Book of Deuteronomy
From Textus Receptus
Deuteronomy or Devarim (literally "things" or "words") is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and the fifth of five books of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch.
The book consists of three sermons or speeches delivered by Moses, a recounting of the law (thought to be the Book of the Covenant found in Josiah's time), and supplementary material, including an account of Moses' death.[]
Theologically the book constitutes the renewing of the covenant between YHWH, the God of Israel, and the "Children of Israel".
One of its most significant verses is considered to be Deuteronomy 6:4, which constitutes the Shema, a definitive statement of Jewish identity: "Hear, O Israel: the LORD (YHWH) (is) our God, the LORD is one."
Traditionally seen as recording the words of God given to Moses,[] some liberal modern biblical scholars see it as the work of many authors, probably originating during religious reforms carried out under king Josiah.[]
Title
In Hebrew the book is called Devarim, דְּבָרִים, "[spoken] words",[] taken from the opening phrase Eleh ha-devarim, "These are the words...". The English title is derived from the Greek Deuteronomion (Δευτερονόμιον) and Latin Deuteronomium, both meaning "second law", from the Septuagint's mistranslation of the Hebrew phrase mishneh ha-torah ha-zot, "a copy of this law", in Deuteronomy 17:18, as to deuteronomion touto - "this second law".
Summary
See Also Books of the Old Testament
Deuteronomy consists of 34 chapters and is in the genre of a farewell address (in this case) of Moses to the Israelites in the plains of Moab before their entry into the Promised Land.[]
Second sermon or speech
See also:
- *Va'etchanan, on Deuteronomy 3-7: Cities of refuge, Ten Commandments, exhortation, conquest instructions
- *Eikev, on Deuteronomy 7-11: Obedience, taking the land, golden calf, Aaron’s death, Levites’ duties Deuteronomy 4:44-11:32forms a second introduction, expanding on the Ethical Decalogue given at Mount Sinai.
