Book of Law (or Book of Moses); the fifth book of the Old Testament; the fifth book of the Bible; the fifth of the five-part Jewish collection known as the Torah.
Author: Moses is the traditional author of this book; Deuteronomy is part of the “Law of Moses.” He was 120 years old at the time of its writing.
Audience: The title Deuteronomy means “second law.” The book is Moses’ re-stating various laws and regulations given in the prior Scriptures. Moses wrote to the Jewish people during their 40-year wilderness journey in the Sinai Peninsula. This book was written during the final 40-day period before the Jews entered the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:3). It provides an account of God’s many works among the nation of Israel during their 40-year journey. This was especially important for the younger generation of Jews who were born during this time period.
Date: During the 40 years in the wilderness, approximately 1440—1400 BC. Some suggest a more exact date of 1406 BC.