The Book of Deuteronomy Overview
Deuteronomy is the fifth and last book of the Pentateuch (see article on the Pentateuch), the books traditionally ascribed to Moses. It takes its name from the Greek translation of 17:18, which misunderstands the Hebrew ‘a copy of this law’, and takes it as a ‘second law’. The title in Hebrew is taken from the opening words of the book, ‘these are the words’, i.e. the words of Moses to the Israelites just before they entered the promised land. This is a better way of thinking of the book. It is not so much a ‘second law’ as a preaching, or reapplication, of certain laws given in the preceding books of the Pentateuch.
Carson, D. A.: New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA : Inter-Varsity Press, 1994, S. Nu 36:1