This study places the Assumptio Mosis (AM) in its literary context of traditions of the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD. It examines how in AM the biblical traditions have been adopted and adjusted (Deut 31 - Josh 1) to the actual circumstances.
After presenting the current state of affairs in research and analysing the structure of the AM, the investigation focuses on a detailed account on how Deut 31 - Josh 1 has been incorporated in the AM and how this process affected the theological content.
Furthermore the AM is put in a comparative perspective with other apocryphal traditions of the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD (1-Enoch, T.12 Patr., Jub., 1-2-4 Macc, Ps Sal, Qumran texts, 4 Ezra, 2 Bar, Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum) to try and characterise the place of the AM within this contemporary literature. This process of reception is clarified against the background of the so-called Rewritten-Bible-phenomena. A pattern can be discerned within this process, whereby actualising and adjusting to the historical circumstances are major objectives.