Deuteronomy 34 -- Old Testament -- Gospel Daily

Deuteronomy

Chapter 34

Death and Legacy of Moses

Moses ascends Mount Nebo to the top of Pisgah, where the LORD shows him the full extent of the Promised Land — from Gilead to Dan, Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh, Judah, the utmost sea, the south, and the plain of Jericho — reminding him that this is the land sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, though Moses himself will not enter it. Moses dies there in the land of Moab at the age of one hundred and twenty years, his sight and strength undiminished, and the LORD buries him in an unknown sepulchre over against Beth-peor. The children of Israel mourn for Moses thirty days in the plains of Moab, after which Joshua son of Nun, filled with the spirit of wisdom through Moses' laying on of hands, takes up leadership as the LORD had commanded. The chapter closes with a solemn epitaph declaring that no prophet like Moses ever arose again in Israel — one whom the LORD knew face to face and who performed all the mighty signs, wonders, and great terror before Pharaoh and all Israel.

Death of MosesPromised Land visionLeadership transitionUnmatched prophetic officeDivine burialMourning and succession

¹And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,

²And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,

³And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.

⁴And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.

⁵So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

⁶And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

⁷And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

⁸And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

⁹And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

¹⁰And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

¹¹In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,

¹²And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.