Deuteronomy (Heb. devarim)
The fifth and last among the books of Moses, contains thirty-four chapters.
It is called in Hebrew devarim after its opening phrase, eleh hadevarim,
"These are the words." The book is also known as mishneh torah, "A
recapitulation of the Torah" , because it revisits many of the commandments found in
the other books of the Pentateuch. Deuteronomy actually represents Moses'
parting speech prior to his death, on the eve of Israel's entrance into the
land of Canaan. It reviews the people's experiences from Moses' transmission
of the Law at Mount Sinai to Moses' death on the Moabite plains — the forty
year journey, central events, wars, and many laws and commandments.
Deuteronomy had a particularly strong impact on other biblical authors, as a
comprehensive, religio-philosophical document that predicates Israel's
flourishing on its absolute loyalty to God and His covenant.