Deuteronomy 31:9
So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
So Moses wrote down this law

Near the end of his life, Moses committed God’s covenant instruction to writing so that Israel would possess an enduring and authoritative record. The law was not to depend upon memory alone or change with later generations. Its preservation testified that the Lord’s will remained binding as Israel entered the land under new leadership.

Exo 24:4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD.…
Exo 34:27 The LORD also said to Moses, “Write down these words,…
Jos 8:32 And there in the presence of the Israelites,…

and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi,

Moses entrusted the written law to those appointed to minister before the Lord and to instruct Israel in His statutes. The priests were responsible to guard the covenant teaching, distinguish holiness from uncleanness, and guide the people in obedience. Their stewardship anticipated the need for God’s people in every generation to receive faithful instruction from His written Word.

Deu 17:18 When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write…
Num 18:2-4 But bring with you also your brothers from the tribe of Levi…
Lev 10:11 so that you may teach the Israelites…

who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD,

The ark represented the Lord’s covenant presence in the midst of Israel and held the tablets of the covenant. Those charged with its care bore a solemn responsibility, for the holy God had made His dwelling among His redeemed people. The law and the ark belonged together: God’s presence with Israel was inseparable from His covenant claims upon Israel.

Deu 10:8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi…
Jos 3:3 “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God”…
1Ch 15:15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders…

and to all the elders of Israel.

The elders represented the tribes in matters of public leadership and judgment. By placing the law before both priestly and civil leaders, Moses established the covenant as the governing standard for the whole nation. The commands that follow required the law to be read publicly at the Feast of Booths every seventh year, ensuring that men, women, children, and sojourners would learn to fear the Lord and obey Him.

Deu 27:1 Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people:…
Exo 24:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD”…
Jos 24:1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem.…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who received the law from God and wrote it down. He is a central figure in the Pentateuch and is known for leading the Israelites out of Egypt.

2. Priests, the sons of Levi
The Levitical priests were responsible for religious duties and the care of the tabernacle. They played a crucial role in maintaining the spiritual life of Israel.

3. The Ark of the Covenant
A sacred chest that held the tablets of the law, symbolizing God's presence and covenant with Israel.

4. The Elders of Israel
Leaders and representatives of the tribes of Israel who were responsible for governance and decision-making.

5. The Law
Refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, which contain God's commandments and instructions for His people.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Scripture
The act of Moses writing down the law underscores the importance of Scripture as a permanent and authoritative guide for God's people.

Role of Spiritual Leaders
The priests and elders were entrusted with the law, highlighting the responsibility of spiritual leaders to uphold and teach God's Word.

God's Covenant and Presence
The connection to the Ark of the Covenant reminds us of God's promise and presence with His people, which is central to our faith.

Transmission of Faith
The giving of the law to the priests and elders illustrates the importance of passing down faith and teachings to future generations.

Obedience to God's Commands
The law serves as a guide for living in obedience to God, which is essential for a faithful and fruitful life.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the act of Moses writing down the law teach us about the importance of Scripture in our lives today?

2. How can we, like the priests and elders, take responsibility for upholding and teaching God's Word in our communities?

3. In what ways does the Ark of the Covenant symbolize God's presence and promises in our lives?

4. How can we ensure that the teachings and values of our faith are effectively passed down to future generations?

5. Reflect on a time when obedience to God's commands led to a positive outcome in your life. How can this encourage you to continue following His Word?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 24:4
Moses writes down all the words of the LORD, showing the importance of recording God's commands.

Joshua 1:8
Emphasizes the importance of meditating on the law day and night, highlighting its role in guiding the Israelites.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, underscoring the enduring relevance of God's law.
JoshuaJ. Orr Deuteronomy 31:3-8, 23
The Literary Executors of MosesR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 31:9-13
The Authorship of the BookJ. Orr Deuteronomy 31:9, 24-26
The Written WordJ. Orr Deuteronomy 31:9, 24-27
The Honor Appertaining to God's LawD. Davies Deuteronomy 31:9-13, 24-29
People
Amorites, Israelites, Joshua, Levi, Levites, Moses, Nun, Og, Sihon
Places
Jordan River, Moab
Topics
Agreement, Ark, Bare, Bearing, Bore, Carried, Covenant, Delivered, Elders, Giveth, Law, Levi, Lord's, Priests, Responsible, Sons, Writeth, Writing, Wrote
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 31:9

     1443   revelation, OT
     5103   Moses, significance
     7306   ark of the covenant

Deuteronomy 31:9-13

     5302   education
     7768   priests, OT function
     8467   reminders

Library
Pilgrim Song
Gerhard Ter Steegen Deut. xxxi. 8 On, O beloved children, The evening is at hand, And desolate and fearful The solitary land. Take heart! the rest eternal Awaits our weary feet; From strength to strength press onwards, The end, how passing sweet! Lo, we can tread rejoicing The narrow pilgrim road; We know the voice that calls us, We know our faithful God. Come, children, on to glory! With every face set fast Towards the golden towers Where we shall rest at last. It was with voice of singing We
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

First Sunday in Lent
Text: Second Corinthians 6, 1-10. 1 And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain 2 (for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, and in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation): 3 giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed; 4 but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities,
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
"Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place."--2 Kings
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Never! Never! Never! Never! Never!
Hence, let us learn, my brethren, the extreme value of searching the Scriptures. There may be a promise in the Word which would exactly fit your case, but you may not know of it, and therefore miss its comfort. You are like prisoners in a dungeon, and there may be one key in the bunch which would unlock the door, and you might be free; but if you will not look for it you may remain a prisoner still, though liberty is near at hand. There may be a potent medicine in the great pharmacopia of Scripture,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

Jesus Makes a Preaching Tour through Galilee.
^A Matt. IV. 23-25; ^B Mark I. 35-39; ^C Luke IV. 42-44. ^b 35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up went out [i. e., from the house of Simon Peter], and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. [Though Palestine was densely populated, its people were all gathered into towns, so that it was usually easy to find solitude outside the city limits. A ravine near Capernaum, called the Vale of Doves, would afford such solitude. Jesus taught (Matt. vi. 6) and practiced solitary
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf.
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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