DEUTERONOMY (ante) is the English title of the fifth book of Moses, derived from the Greek translation, and signifying "repetition of the law." It well expresses the general scope of the book, which is a review of the 40 years in the wilderness, including the laws which had been given. and the events which had occurred. What ever may have been the time occupied in writing it, the uttering of it to the people began two months before the end of the 40th year. To the arguments advanced by some writers that it was not written by Moses, the following answers (among others) have been given: 1. These writers are not agreed among themselves. The older of {hem affirm that D. was written long after the other books of the Pentateuch; the newer school pronounce it the quarry from which the materials of the ethers were taken. This conflict of opinions at least precludes the assertion that its style betrays its late origin. 2. The alleged anachronisms, discrepancies, and difficulties admit, for the most part, of easy and complete explanation on the supposition that Moses was the author. 3. The unanimous and unwavering testimony of the ancient Jewish church and nation is that Moses was the author of the book. This is testimony against them selves, as it involves the admission that their sufferings as a nation were divine judg ments on their sins. Consequently, their possession of the book and acknowledgment of it as a writing of Moses can be rationally accounted for only on the supposition that the generation in the wilderness received it from his hand. At no subsequent period could it have been imposed on them as a law which had been given them in the wilder ness, under acknowledged obligation to which they had always lived, and for the trans gression of which they had been punished in the past, and would be in the future. And as no generation, after the settlement in Canaan. could have been persuaded to receive it for the first time, so to every subsequent generation the temptation became stronger, if it were possible, to deny and reject its authority. 4. It had, in a remark able manner, the attestation of the apostles and of Christ. Peter and Stephen quoted from it to large assemblies of Jews, as truly the words of Moses: Paul cites it in writ ing to Jews at Rome; and Christ drew from it, as the word of God, his answers to nil the temptations of Satan.
It contains: I. A review of the history from Horeb to Kndesh; from Kadesh to the land of the Amorites; of Moses' own transgression, his exclusion from Canaan, and tire appointment of Joshua in his stead; of the reception of the law at Horeb, spoken by the voice of God, and written by him on tablets of stone. The review of these •events is made the ground of an earnest exhortation to reverence, obedience, and grati tude to God. II. A review of the laws: 1. Of the moral law, and of the effect pro ilticed on the people by the proclamation of it; of the first and second commandments with exhortations to obedience, and warnings against transgression; and, again, of the whole law, with a renewed appeal for obedience in view of past experi ence; of future blessings promised, and wrath threatened. 2. Of laws for the regula tion of religious ceremonial and of personal life; for the abolition of idolatry and the observance of divine worship; against false prophets, idolatrous cities, and personal disfiguration as a sign of mourning; concerning clean and unclean animals, the year of -teloase, the annual feasts, judges and justice; and against groves and images. 3. Of the strictly judicial law in numerous details. III. Provision for the confirmation of the law by writing it on large stone tablets to be set up on Mt. Ebal, with the utter ing of curses on transgressors, and of blessings on the faithful. This is followed by an earnest call for consecration of heart and life to God. Pardon is promised to the peni tent, and the choice of life or death is set before all. IV. The close of the official and personal history of Moses. He appointed Joshua to. succeed him, charging him to he faithful and courageous; delivered a copy of the law to the priests and Levites to be placed by the ark of the covenant, and read publicly to the congregation every seven years; and as he had commenced the journey through the wilderness with a triumphant song, so now he closed it with songs of review, warning, and prophetieal blessing on the tribes. The account of his seeing the promised land, the record of his death and burial, and the testimony to his greatness as a prophet and servant of the Lord, were added, probably, by Joshua, as the appointed finisher of his work.