At a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authorship | Moses (traditional; Deuteronomy 34 by another) |
| Date | ~1406 BC (plains of Moab, end of wilderness) |
| Audience | New generation about to enter Canaan |
| Genre | Covenant renewal sermons and legal review |
| Purpose | Reaffirm and apply Sinai covenant for new generation entering land |
| Chapters | 34 |
| Place in canon | Fifth book of Pentateuch |
Authorship debate
Traditional Mosaic authorship; Deuteronomy 34 (Moses's death) added by another (Joshua / Eleazar traditionally). Critical "Deuteronomist" hypothesis places primary composition in Josiah's reform era (7th c. BC), minority view; mainstream evangelical affirms Mosaic core.
Outline
| Section | Chapters | Content |
|---|---|---|
| First address | 1-4 | Historical review of wilderness and warning |
| Second address | 5-26 | Reiteration of law and ethical instructions |
| Third address | 27-30 | Covenant blessings and curses; choice |
| Conclusion | 31-34 | Moses's farewell and song and blessing and death |
Main themes
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Covenant renewal | New generation re-affirming Sinai covenant |
| One God | Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), monotheism |
| Love of God | Heart-level love and obedience (Deuteronomy 6:5) |
| Obedience and blessing | Blessings on obedience and curses on disobedience (Deuteronomy 27-28) |
| God's choice and love | Deuteronomy 7:7-8, chosen because God loved |
| Land | Promised possession contingent on covenant faithfulness |
| Prophet like Moses | Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Christ-anticipation |
Key passages
- Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Shema and parental teaching mandate
- Deuteronomy 7:6-9, God's love and election
- Deuteronomy 10:12-22, love and circumcise the heart
- Deuteronomy 18:15-19, coming Prophet
- Deuteronomy 27-28, blessings and curses
- Deuteronomy 30:11-20, choice of life or death; "this commandment which I command you today is not too hard for you" (WEB)
- Deuteronomy 32, Song of Moses
- Deuteronomy 34, Moses's death
Theological significance
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| NT quotation | One of most-quoted OT books in NT |
Jesus uses Deut. | In wilderness temptations (Matthew 4 and Luke 4), quotes Deuteronomy 8:3; 6:16; 6:13 |
| "Hear, O Israel" | Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Shema; foundation of Jewish and Christian monotheism and love-of-God commitment |
| Christ as coming Prophet | Deuteronomy 18:15-19, fulfilled in Christ (Acts 3:22-23) |
| Land theology | Multi-view application, physical land (some); eschatological and spiritual (other) |