other Pentateuchal legislation is attributed to Moses in the Old Testament, but the narrative framework within which the Mosaic material is placed is written by an unknown hand (see Introduction to Genesis: Author and Date of Writing for more information).
Historical Setting
Deuteronomy 1:5-7: Moses gave his farewell addresses to the Israelites in order to prepare them for their entry into Canaan, emphasizing the laws that were especially important at the time. Deuteronomy places Moses and the Israelites near the Dead Sea, where the Jordan flows into the Dead Sea.
Special Function in the Bible
The book of Deuteronomy concludes the Pentateuch and begins the Former Prophets with an account of Moses’ final acts as the Lord’s appointed servant for dealing with Israel. The book creates a pause in the progression of the story of redemption, bringing Israel ever anew to the threshold of the promised land, to hear again this final word from God through his servant.
Theological Teaching and Purpose
Deuteronomy was written in the style of second-millennium b.c. Near Eastern suzerainty-vassal treaties, and it contained the Great King’s promise to be Israel’s Suzerain and Protector if they would be faithful to him as their covenant Lord.
Structure and Outline
Deuteronomy is a collection of more or less impromptu addresses, with clear echoes of the preceding and then-current Near Eastern suzerain-vassal treaties in its structure, which lends itself to Biblical emphasis on the covenant between the Lord and his people.
What book is Deuteronomy in?
Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, and it is the last of the Torah books, also known as the Pentateuch or The Books of Moses.
Is Deuteronomy part of the New Testament?
Following volumes in the same series on the Psalms and Isaiah in the New Testament, Deuteronomy in the New Testament works its way down the list of the most frequently-cited books from the Jewish Scriptures/Old Testament, demonstrating how important Deuteronomy was in the Judaism of the time.
What is the book of instruction in Deuteronomy?
The Book of Deuteronomy is primarily a recitation of the laws given to the Israelites by God in previous books of the Torah (e.g., Exodus, Leviticus), with Moses mentioning several times in Deuteronomy and elsewhere that the Hebrew people had proven to be stubborn and regressive in their bad habits.
What is the main message of the book of Deuteronomy?
The word “Deuteronomy” means “second law” when translated from the Greek Septuagint, as in Moses’ retelling of God’s laws. The dominant theological theme in this book is the renewal of God’s covenant and Moses’ call to obedience, as seen in Deuteronomy 4: 1, 6, and 13, as well as Deuteronomy 30: 1 to 3 and 8 to 20.
Did Moses write the book of Deuteronomy?
The fifth book of the Old Testament, Deuteronomy, Hebrew Devarim (u201cWordsu201d), is written in the form of a farewell address by Moses to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land of Canaan.
Who is Moses talking to in Deuteronomy?
Moses even asks for a sidekick to speak for him when God tells him he’s been chosen, and he gets one in the form of his brother, Aaron. But Deuteronomy is a whole different ballgame. For a guy who hated talking in Exodus, Moses talks for the entire book of Deuteronomy.
Why is Deuteronomy called the second law?
To remind the Israelites of what God expects of them, Moses repeats the history of Israel as well as the Ten Commandments, hence the name Deuteronomy, which literally means “second law,” i.e. Moses gives “the law” for the second time.
How does the book of Leviticus differ from the book of Deuteronomy?
The laws in the Book of Leviticus govern various aspects of daily life, including sex, birth, disease, and death; they are the result of a reform movement in the northern kingdom shortly before its defeat by the Assyrians.
Which book in the Old Testament did Jesus quote the most?
Isaiah is the prophet who is mentioned the most; he is quoted directly more than a dozen times.
Do Christians follow the Old Testament?
The Old Testament and the New Testament are the two sections of the Christian Bible; the Old Testament is the original Hebrew Bible, the sacred scriptures of the Jewish faith, written at various times between 1200 and 165 BC, while the New Testament books were written by Christians in the first century AD.
Why studying the Book of Deuteronomy is important for us?
Deuteronomy is a sermon delivered by Moses on his last day on earth on one of the most important topics: what it means to love God. In the end, we must ensure that we love God in the way He has prescribed, and Deuteronomy is the book that defines what it means to love God.
Who are the main characters in the book of Deuteronomy?
Deuteronomy’s Main Characters Moses and Joshua are the two main characters in the book of Deuteronomy.
What are the laws in Deuteronomy?
Many of Deuteronomy’s laws are unique, such as the prohibition of sacrifice outside “the place which the Lord your God will choose” (Deuteronomy 12:5) and the requirement of a national Passover sacrifice at a national shrine (Deuteronomy 16:1-8).