Chapter 34, Deut - Prophecy?

I have no problem believing that someone else equally inspired wrote those last few verses of the book, as well as a few of the "until this day" verses.

A similar situation occurs in a few other books. Nehemiah has a line, the list of high priests, that actually ends with one (Jaddeus, I believe) that was the high priest at the time of Alexander the Great's famous visit to Jerusalem. This was two generations after Nehemiah's time.

God inspires both writers and the occasional editor (maybe "updater" is a better word).

This is not to say that there aren't occasional tamperings (thankfully rare) to the Bible that should not, IMO, be there, like that addition in 1 John. This addition (part of the "There are three witnesses... passage) cannot be traced back any further back in history to just a few centuries, to a certain monk in Ireland.

More on that can be found from James White.The Jaddeus note I picked up from John Owen, one of his "elucidations" (as he calls them) in his Commentary on Hebrews.

 

I do not think there is a concensus, but several commentaries offer the possiblity of Joshua, as the inspired writer of the last part of Deuteronomy.

 

There are a lot of problems with naming Joshua (or Moses) as the editor of the passage in Deuteronomy 34.
1. "and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. Deuteronomy 34:6 (ESV).

If Joshua wrote the passage it wouldn't carry much meaning.

2. And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. Deuteronomy 34:9 (ESV)

Written in third person, as is much of Deuteronomy. If Joshua wrote it he would have written that he was humble too.

3. Deuteronomy 34:10 echo's the promise given in Deut. 18:15 – "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen" (ESV).

If Joshua wrote the passage, once again, it wouldn't carry much weight.

4. And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, Deuteronomy 34:10 (ESV)

A bit hollow of meaning if it was written a single generation after Moses death.

Rob

 

It's not cut-and-dried, but that's my best guess, as well.

 

How much time might have elapsed between the death of Moses and the writing of chapter 34 of Deuteronomy. Moses was about 80 when he led the people out and then they wandered 40 years, then entered the promise. If Joshua was 25 when they were led out, he would have been about 65 when Moses died. Joshua lived to be 110, so a span of 40 years or so may be in view with "to this day" and no prophet like Moses has arisen. I think the point that the person who died was one of a kind carries the intended meaning and weight of a commentary on how special Moses was.