The death of Moses

34:1 Then Moses ascended from the deserts of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the summit of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. The Lord showed him the whole land – Gilead to Dan, 34:2 and all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the distant sea, 34:3 the Negev, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of the date palm trees, as far as Zoar. 34:4 Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it, but you will not cross over there.” 34:5 So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab as the Lord had said. 34:6 He buried him in the land of Moab near Beth Peor, but no one knows his exact burial place to this very day. 34:7 Moses was 120 years old when he died, but his eye was not dull nor had his vitality departed. 34:8 The Israelites mourned for Moses in the deserts of Moab for thirty days; then the days of mourning for Moses ended. 34:9 Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had placed his hands on him; and the Israelites listened to him and did just what the Lord had commanded Moses. 34:10 No prophet ever again arose in Israel like Moses, who knew the Lord face to face. 34:11 He did all the signs and wonders the Lord had sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, all his servants, and the whole land, 34:12 and he displayed great power and awesome might in view of all Israel.

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Moses goes up to Mount Nebo, sees the promised land, and dies in Moab. Israel mourns him, Joshua takes his place, and the chapter ends by honoring Moses as the Lord's unmatched servant and prophet.

Moses went up the mountain, and the Lord showed him the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was allowed to see it, but he was not allowed to cross over. He died in the land of Moab as the Lord had said. His burial place was hidden, so attention would stay on the Lord and not on Moses' grave.

Moses was 120 years old when he died, but his strength had not failed. Israel mourned him for thirty days. Then Joshua, full of the spirit of wisdom, took up the leadership because Moses had laid his hands on him. The people listened to Joshua and did just what the Lord had commanded Moses.

The chapter closes by honoring Moses' unique place in Israel's history. No prophet in Israel again rose like Moses. He knew the Lord face to face, and he had done the signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt and before all Israel.

• The Lord kept his promise to show Moses the land.
• Moses was not allowed to enter the land.
• Moses died in Moab as the Lord had said.
• The burial place was hidden and not known.
• Moses was 120 years old and still had strength.
• Israel mourned Moses for thirty days.
• Joshua was given wisdom and took up leadership.
• No prophet in Israel was like Moses.
• Moses had done signs and wonders in Egypt and before all Israel.

• The Lord promised the land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• God let Moses see the land, but not cross over.
• Israel was to listen to Joshua and do what the Lord had commanded through Moses.
• The hidden grave warns against turning Moses' burial place into an object of attention.
• We should not make even honored servants of God into substitutes for the Lord himself.

This passage ends the Mosaic era and shows that God's promise continued even after Moses died. Moses could see the inheritance, but he could not bring the people into it. Joshua then carried the work forward. The chapter shows that God's plan continued under the Lord's faithful care.

God's promises can continue beyond one generation. Faithful servants may die before they see all that God has promised. Grief for godly leaders is right, but it should lead to continued trust in the Lord and obedience to his word. We should not make even honored servants of God into substitutes for the Lord himself.

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