The Argument of the Book of Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy, in English The second law, so called, not that there be two laws of Moyses, but because the same which was first given in Mount Sinai, fifty days after the children of Israel parted from Egypt, is here repeated, in the eleventh month of the fortieth year of their abode in the desert. In which repetition, albeit Moyses explicateth the same law, adding also divers things not expressed before, yet it is but an Abridgement conceived and uttered in fewer words. Whereupon St. Bede (in princ. Levit.) compareth this book with the four precedent, as one made of them all. For whereas the former four prefigured the four Gospels, this signified the whole Gospel, contained in all four. Likewise St. Jerome called it A prefiguration of the Evangelical law: so iterating former things, that all become new of old (Epist. ad Paulin. ca. 7. and de Mans. 42.). But touching the literal sense, Moyses here compriseth four general things, unto which after his death the fifth is added; and so the whole containeth five parts.

First, he briefly reciteth God's special benefits bestowed on this people, and their ingratitude, incredulity, murmurings, and punishments, in the three first chapters. Secondly, he repeateth and explicateth God's precepts, moral, ceremonial, and judicial, with the functions and offices of Priests and Levites, from the 4. chap. to the 27. Thirdly, he denounceth God's promises of many blessings, and threats of punishments, for keeping or breaking his commandments, from the 27. chap. to 31. Fourthly, he exhorteth them to serve and love God, but withal foretelleth that they will often fall to great sins, and for the same shall be punished, and at last, forsaking Christ, shall be forsaken: yet finally blesseth their tribes, in figure of the Gentiles, that shall be called in their place (chap. 31. 32. and 33.). Fifthly, in the last chapter, Josue writeth the death, burial, and singular commendation of Moyses.