Deuteronomy 34 explained: Moses Sees the Land and Dies

A last look at the land (vv. 1-4)

From a high ridge east of the Jordan River, God shows Moses the whole country promised long ago to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, sweeping from north to south. Moses may see it but not enter it, a consequence the earlier books tie to a moment in the desert when he failed to honor God in front of the people.

Moses dies and is buried (vv. 5-7)

He dies at 120, still sharp eyed and strong, and the Hebrew can mean either that God buried him or simply that he was buried. No one knows where the grave is; one old explanation is that this kept it from becoming a shrine, but the text does not say why.

Israel mourns (v. 8)

The people grieve for thirty days, the same as they did for his brother Aaron. A mourning period that long marked someone of great standing.

Joshua takes the lead (v. 9)

Moses laying his hands on Joshua was a public sign of passing on his authority, as described earlier in Numbers. Joshua is now filled with wisdom, and the people accept him as their leader.

No prophet like Moses (vv. 10-12)

The closing tribute says no later prophet knew God so directly, face to face, or did such signs as in the escape from Egypt. Phrases like "since then" and "to this day" suggest someone writing long afterward, and Christians later read the promise of a coming prophet like Moses as pointing to Jesus.

Key verse: Deuteronomy 34:4

Something to think about

What do you make of spending your life working toward something that someone else will get to finish or enjoy?