Where was the Book of Deuteronomy written?

Answer 1

The answer to this question follows very closely upon the reason for its being written. The Documentary Hypothesis of the 19th Century Liberal school of theology in Germany places the book in the reign of King Josiah and gives it a political motivation to undergird theologically Josiah's reforms. Since they claim the book as being anonymous there can be no clear place of writing.

Alternatively taking the book at face value it is clear it would most likely have been written in the area of Kadesh-Barnea in the wilderness south of Israel where the Israelites spent a large part of their time in the wilderness.
Scholars note the following evidence which not only places the book in the era in which it claims to be written but also explains without any mystery or 'conspiracy theory' the reason it was written, as well as a clear understanding of where it was written:

1. The book itself includes around forty claims of Mosaic authorship. If an unknown author deliberately lied (which is precisely what is claimed) as a ruse to help Josiah then the book itself as a fraud immediately has lost any credibility as a support for Josiah.

2. Details of both history and geography show a first-hand knowledge which belongs to the era when it claims to be written and not that of Josiah.

3. Nowhere else in the Old Testament is anyone other than Moses claimed as the author (not even an anonymous author) see Joshua 1:7, Judges 3:4, 1 Kings 2:3, Ezra 3:2, Psalm 103:7, Malachi 4:4.

4. Jesus himself attributed Deteronomy to Moses. see Matthew 19:7-9 and John 5 :45-47.

5. Deuteronomy followed a legal 'treaty formula' which belonged in the era of the 15th and 14th century BC and was not used at any other time, such as that of Josiah.

Having the right historical setting makes it clear what the purpose of the book was. Historically, the first generation to leave Egypt and receive the Torah had died during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. It was thus necessary to give a "second Law" (the literal meaning of the word Deuteronomy in Latin). Moses also frequently stressed the need for obedience to the Law in contrast to the disobedience which was the singular downfall of the previous generation. Also, Deuteronomy is thus much more like an exhortation or a sermon than a simple book of Law. Although of necessity it contains much legal detail, the emphasis on the whole of Israel, rather than the priests is understood by scholars to explain the difference in language.

The setting of Kadesh-Barnea was the starting point from which the Israelites were to embark upon their conquest of Canaan. Moses had ample time here to write this book and ample reason to do so as well.

Answer 2

Answer Tradition says that Moses not only wrote Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, but the Book of Deuteronomy as well, which raises the question of why he would write another book containing much of the same historical narrative and laws and even use a different authorship style in doing so.

It appears that Deuteronomy was the book of law that 2 Kings 22:8 describes as 'found' by Hilkiah, the high priest, in the Temple, presumably to give the book the appearance of great antiquity. In case we feel that we should never doubt the religious authorities on these matters, this was not the only time that a scroll was first hidden, then found, so as to disguise its authorship. Jeremiah chapter 36 even tells how just a few years later, the scribes hid another scroll in the Temple, to be found and read to the king. The Book of Jeremiah demonstrates that the religious authorities were well aware of the practice.

There are good reasons for believing that Deuteronomy was written during the seventh century BCE and given to the people of Judah as part of the Deuteronomistic reforms being undertaken by King

Josiah.

Answer: The long-disproven Documentary Hypothesis of the 19th Century Liberal school of theology in Germany places the book in the reign of King Josiah and gives it a political motivation to undergird theologically Josiah's reforms. Like much of what the documentarians proposed this has been disproved by evidence some of which was even available in their time.

Scholars note the following evidence which not only places the book in the era in which it claims to be written but also explains without any mystery or 'conspiracy theory' the reason it was written:

1. The book itself includes around forty claims of Mosaic authorship. If an unknown author deliberately lied (which is precisely what is claimed) as a ruse to help Josiah then the book itself as a fraud immediately has lost any credibility as a support for Josiah.

2. Details of both history and geography show a first-hand knowledge which belongs to the era when it claims to be written and not that of Josiah.

3. Nowhere else in the Old Testament is anyone other than Moses claimed as the author (not even an anonymous author) see Joshua 1:7, Judges 3:4, 1 Kings 2:3, Ezra 3:2, Psalm 103:7, Malachi 4:4.

4. Jesus himself attributed Deteronomy to Moses. see Matthew 19:7-9 and John 5 :45-47.

5. Deuteronomy followed a legal 'treaty formula' which belonged in the era of the 15th and 14th century BC and was not used at any other time, such as that of Josiah.

Having the right historical setting makes it clear what the purpose of the book was. Historically, the first generation to leave Egypt and receive the Torah had died during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. It was thus necessary to give a "second Law" (the literal meaning of the word Deuteronomy in Latin). Moses also frequently stressed the need for obedience to the Law in contrast to the disobedience which was the singular downfall of the previous generation. Also, Deuteronomy is thus much more like an exhortation or a sermon than a simple book of Law. Although of necessity it contains much legal detail, the emphasis on the whole of Israel, rather than the priests is understood by scholars to explain the difference in language.

Answer 3

A:You will find nothing in the Book of Deuteronomy to show that Moses wrote it. Most biblical scholars now say that Deuteronomywas actually written by an anonymous author during the seventh-century-BCE reign of King Josiah of Judah.

Answer 4

Tradition says that the Book of Deuteronomy was written by Moses while he camped to the east of the River Jordan, shortly before his death. Because the book actually mentions his death, this tradition says that Joshua completed the book shortly afterwards. However, verse 34:10 ("And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like Moses ...") serves completely to disprove this, since this could only have been written long after the founding of Israel and therefore long after the time of Moses and Joshua.

Scholars believe that the Book of Deuteronomy was written in Jerusalem in the seventh century BCE. Because the author was anonymous, he is known to scholars as the 'Deuteronomist'.

For information, please visit:

http://christianity.answers.com/bible/the-pentateuch-explained
http://christianity.answers.com/bible/the-book-of-deuteronomy

Answer 5

According to tradition, Moses wrote the complete Torah scroll (Deuteronomy 31:24) as instructed by God (ibid 1:3), in the Arvot Moab, which is the Jordan river area east of the river and on a latitude near that of Jericho. Note that many verses in the Torah and Prophets (such as those containing "until this day") are predicting the future. This indicates prophecy, not late authorship.

See also:

http://www.whoreallywrotethebible.com/excerpts/chapter4-1.php

http://www.pearlmancta.com/BiblicalcriticswrongRShlomoCohen.htm

And the wider picture:

http://judaism.answers.com/hebrew/does-archaeology-support-the-hebrew-bible

Answer 6

The Book of Deuteronomy has traditionally been attributed to Moses, writing around 1400 BCE. It appears that Deuteronomywas the book of law that 2 Kings 22:8 describes as 'found' by Hilkiah in the Temple during the seventh-century-BCE reign of King Josiah, giving the book the appearance of great antiquity. However, biblical scholars say the Book of Deuteronomy was really written in Jerusalem shortly prior to this event, by an unknown author now known as the Deuteronomist.

The Book of Deuteronomy contains the same style and relatively modern Hebrew as the integrated series now known as the Deuteronomic History (Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 Kings). Thus it can be said that Deuteronomy was written in Jerusalem, the capital of Judah.

This was not the only time that a scroll was first hidden, then found, so as to disguise its authorship. Jeremiah chapter 36 even tells how just a few years later, the scribes hid another scroll in the Temple, to be found and read to the king. The Book of Jeremiah demonstrates that the religious authorities were well aware of the practice.

Answer 7

In the Transjordan wilderness, as stated explicitly (Deuteronomy 1:5). See also:

Was Moses real?

Refuting secular theories

Was anything added in Josiah's time?

Answer 8

Moses Wrote that Book