Book 5 of 66 · Old Testament
Deuteronomy
Moses' farewell — retelling the journey, repeating the law, and calling Israel to choose life.
34 chapters959 versesWritten in HebrewSet The plains of Moab, east of the Jordan (c. 1400 BC)
Overview
Deuteronomy is Moses' farewell. Standing on the plains of Moab, just before Israel crosses the Jordan without him, he retells their journey, repeats and explains the law for the new generation, and presses them to love and obey God — setting before them "life and death, blessing and cursing." It ends with his blessing on the tribes and his death on Mount Nebo. Its name means "second law."
Book facts
- Author
- Moses, by traditionLargely Moses' farewell speeches; the account of his death was added by another hand.
- Date written
- c. 1400 BC (traditional)The traditional date; many scholars link its core to a scroll found under King Josiah (c. 620 BC).
- Original language
- HebrewHebrew, mostly in the form of Moses' spoken addresses.
- Setting
- The plains of Moab, east of the Jordan (c. 1400 BC)Moses' last words before Israel crosses into the land.
How it came to be
Deuteronomy is cast almost entirely as Moses' spoken addresses. Tradition credits Moses with the speeches; the final chapter, describing his death, was clearly written by someone else.
Many scholars connect its core to "the book of the law" found in the temple under King Josiah.
What is arguedWhether Moses wrote it and when it took its final form. The link to Josiah's reform is a central part of the debate.
The whole book, chapter by chapter
| Chapter | What happens | Who is in it | Where it takes place |
|---|---|---|---|
Looking back — Moses retells the journey, chapters 1–4 | |||
| Chapter 1The journey recalled | Moses recalls the journey from Horeb and the appointing of leaders. | ||
| Chapter 2The wilderness years | Moses recounts the years of wandering, passing by Edom and Moab. | , | |
| Chapter 3The defeat of Og | Moses recalls defeating Og of Bashan, and that he himself may not cross the Jordan. | , , | , |
| Chapter 4The call to obedience | Moses urges Israel to keep the law and shun idols. | ||
The law repeated — the commandments explained for a new generation, chapters 5–26 | |||
| Chapter 5The commandments repeated | Moses repeats the Ten Commandments. | ||
| Chapter 6Hear, O Israel | The Shema: "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord," and the command to love God wholly. | ||
| Chapter 7The nations to be driven out | Israel is to drive out the nations and not intermarry or adopt their gods. | — | |
| Chapter 8Remember the wilderness | Moses warns them not to forget God once they prosper: "man doth not live by bread only." | — | |
| Chapter 9The golden calf recalled | Moses reminds them of their rebellion with the golden calf. | , | — |
| Chapter 10The tables rewritten | The stone tablets are rewritten, and God asks only love and obedience. | — | |
| Chapter 11The land of promise | The good land ahead, set before them as blessing or curse. | — | |
| Chapter 12The place of worship | Israel is to worship at the one place God will choose. | — | |
| Chapter 13False prophets | How to deal with those who entice Israel to other gods. | — | |
| Chapter 14Clean meats and tithes | Clean and unclean foods, and the yearly tithe. | — | |
| Chapter 15The year of release | Every seventh year debts are released and slaves set free. | — | |
| Chapter 16The three feasts kept | Keeping Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. | — | |
| Chapter 17Judges and kings | Laws for judges and for a future king. | — | |
| Chapter 18The prophet to come | The Levites' portion, and the promise of a prophet like Moses. | — | |
| Chapter 19Cities of refuge | Cities of refuge and the law of witnesses. | — | |
| Chapter 20The laws of war | Rules for going to war. | — | |
| Chapter 21Various statutes | Assorted laws on justice and family. | — | |
| Chapter 22Laws of daily life | Laws on property, dress, and marriage. | — | |
| Chapter 23The congregation | Who may enter the assembly, and laws on cleanness and kindness. | — | |
| Chapter 24Divorce and kindness | Laws on divorce, and on protecting the poor and the stranger. | — | |
| Chapter 25Just weights | Fair weights, and other statutes. | — | |
| Chapter 26Firstfruits and tithes | The offering of firstfruits with a spoken confession. | — | |
Blessing, curse, and farewell — the covenant, the song, and Moses' death, chapters 27–34 | |||
| Chapter 27The curses at Ebal | The tribes are to pronounce blessings and curses on two mountains, Gerizim and Ebal. | — | |
| Chapter 28Blessings and cursings | A long list of the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience. | — | |
| Chapter 29The covenant in Moab | The covenant is renewed on the plains of Moab. | ||
| Chapter 30Life and death set forth | Moses sets before them life and death: "choose life." | ||
| Chapter 31Joshua appointed | Moses appoints Joshua as his successor and writes down the law. | , | |
| Chapter 32The song of Moses | Moses teaches Israel a song of warning and hope, then is told to climb Mount Nebo. | ||
| Chapter 33The blessing of the tribes | Moses blesses each of the tribes. | — | |
| Chapter 34The death of Moses | Moses views the land from Mount Nebo and dies; Joshua leads on. | , | , |
All 34 chapters. Start reading →
Worth knowing
Key people
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Key places
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Known for
Some of the book's best-known lines — tap the verse to read it.
- The Shema — "Hear, O Israel"Deuteronomy 6:4
- "Love the Lord thy God"Deuteronomy 6:5
- "Choose life"Deuteronomy 30:19
- The death of MosesDeuteronomy 34:5