5. Supplemental Portion. The part of Deuteronomy (xxxiv) respecting the death of Moses requires a particular explanation. That the whole of this section is to be regarded as a i piece altogether apart from what precedes t,. or as a supplement from another writer, has already been maintained by the older theologians (comp. ex. gr. Carpzov, Introd. in libr. V. T., i, p. 137), and this opinion is confirmed not only by the con tents of the chapter, but also by the express dec laration of the book itself on that event and its relations; for chapter xxxi contains the conclu sion of the work, where Moses describes himself as the author of the previous contents, as also of the Song (chap. xxxii), and the blessings (chap.
xxxi.i ) belonging to it. All that follows is, con sequintly, nut from Moses, the work being com pleted and concluded with chapter xxxin. There is anodier circumstance which favors this opinion. namely, the close connection that exists between the last section of Deuteronomy and the beginning of Joshua (comp. Dew. xxxiv :9 with Josh. i:1). Chapter xxxiv. of Deuteronomy is intended to serve as a point of transition to the book of Joshua. and indicate that it was written by the same author as the latter.
The correct view of this chapter, therefore, is to consider it as a real supplement, but by no means as an interpolation.
It is not out of order, even in our own day, for an editor to furnish addenda to an autobiog raphy, giving an account of the author's death. It will be noted also that the book of Joshua is clo.ed in the same way. This appendix may have been attached to the roll of manuscript soon after the death of Moses, or it may be, as some scholars suppose, that what is now the last of Deuteronomy was formerly the beginning of the Book of Joshua.
These books were written before the invention of sections, divisions and chapters, as well as points and pauses. At that time several books were connected together by following each other on the roll. The beginning of one book, there fore, might very easily be transferred to the end of the preceding one, and in process of time come to be considered its real conclusion.
The author of this appendix was probably Joshua, the intimate friend of the great law giver and his successor as the leader of Israel. He was the one of all others who should have pronounced the eulogy upon his master after his death. And a more positive indication of this authorship is found in the expressions, "Moses, the servant of the Lord," and "Moses, the man of God." Neither of these phrases is found in the preceding part of the Pentateuch, and it does not appear that Moses ever assumed such titles for himself. It was a favorite method with Joshua, however, in speaking of his dead friend and leader. The words "Moses, servant of the Lord," occur more than a dozen times in the Book of Joshua, and are found both in the nar rative matter and in the speeches attributed to the author. The other expression also was known in his day, for Cale') referred to "Moses. the man of God," in addressing him. These facts strongly indicate that the author of the Book of Joshua also wrote the appendix to the book of Deuter onomy.
On the literature of Deuteronomy, compare the article PENTATEUCH ; Rtchm, Die Gesetrgebung )loses im laude Hoot); Wordsworth, Holy Bible with Notes, vol. i; Five Rooks of Moses, 2.1 c d. ; Schroeder, Pas Deuteronomium (in Lang s teerk, •1. T. in.) ; l'olck. Moses cantieum, I I ors ley, Notes on Devitt., in Bib. Crit. i.