DEUTERONOMY, the last of Moses’s five Books. The Greeks gave it the name of Deuteronomy, or the second Law, or repetition of the Law; because Moses therein makes a kind of recapitulation of what he had ordained and done in the preceding Books. The Hebrews call it Elle-haddebarim, which are the first words of this Book in the Hebrew Text. Some Rabbins call it Mishnah, that is to say the second Law; others the Book of Reprehensions, by reason of the Reproaches wherewith Moses loaded the Israelites in Chap. i. viii. ix. xxviii. xxx. xxxii. This Book contains the history of what passed in the wilderness from the beginning of the eleventh month, to the seventh day of the twelfth month, in the fortieth year after their departure out of Egypt; that is to say, the history of about six weeks.
Some have questioned whether this Book were written by Moses, because there is mention in it of the death of this Legislator, and the Author speaks of the land beyond Jordan, like one who had written on this side westward of that river. As to the first argument, we allow that the relation of Moses’s death was added to this book; and for the second, we believe that the Hebrew עבר trans, or cis בעבר in transitu. Chap. i. ii. iii. iv.word Heber, which is translated trans Jordanum, beyond Jordan, may likewise be translated on this side.
In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses immediately harangues the people, and refreshes their memory with a recital of what had passed ever since their coming out of Egypt, till their arrival in the plains of Moab. He speaks to them a second time in the fifth and following chapters, and lays before them the laws of God which he had received at Sinai, adds some others that were new to them, and explains the old. In the xxviii, xxix, and xxx Chapters, he continues to exhort the people to observe faithfully the laws of God. He afterwards declares, that Joshua was by God appointed to succeed him in the government of the multitude. He wrote down what he had been Deut. xxxi. 9, 10—14.saying to them, put this writing into the hands of the Levites and Elders of the nation, and charged them to read it every seven years in a general Assembly of the people at the Feast of Tabernacles.
Some few days after, he repeated an excellent Song in the presence of the people, wherein he foretold their future Infidelities. He enjoined them to take copies of it, and to preserve the memory of it, that by this means they might be excited to continue constantly faithful to the Lord. Lastly, God having commanded him the same day to go up mount Nebo, there to die, he convened all the people, and like a good father, gave his Blessing to all the Tribes, and foretold to them separately what should happen to them. After which, he ascended the mountain, and there died. This is a summary account of what is related in the book of Deuteronomy.