Book of Deuteronomy
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Deuteronomy, Moses' "Upper Desert Discourse," consists of a series of farewell messages by Israel's 120-year-old leader. It is addressed to the new generation destined to possess the Land of Promise -- those who survived the forty years of wilderness wandering.
Like Leviticus, Deuteronomy contains a vast amount of legal detail, but its emphasis is on the laymen rather than the priests. Moses reminds the new generation of the importance of obedience if they are to learn from the sad example of their parents.
The account of Moses' death in chapter 34 could not have been written by Moses, but this obvious truth in no way negates the Mosaic authorship of the rest of the book. It was quite customary to append an obituary to the final work of a great man, and it is unthinkable that someone (likely Joshua) would not have made such an addition to the last writing of Moses.
The Hebrew title of Deuteronomy is Haddebharim, "The Words," taken from the opening phrase in Deuteronomy 1:1, "These are the words." The parting words of Moses to the new generation are given in oral and written form so that they will endure to all generations. Deuteronomy has been called "five-fifths of the law" since it completes the five books of Moses. The Jewish people have also called it Mishneh Hattorah, "Repetition of the Law," which is translated in the Septuagint as To Deuteronomion Touto, "This Second Law." Deuteronomy, however, is not a second law but an adaptation and expansion of much of the original law given on Mount Sinai. The English title comes from the Greek title Deuteronomion, "Second Law." Deuteronomy has also been appropriately called the "Book of Remembrance."
 Deuteronomy in a nutshell:
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