Introduction to the fifth book of Moses, Deuteronomy
The 5th Book of the Bible, the Book of Obedience
The fifth and final book of Moses is called “Deuteronomy,” meaning roughly “second law”; however, this translation is inaccurate, as nothing new is added—rather, large portions of the Law given at Sinai are simply repeated and explained.
In this spirit, Hebrew tradition also calls it “Misneh Tora,” meaning “the repetition of the law.”
The Hebrew name is also taken from the opening words of the fifth scroll of Moses, “Elleh hadevarim,” or in English: “These are the words.”
Deuteronomy contains Moses’ farewell speeches to the people of Israel.
On the one hand, the people are prepared for the situation awaiting them in the Promised Land; on the other hand, Moses reminds Israel of the grace and faithfulness God has shown them in the past.
He reinforces the existing commandments and their covenant with God in the nation’s consciousness and reminds them of the consequences that both obedience—in the form of blessings—and disobedience—in the form of curses—entail.
It is Moses’ legacy to once again exhort the people of Israel in powerful words to keep God’s Word and to live in love and obedience.
The end of the book contains prophetic statements about the people’s failure, their dispersion among the nations, but also their complete restoration through God’s grace.
Even though Moses’ own speeches were written by him, the concluding section describing Moses’ death must have been recorded by his successor, Joshua, or by someone else.
Outline of the Book of Deuteronomy:
Chapters 1–4 – A review of the history of the people of Israel
Chapters 5–27 – Explanations of God’s will
Chapters 28–34 – A look into the future, blessings, and the death of Moses
Content of Deuteronomy:
Deuteronomy chapter 1
Deuteronomy chapter 2
Deuteronomy chapter 3
Deuteronomy chapter 4
Deuteronomy chapter 5
Deuteronomy chapter 6
Deuteronomy chapter 7
Deuteronomy chapter 8
Deuteronomy chapter 9
Deuteronomy chapter 10
Deuteronomy chapter 11
Deuteronomy chapter 12
Deuteronomy chapter 13
Deuteronomy chapter 14
Deuteronomy chapter 15
Deuteronomy chapter 16
Deuteronomy chapter 17
Deuteronomy chapter 18
Deuteronomy chapter 19
Deuteronomy chapter 20
Deuteronomy chapter 21
Deuteronomy chapter 22
Deuteronomy chapter 23
Deuteronomy chapter 24
Deuteronomy chapter 25
Deuteronomy chapter 26
Deuteronomy chapter 27
Deuteronomy chapter 28
Deuteronomy chapter 29
Deuteronomy chapter 30
Deuteronomy chapter 31
Deuteronomy chapter 32
Deuteronomy chapter 33
Deuteronomy chapter 34