Deuteronomy 31 — Dead Sea Scrolls
2 attestation entries • 0 variants • 4QDeut family
Manuscript Overview
Summary
Deuteronomy 31 narrates Moses' commissioning of Joshua and introduces the Song of Moses. 4QDeutᵇ preserves vv. 9–11 (the seven-yearly Torah reading at Sukkot) and 24–32:3 (the song's introduction and opening).
Notable Variants
No significant content variants. The 'be strong and courageous' commissioning (v. 6, 7, 23) tracks MT.
Manuscripts
4QDeutᵇ (4Q29), 4QDeutᶜ (4Q30)
Scroll Condition
4QDeutᵇ provides moderate coverage of vv. 9-11 and the chapter's closing transition into the Song.
Be strong and stand firm! Do not be afraid or terrified of them, because the LORD your God is the one who goes alongside you. He will never weaken His grip on you or abandon you.
'Be strong and of good courage' tracks MT. Cited at Heb 13:5 (loosely).
fragmentary
"Take this scroll of the Law and place it beside the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God. It will remain there as a witness against you.
'Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant' tracks MT.
4QDeutᵇ frag.