Why is Deuteronomy the second? (Deutero = second)?

Question

Today's word of the day made me wonder about Deuteronomy, the third book in the bible.

The word of the day reads, "deuteragonist (doo-tuh-RAG-uh-nist, dyoo-) noun

The second most important part in a play.

[From Greek deutero- (second) + agonistes (contestant, actor).] -Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)"

Why is the third book in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) called the second (Deutero). Does this mean that Deuteronomy is the second most important book of the bible? If so, what is the *most* important book (of the old testament)? Or is the the second book of the story of Moses?

Bible scholars?

Answer 1

DEUTERONOMY: The Hebrew name of this fifth book of the Pentateuch is Deva·rim′ (Words), drawn from the opening phrase in the Hebrew text. The name “Deuteronomy” comes from the Septuagint Greek title Deu·te·ro·no′mi·on, literally meaning “Second Law; Repetition of the Law.” This comes from the Greek rendering of a Hebrew phrase in Deuteronomy 17:18, mish·neh′ hat·toh·rah′, correctly rendered ‘copy of the law.’

The authenticity of Deuteronomy as a book of the Bible canon and the writership of Moses are well established by the fact that Deuteronomy has always been considered by the Jews as a part of the Law of Moses. The evidence for the authenticity of Deuteronomy is, in general, the same as that for the other four books of the Pentateuch. Jesus is the foremost authority for the authenticity of Deuteronomy, quoting from it three times in turning away the temptations of Satan the Devil. (Mt 4:1-11; De 6:13, 16; 8:3) Also, Jesus answered the question as to what was the greatest and first commandment by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5. (Mr 12:30) And Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 30:12-14; 32:35, 36.—Ro 10:6-8; Heb 10:30.

The time covered by the book of Deuteronomy is somewhat over two months in the year 1473 B.C.E. It was written on the Plains of Moab and consists of four discourses, a song, and a blessing by Moses as Israel camped on Canaan’s borders prior to entering the land.—De 1:3; Jos 1:11; 4:19.

Purpose. Despite the meaning of the name Deuteronomy, this book is not a second law nor a repetition of the entire Law but, rather, an explanation of it, as Deuteronomy 1:5 says. It exhorts Israel to faithfulness to Jehovah, using the generation of the 40 years’ wandering as an example to avoid. Moses explains and elaborates on some of the essential points of the Law and the principles therein, with a view to the altered circumstances of Israel when they would be settled permanently in the land. He adjusts some of the laws accordingly and gives further regulations concerning the administration of government in their settled condition in the Promised Land.

In exhorting them and calling on them to enter into this renewed covenant with Jehovah through Moses, the book of Deuteronomy places the emphasis strikingly on knowledge, teaching, and instruction. The words “teach,” “teaching,” and “taught” occur much more often in Deuteronomy than in Exodus, Leviticus, or Numbers. Moses explained that Jehovah was teaching Israel by feeding them with manna. (De 8:3) He told the Israelites to place Jehovah’s law, figuratively speaking, as frontlets between their eyes and on the doorposts of their houses and on their gates. (6:8, 9) He commanded them to inculcate his law in their sons. (6:6, 7) Instructions were given to read the Law every seventh year, during the time of the (annual) Festival of Booths. (31:10-13) Special instructions were given for the king that Israel might have in the future. He was to write a copy of the Law for himself and read in it every day. (17:18-20) Each time Israel went out to battle, the priests were to admonish the people to faith and courage and to assure them of victory, for Jehovah their God was marching with them. (20:1-4) When they should enter the Promised Land, they were to divide the tribes into two groups, with one group on Mount Ebal and the other on Mount Gerizim, and then they were to have God’s Law read to them.—27:11-26; compare Jos 8:33-35.

Answer 2

Dueteronomy is the 5th book in the bible.

In Hebrew the name is "devarim" which means "words", as in "the words given of Moses before he died".

Origin of the name Deuteronomy:
The English name, "Deuteronomy", comes from the name which the book bears in the Septuagint (ִוץפוסןםליןם) and in the Vulgate (Deuteronomium). This is based upon the erroneous Septuagint rendering of "mishneh ha-torah ha-zot" (xvii. 18), which grammatically can mean only "a repetition [that is, a copy] of this law," but which is rendered by the Septuagint פὸ ִוץפוסןםליןם פןῦפן, as though the expression meant "this second-giving of the law." However, while the name is thus a mistranslation, it is not inappropriate; the book does include, alongside much new material, a repetition or reformulation of a large part of the laws found in the non-priestly sections of Exodus.

Answer 3

The Hebrew for Deuteronomy comes from the opening phrase of the book ( Eleh ha-devarim).

The English name, as far as I understand, comes from a mistranslation of the phrase "this is the second giving of the law" to understand that it's just a repetition of the law instead of a new group of laws being given after the primary ones. There are, however, quite a few laws from Exodus repeated in Deuteronomy so maybe it's not so much a misnomer.

Answer 4

Of course I'd leave,I'm not sharing my man with anyone. I'd be out the door and he'd be so broke he would have to marry for money and wouldn't be able to father any more children ....if you get my meaning lol. Neither of us agree with polygamy in this day and age. But it most certainly had it purpose in the past and served to protect women from becoming beggars or worse. If a woman lost her husband or male protectors from her family in tribal battles or through injury she was left to raise her children and care for herself as best she could. Sometimes she was unable to return to her fathers house because of distance or a variety of other reasons and would have remained alone,unprotected and unsupported in what was most definitely a mans world. These days so long as he has the money an ex wife can sue for support and child maintenance although in Egypt it remains very hard to enforce this. The high rate of infant mortality was also a factor that made polygamy a viable and most times acceptable proposition in the past. As children were often needed not only to carry on the family name and heritage but for the fellahin especially it meant they had more hands to tend the animals and crops etc and because it was family, no wages were required to be paid..

Answer 5

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Dueteronomy. Actually its the fifth book, And it's the second giving of the law after leviticus. The Mosaic law comes first in Leviticus, and then again in Dueteronomy.

Answer 6

It is called Deuteronomy because it is a second statement (a restatement or review) of the laws delivered to the Israelites via Moses.

Answer 7

It's the 5th book of the Bible. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

Answer 8

It is the fifth book. It means "Second law", and was purported to be a second body of law written by Moses to accompany the first, Leviticus.

Of course, it was not written by Moses (nor was any book), and it's magic discovery by the Deuteronomists simply masked its recent authorship by a new and even more strict generation of priests.

Answer 9

The study of the second set of laws. First is the code of hammurabi, the second set are Mosaical. And why the thumbs down, do yall not STUDY anything anymore?

Answer 10

It's known as the second giving of the law...