13 Facts About Deuteronomy

1. The accepted author is Moses.

2. The book contains three separate speeches Moses delivered to the Israelites while on the Moab Plain.

3. During the course of Deuteronomy the responsibility for the Israelites passes from Moses to Joshua---the next generation.

4. There are 34 chapters in the book.

5. The Hebrew title is Elleh Haddebarim which translates to “These are the words”. The English title reflects the Greek word Deuteronomion meaning “second law”.

6. The main idea of Deuteronomy regards the covenant between God and the Israelites. The instruction is to keep the commandments because you love God. This ideas is at the heart of the convenant.

7. In one of his speeches Moses repeats the Ten Commandments.

8. Forms of the noun and verb “command” are used over 100 times.

9. The themes of Deuteronomy are commandments, covenant, God’s mighty acts, and transition.

10. The book reads like a sermon which sets it apart from the other parts of The Torah.

11. There are three speeches given by Moses.

12. There are two separate songs or sections of poetry. The Song of Moses is found in chapter 32 and Moses Blessing is found in chapter 33.

13. Chapter 1-11 look backwards to where the Israelites came from and summarizes what happened to them from their founding with a dynamic leader. Chapter 12 begins a look foward to the settlement of promised land and a royal dynasty.

Visit the Thursday Thirteen site to participate!