Deuteronomy 34 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Deuteronomy 34

The Death of Moses

34:1 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 2 all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, 3 the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 And the LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, 6 and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. 7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. 8 And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. 10 And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Commentary

v1-4: Moses climbed Mount Nebo, to view the land of Canaan. D.L. Moody comments: "You can see with the naked eye almost the length and breadth of that country." (Men of the Bible)

v5: Moses is described as the servant of the Lord; Ex 3.10 (see Mark 10.45; 2 Cor 4.5); he was committed to the people, Ex 32 (see 2 Cor 12.15), and he worked long and hard for them, Ex 18.

v7: Moses had been upheld by God, and lived 120 years, in full strength and vigour. However, he was just a man, see Num 20.7-11.

v9: It was important that there was a replacement for Moses, and Joshua was the man chosen. He had authority from God, and special abilities from God. The Israelites had already begun to respect him.

In type, Moses represented the law, and the law could not bring the people into God's blessing; Joshua, saviour, deliverer, could do that.

v10: Moses had a special closeness with God, "whom the Lord knew face to face". Moses is here described as a prophet; for he heard what God said, and declared it to the people.

v11: Moses also did signs and wonders, especially as a judgment upon Egypt.

v12: Those signs and wonders were also a demonstration of the power of God.