Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 34

Verses 1-12

Chapter 34

Chapter thirty-four.

And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead, clear unto Dan ( Deuteronomy 34:1 ),

From Mount Pisgah there he could see clear up to the area of Mount Hermon. Dan is right down near the base of Mount Hermon. Looking clear up to Dan, on a clear day you can get a beautiful view.

And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, (clear across the land) And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm tress, even to Zoar, (which is the bottom part of the Dead Sea area) And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, I will give it unto your seed: I will cause thee to see it with your eyes, but you will not go over. So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD ( Deuteronomy 34:2-5 ).

And He, that is God, buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-Peor, but no man knows of his sepulchre unto this day.

Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eyes were not dim, nor his natural force abated ( Deuteronomy 34:7 ).

So, a hundred and twenty-year old man; he died and God buried him.

Now we are told in the book of Jude that Satan and Michael had a dispute over the body of Moses. God buried him, but not before there was a dispute over his body. They never did find where God buried him. His sepulchre remains a mystery. But he went up to Pisgah, and there in one of the valleys he died, and God buried him after Michael and Satan had a big roar over the thing, according to Jude.

And 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. But there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, In all the signs and 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, And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel ( Deuteronomy 34:9-12 ).

Now this last part was probably written by Joshua. Surely Moses didn't write the account of his own death. But Joshua no doubt took up and finished the book as he spoke of the prophet Moses in all of the history of Israel never an equal to this man, until of course Jesus who was more than a prophet, the Son of God.

Shall we stand?

Next week Judges, and we are taking eight chapters. Joshua, eight chapters. Joshua is a very exciting book as they begin to conquer the land that God had given them. We'll take it in eight, going through Joshua.

Father, we thank you now for the opportunity of studying Your Word again tonight and may Your Holy Spirit hide now Thy truth within our hearts that we would not sin against You. Lord, help us to learn that You have set before us life and death, blessing and curse and it is ours to choose. And may we choose that life that You have given to us in Jesus Christ, confessing Him now as Lord, believing Lord that you rose Him from the dead. We thank You that we have that life and that salvation tonight. Thank You, Lord for Your everlasting arms. Thank You, Lord for the stirring of the nest when You are trying to teach us to grow. May we learn those lessons and may we grow into that full maturity in Christ Jesus our Lord. In His name we pray. "