Deuteronomy

Author

Deuteronomy is the last book of the Pentateuch (Greek for "Fivebook") or of the Thora (Hebrew word for "law"). The unity of the Pentateuch and the fact that Moses is the author of it have often been denied since the 19th century. Criticism has especially focused on the book of Deuteronomy as it is said to have been written only at the time of Josiah, or even later.

Starting from 2 Timothy 3:16: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" we can see in the Old as well as in the New Testament that Moses is considered to be the author of Deuteronomy and therefore the time of writing is confirmed. In Deuteronomy 31:9, 24-26 it is testified that Moses wrote the book and that he gave it to the Levites to keep it. In Joshua 8:32-35 explicit reference is made to Deuteronomy 27:8-12 as "all that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before". While mentioning the law of Moses (Thora) in 2 Chronicles 34:14 and Nehemiah 8:1 the book of Deuteronomy is included as well.

Sometimes the question is being raised as to who was the author of Deuteronomy 34 where we find the death and burial of Moses. It probably was Joshua, the friend and successor of Moses (Deut 34:9) who under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit added this short appendix to the whole work of his predecessor.

Resources

Articles

Adam Warner Day, Eating Before the Lord: A Theology of Food According to Deuteronomy, JETS 57/1 (2014), 85-97.

Daniel I. Block, Recovering the voice of Moses: The Genesis of Deuteronomy, JETS (September 2001), 385-408.

"A Place for my Name": Horeb and Zion in the Mosaic Vision of Israelite Worship, JETS 58/2 (2015), 221-47.

"What do these Stones Mean?" The Riddle of Deuteronomy 27, JETS 56/1 (2013), 17-41.

How Many is God? An Investigation into the Meaning of Deuteronomy 6:4-5, JETS 47/2 (Jun. 2004), 193-212.

Deuteronomy, SBJT (Fall 2014).

Justin M. Fuhrmann, Deuteronomy 6-8 and the History of Interpretation: An Exposition on the First Two Commandments, JETS 53/1 (Mar. 2010) 37-63.

Peter T. Vogt, Social Justice and the Vision of Deuteronomy, JETS 51/1 (Mar. 2008) 35-44.

Videos

Albert Mohler, Deuteronomy with Albert Mohler.

Robert Vannoy, Dr. Robert Vannoy, Specialized Studies in Deuteronomy: Date, Treaties & Centralization of Worship.