Monergism

The name of this book of the Bible comes from a Greek compound that means “second law” or “repetition of the law.” Ironically it derives from a misunderstanding in the Septuagint of a Hebrew phrase in Deuteronomy 17:18, where the king is instructed to make a “copy of this law.” Although the title of the book rests on a mistranslation in the Septuagint, it is nevertheless a fortuitous error since Deuteronomy contains a second version of the law delivered on Mount Sinai as recorded in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. The book consists largely of a series of addresses delivered on the plains of Moab by Moses. Moses led the people in a covenant renewal before they undertook the wars of conquest for the land promised to the fathers; he prepared the people for his imminent death.