Deuteronomy 31:24-26
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The phrase "to the very end" isn't just about finishing the task; it emphasizes that Moses meticulously recorded the entirety of God's instructions, leaving nothing out as he prepared for his departure. This act highlights the completeness and enduring importance of the Law he was entrusting to Israel.
When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end, Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, “Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Moses' earthly life draws to a close, he receives a final commission from God, including the installation of Joshua as his successor and the writing down of the Law. This verse marks the completion of Moses' task in committing the entirety of God's instructions to writing, preparing it to be preserved as a testament to the people. Immediately following this, Moses will formally entrust this written Law to the Levites to be placed near the Ark, a weighty symbol of God's presence and covenant.
Moses' final act was to complete and preserve God's Word. What does it mean for God's law to be a 'witness'?
God's Written Word: More Than Just Rules
Moses' final task was to finish writing "the words of this law in a book." This wasn't just a casual record; it was a divinely appointed act. The Law, captured in writing, was intended to serve as a permanent witness.
Even as Moses completed God's law, God knew Israel's future. What does this reveal about His perspective and His warnings?
God's Foreknowledge and Israel's Stubbornness
The completion of the Law by Moses happens in the immediate context of God warning Moses about Israel's future. This highlights a crucial tension:
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Understand the original words
torah · Hebrew Noun
The foundational divine instructions given to Israel through Moses, summarizing the covenant obligations and moral laws.
aron · Hebrew Noun
The sacred chest that contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments; it served as the physical manifestation of God's holy presence among His people.
berit · Hebrew Noun
A formal agreement or treaty established by God with humanity (or specific groups), involving mutual obligations, promises, and divine blessings or curses based on obedience.
torah · Hebrew Noun
The Pentateuch or the specific commands given by God to Israel through Moses; it functions as the standard of holiness and the guide for life under the covenant.
aron berit YHWH · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A sacred wooden chest plated with gold, serving as the dwelling place of God's presence among His people and containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments. It symbolized God's holy throne on earth.
ed · Hebrew Noun
A person, object, or testimony that provides objective proof or evidence, often standing as a permanent reminder of a covenant agreement and the consequences of breaking it.
This moment marks the very end of Moses' ministry, as he meticulously completes the written record of God's Law, entrusting it as a final, enduring testimony before he passes from the scene. It's a pivotal act of preservation, ensuring God's covenant and commands would remain even after their exodus leader was gone.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin their military campaign to conquer the Promised Land after the death of Moses.
c. 1400 BC
Tabernacle established in Shiloh
The central sanctuary of Israel is set up in Shiloh, becoming a focal point for worship and legal proceedings for centuries.
c. 1380 BC
Division of Land of Canaan
Joshua oversees the apportionment of the land of Canaan among the twelve tribes of Israel, a monumental task concluding the conquest era.
c. 1375 BC— this verse
Moses completes writing the Law
Just before his death, Moses finishes writing the Pentateuch, including Deuteronomy, and commissions its placement by the Ark of the Covenant as a witness.
c. 1375 BC
Moses blesses the tribes and dies
Moses delivers his final blessings to each tribe and ascends Mount Nebo to die, after which Joshua assumes full leadership.
c. 1375 BC
Joshua's final address and death
Years later, an elderly Joshua rallies the people for a final commitment to the Law before his death, marking the end of the leadership of the generation that entered Canaan.
This passage parallels the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua, highlighting the formal appointment and charge given to Joshua to lead the people into the promised land, mirroring Moses's own final instructions and the completion of his written work.
Nehemiah 8:1-3This shows the public reading of the Law, emphasizing its importance as a written text that continues to instruct and guide God's people long after it was first given, just as Moses finished writing it here.
Jeremiah 36:1-4This passage illustrates a similar act of writing down God's words (the prophecies of Jeremiah) in a scroll to be read to the people, showing the enduring practice of preserving and delivering divine instruction in written form.
Jesus himself refers to Moses and the Law he wrote as testimony. This verse connects the written Law given through Moses to its ultimate witness and fulfillment in Christ.
calvinDeuteronomy 31:14-30: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation."
- And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Josh…
cambridgeDeuteronomy 31:24: "And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,"
24 . had made an end of writing the words of this law ] If Law be the original reading, Deuteronomy 31:24-26 are not the sequel, but a parallel to Deuteronomy 31:9-13 , for 9 also implies the completion of the writing of the Law in recording its delivery to the priests, the sons of Levi . But, as already said, it has been conjectured that for Law = Tôrah we…
The phrase "to the very end" isn't just about finishing the task; it emphasizes that Moses meticulously recorded the entirety of God's instructions, leaving nothing out as he prepared for his departure. This act highlights the completeness and enduring importance of the Law he was entrusting to Israel.
As Moses' earthly life draws to a close, he receives a final commission from God, including the installation of Joshua as his successor and the writing down of the Law. This verse marks the completion of Moses' task in committing the entirety of God's instructions to writing, preparing it to be preserved as a testament to the people. Immediately following this, Moses will formally entrust this written Law to the Levites to be placed near the Ark, a weighty symbol of God's presence and covenant.
As Moses' earthly life draws to a close, he receives a final commission from God, including the installation of Joshua as his successor and the writing down of the Law. This verse marks the completion of Moses' task in committing the entirety of God's instructions to writing, preparing it to be preserved as a testament to the people. Immediately following this, Moses will formally entrust this written Law to the Levites to be placed near the Ark, a weighty symbol of God's presence and covenant.
"When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end, Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, “Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of t…" — The phrase "to the very end" isn't just about finishing the task; it emphasizes that Moses meticulously recorded the entirety of God's instructions, leaving nothing out as he prepared for his depar…
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Last reviewed October 2026
