Deuteronomy 31:24-28

Deuteronomy 31:24. DELIVERY OF THE BOOKS OF MOSES TO THE LEVITES.

(24) When Moses had made an end of writing. — This means the completion of the books of Moses as he delivered them to Israel; not merely Deuteronomy, as above, in Deuteronomy 31:9, but the whole, including the song mentioned in Deuteronomy 31:22. The song was probably the end of the book as delivered to them by Moses.

In a book. — ’Al-sêpher; upon a roll. The Pentateuch is written upon a single roll to this day.

(25) The Levites, which bare the ark. — Observe this, and comp. Deuteronomy 31:9, above.

(26) In the side of the ark. — More literally, beside, Rashi says, “The wise men of Israel differ about this in the treatise Baba Bathra (in the Talmud). Some of them say there was a leaf or slab projecting from the ark outside, and there the book was placed. Others say that it was placed beside the tables of the covenant in the ark itself.”

(28) Gather unto me all the elders. — In like manner Joshua gave a special charge to the elders at the close of his life (Joshua 23).