Deuteronomy: Location and Date

Location & Date: February 1-March 5, 1423 BC

Deuteronomy is the Law for a new generation. It is a series of eight sermons and songs Moses preached on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan River1423 BC. Like Leviticus, Deuteronomy begins and ends at one place and time. There is no historical progression. In an incredible photo-op backdrop to Moses’ messages, the Holy Land’s wide open spaces loomed before them within full view. One can view almost the entire Holy Land from the summit of Mount Nebo. (Deuteronomy 1:1-3) from February 1-March 5,

Moses may have spoken the entire book in seven days. There are eight orations, one of them a song (Deuteronomy 32). The generation which left Egypt has died in the desert, and a new generation receives now proper training to prepare for the invasion of Canaan. Moses reviews past victories and defeats, highlights features of the Law, reveals their future (Deuteronomy 29-30), gives them a new song, blesses the twelve tribes, and prepares to die. In Deuteronomy God sets before Israel His conditions for entering and holding the Land. After Moses’ death on March 6, 1423 BC, the nation of Israel mourned thirty days (March 6, 1423 – April 5, 1422 BC). By April 6, Joshua had taken the reins and already had intelligence operations going on inside the Promised Land, especially Jericho (Joshua 2:1).

BOOK TITLE: The title Deuteronomy comes from the Greek Old Testament-Septuagint title Deuteronomion, meaning “second law,” a mistranslation of Deuteronomy 17:18, “a copy of this law.” The Hebrew title for Deuteronomy comes from Deuteronomy 1:1: (1) Debarim – “These be the Words” or “The Words” .

GENESIS tells the beginnings of the nation Israel. EXODUS relates the birth of the nation and the giving of the Torah (Law). LEVITICUS shows the way Israel should worship God. NUMBERS gives the story of Israel’s wanderings. DEUTERONOMY relates the final preparation for entering the Promised Land. (Mears, p. 74)