King James Version
Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy in the King James Version (1769), public domain in the United States.
Background and History
The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of Deuteronomy: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.
At a Glance
| Author | Moses, in the book’s own words, with the account of his death added by another hand. Critical scholars link its core to the reform of Josiah in the seventh century BC. |
|---|---|
| Date | Traditional about 1406 BC. Critical scholars commonly date the core to about 640–609 BC, with later additions. |
| Place written | The plains of Moab, east of the Jordan, in modern Jordan, according to the book. |
| Genre | Covenant speeches of Moses, with law and blessing. |
| Chapters | 34 |
| Verses | 959 in the King James Version |
| Key verse | Deuteronomy 6:4–5Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James VersionHear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Who Wrote It
Deuteronomy 1:1Deuteronomy 1:1 · King James VersionThese be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
Deuteronomy 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) says these are the words Moses spoke to all Israel beyond Jordan. Deuteronomy 31:9Deuteronomy 31:9 · King James VersionAnd Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.
Deuteronomy 31:9 · King James VersionOpen the Source and Deuteronomy 31:24Deuteronomy 31:24 · King James VersionAnd it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
Deuteronomy 31:24 · King James VersionOpen the Source say Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests. Deuteronomy 34:5–6Deuteronomy 34:5–6 · King James Version34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
34:6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
Deuteronomy 34:5–6 · King James VersionOpen the Source reports Moses’ death and burial, so the ending was written by someone else. Josephus counts Moses’ five books. (2) The Talmud discusses who wrote the last eight verses: one view gives them to Joshua, another says Moses wrote them with tears. (3) (4)
Critical scholars connect Deuteronomy with the book of the law found in the temple under Josiah in 2 Kings 22, and date its core to the seventh century BC. Traditional scholars note its treaty form, which some compare with second-millennium treaties, and its wilderness setting.
Who It Is Not
Joshua may have written the death notice, according to one view in the Talmud. (4) He is not the author of the speeches.
When and Where
Bible Gateway gives the Pentateuch 1446–1406 BC. (5) Deuteronomy 1:3Deuteronomy 1:3 · King James VersionAnd it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;
Deuteronomy 1:3 · King James VersionOpen the Source dates Moses’ speech to the fortieth year after the exodus.
Audience and Setting
The new generation about to enter Canaan. The purpose is to renew the covenant and call Israel to love the Lord with all the heart.
Rulers at the Time
Sihon and Og are recalled in Deuteronomy 2–3. This page does not assign them dates.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Review of the journey | Deuteronomy 1–4 |
| The covenant law | Deuteronomy 5–26 |
| Blessings and curses | Deuteronomy 27–30 |
| Moses’ last days | Deuteronomy 31–34 |
| Composition | Traditional about 1406 BC. Critical core about 640–609 BC. (5) |
Places in This Book
| Ancient name | Modern-day location | References |
|---|---|---|
| Plains of Moab | East of the Jordan near Jericho, in modern Jordan. | Deuteronomy 34:1Deuteronomy 34:1 · King James VersionAnd Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,Deuteronomy 34:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Mount Nebo | Traditionally a ridge near Madaba, Jordan. | Deuteronomy 34:1Deuteronomy 34:1 · King James VersionAnd Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,Deuteronomy 34:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim | The mountains on either side of Nablus, West Bank. | Deuteronomy 27:12–13Deuteronomy 27:12–13 · King James Version27:12 These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:27:13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.Deuteronomy 27:12–13 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
What Is Happening
Deuteronomy 1–4 review Israel’s journey. Deuteronomy 5–11 repeat the Ten Commandments and call for love and loyalty. Deuteronomy 12–26 give detailed laws. Deuteronomy 27–30 set out blessings and curses. Deuteronomy 31–34 commission Joshua, record Moses’ song and blessing, and tell of his death.
Key Themes
The Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4–5Deuteronomy 6:4–5 · King James Version6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deuteronomy 6:4–5 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Covenant loyalty in Deuteronomy 10:12–13Deuteronomy 10:12–13 · King James Version10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
10:13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
Deuteronomy 10:12–13 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Choice of life in Deuteronomy 30:19Deuteronomy 30:19 · King James VersionI call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Deuteronomy 30:19 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
Apologetics Questions
The Josiah connection is the main critical question, stated above. The conquest commands of Deuteronomy 7 and Deuteronomy 20 raise moral objections. Christian answers range from the limited, judicial nature of the commands to hyperbolic war language. Churches that confess the Trinity differ on which is best.
How the Book Points to Christ
Jesus answers every temptation in Matthew 4:1–10Matthew 4:1–10 · King James Version4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Matthew 4:1–10 · King James VersionOpen the Source with lines from Deuteronomy. The prophet like Moses of Deuteronomy 18:15Deuteronomy 18:15 · King James VersionThe LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
Deuteronomy 18:15 · King James VersionOpen the Source is applied to Jesus in Acts 3:22Acts 3:22 · King James VersionFor Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Acts 3:22 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Jesus is God.
Text and Manuscripts
Deuteronomy is among the best represented books at Qumran. The IAA introduction lists the biblical books found. (6)
Canon Reception
Never disputed. (2)
Further Reading
References
- Book of Deuteronomy, 1:1; 31:9; 31:24; 34:5–6Deuteronomy 1:1 · King James Version
These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
Deuteronomy 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source. King James Version - Against Apion, 1.8Josephus, Against Apion 1.8 · William Whiston
For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from, and contradicting one another: [as the Greeks have:] but only twenty two books: which contain the records of all the past times: which are justly believed to be divine. And of them five belong to Moses: which contain his laws, and the traditions of the origin of mankind, till his death.
Josephus, Against Apion 1.8 · William WhistonOpen the Source (Flavius Josephus, Against Apion 1.8, translated by William Whiston. Josephus counts twenty-two books: five of Moses, thirteen of the prophets from Moses to Artaxerxes, and four of hymns and precepts.) - Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b, 14b (The English on Sefaria is the William Davidson edition, which is copyrighted. This page paraphrases it and does not reprint it. The baraita gives the order of the Prophets and the Writings and asks who wrote each book.)
- Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 15a, 15a (The William Davidson English on Sefaria is copyrighted. This page paraphrases it and does not reprint it. The page continues the list of writers and the debate about it.)
- When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?, Deuteronomy (Jacob Edson, Bible Gateway, 16 September 2024. The survey gives Deuteronomy as 1446–1406 BC, and says those books may have been mostly oral tradition until much later. It is one editor’s approximation, not a manuscript date.)
- Dead Sea Scrolls, introduction, Biblical manuscriptsDead Sea Scrolls, biblical manuscripts · Israel Antiquities Authority
Among the Scrolls are partial or complete copies of every book in the Hebrew Bible (except the book of Esther).
Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical manuscripts · Israel Antiquities AuthorityOpen the Source (Israel Antiquities Authority. Biblical manuscripts from the Qumran caves date from the third century BC into the first century AD, and every book of the Hebrew Bible except Esther is represented.)
The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.