“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people,” says Moses (v. 15).  He then goes on to suggest how the people may discern whether or not the words of a person claiming to be a prophet are true.  At the time Deuteronomy was being compiled, prophecy was an important institution, a source of spiritual authority.  Vv. 9-22 describe some scenarios in which the question of a prophet’s authority could prove problematic.  Here the editors make certain to trace the authority of the prophetic office back to Moses, who provides some guidelines for discernment.