Editing Torah (section)

===Deuteronomy===
{{Main|Book of Deuteronomy}}

The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Torah. Chapters 1–30 of the book consist of three sermons or speeches delivered to the Israelites by Moses on the [[plains of Moab]], shortly before they enter the Promised Land. The first sermon recounts the [[Moses#The years in the wilderness|forty years of wilderness wanderings]] which had led to that moment, and ends with an exhortation to observe the law (or teachings), later referred to as the [[Law of Moses]]; the second reminds the Israelites of the need to follow Yahweh and the laws (or teachings) he has given them, on which their possession of the land depends; and the third offers the comfort that even should Israel prove unfaithful and so lose the land, with [[repentance]] all can be restored.{{sfn|Phillips|1973|pp=1–2}} The final four chapters (31–34) contain the [[Song of Moses]], the [[Blessing of Moses]], and narratives recounting the passing of the mantle of leadership from Moses to [[Joshua]] and, finally, the death of Moses on [[Mount Nebo]].

Presented as the words of Moses delivered before the conquest of Canaan, a broad consensus of modern scholars see its origin in traditions from [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|Israel (the northern kingdom)]] brought south to the [[Kingdom of Judah]] in the wake of the [[Assyrian conquest of Aram]] (8th century BCE) and then adapted to a program of nationalist reform in the time of [[Josiah]] (late 7th century BCE), with the final form of the modern book emerging in the milieu of the return from the [[Babylonian captivity]] during the late 6th century BCE.{{sfn|Rogerson|2003|pp=153–154}} Many scholars see the book as reflecting the economic needs and social status of the [[Levite]] caste, who are believed to have provided its authors;{{sfn|Sommer|2015|p=18}} those likely authors are collectively referred to as the [[Deuteronomist]].

One of its most significant verses is Deuteronomy 6:4,<ref>{{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|6:4|HE}}</ref> the [[Shema Yisrael]], which has become the definitive statement of [[Jewish identity]]: "Hear, O Israel: the [[Tetragrammaton|{{LORD}}]] our God, the {{LORD}} is one." Verses 6:4–5 were also quoted by [[Jesus]] in Mark 12:28–34<ref>{{bibleverse||Mark|12:28–34}}</ref> as part of the [[Great Commandment]].