“A Prophet Like Moses”
(Deuteronomy 18:15–18)
in the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and the Dead Sea Scrolls

There is one thought on ““A Prophet Like Moses” (Deuteronomy 18:15–18) in the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and the Dead Sea Scrolls”.

1. Interesting article.

   The following statement caught my attention.

   “At least two texts from Qumran, both of which are considered sectarian texts, directly cite or allude to Deuteronomy 18 in regards to prophets, and both appear to interpret verses 18–20 as a reference to an eschatological prophet like Moses (1QS 9:9–11 and 4QTestimonia [Page 270][4Q175], lines 5–8).”

   I see two prophets being spoken of with a profound differentiation between the first and second prophet in the Deuteronomy 18 narrative.

   The first prophet like Moses in the narrative is contained in verses 15-17.

   That prophet like Moses is clearly speaking of Christ and the admonition is to categorically “hearken” to whatever he says.

   Period.

   Because he only speaks words of truth.

   Then in verses 18-20 the text transitions to a secondary end times prophetic figure that is also typological to Moses.

   At first, this prophet has the words of God placed directly in his mouth.

   Joseph Smith was different than any other prophet in the New and Old Testament in the sense that most of the canonized revelations that he brought forth contained ongoing, detailed pontifications directly, word for word from the voice of God.

   conversely, Old and New Testament prophets would give short “thus sayeth the Lord” snippets from God, but rarely if ever gave long detailed communications from God as Joseph Smith did.

   Interestingly, one of the things that differentiates the first prophet like Moses (Christ) from the second prophet like Moses (Joseph Smith) is that the second prophet, after speaking forth the literal words from God, eventually begins to speak “presumptuously” words which God had not spoken to him (see verse 20 &22)

   Obviously, that second prophetic individual was not Christ. Christ was perfect and never taught false doctrine. He never spoke presumptuously. Every single word he spoke was true.

   Also, I would suggest a differing interprestion of the following passage:

   “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”

   I would suggest that it is actually the prophet that has the responsibility placed upon him when his listeners fail to hearken to the true words of God.

   This is because he was an intercessory prophet like Moses was.

   To back that supposition up, I would remind you that Moses committed a great sin that resulted in the Lord refusing to allow him to cross over the river into the promised land.

   However the deeper contextual reason for the transgression Moses committed is because Moses had offered himself as an atonement offering in behalf of the children of Israel who were committing sin.

   It is interesting to note that one of the segments in the dead sea scrolls actually speaks of an end time messianic servant “comprehending deep mysteries” that “will make an atonement for all the children of his generation. He will be sent to all the sons of his generation. His word shall be the word of Heaven and his teaching shall be according to the will of God.”. (pages 144-5 Dead Sea Scrolls Uncovered)

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