Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark. The second copy of the law (see the note at Deuteronomy 31:9) was deposited, for greater security and reverence, in the most holy recess of the sanctuary, a little chest х mitsad (H6654) 'ªrown (H727)], BESIDE the ark of the covenant, under the shadow of the cherubic figures and the eye of Him who dwelt between them;-for there was nothing contained within it but the tables of stone (1 Kings 8:9).
Others think it was put within the ark, it being certain, from the testimony of Paul (Exodus 40:20; Hebrews 9:4), that there were once other things inside the ark, and that this was the autograph copy found in the time of Josiah (2 Kings 22:8). Some writers have concluded, from the circumstance of Moses' writing being here declared to be finished, that all the rest of this book, from Deuteronomy 31:19, are appendices added by the hand of another writer. But it does not follow that the moment Moses intimated to the priests they were to be invested with the sacred deposit of "this book of the law," he ceased to have any connection with (or control over) it.
The injunction addressed to the priests (Deuteronomy 31:26), to take it "and put it in the side," seems to have been an intimation that in due time it was to be entrusted to their safe custody; and they must have felt it as their highest honour and privilege, that 'unto them were committed the oracles of God.' But it cannot be supposed that 'Moses cut himself off from all access to his own work; and there is nothing in all this chapter which may not have been written by Moses. He could surely afterward add the remaining records, with an account of the transmission; for it is not likely that the solemn transmission should have hindered Moses from making the needful addition. The account of the delivery seemed necessary to complete the work thus delivered' (Arnold).