Deuteronomy 34

Chapter Overview

What happens in Deuteronomy 34

The book of Deuteronomy ends with the death of Moses. After viewing the entire Promised Land from Mount Nebo, Moses dies and is buried by God himself. A final tribute honors him as the greatest prophet Israel has ever known.

Scripture

Moses Views the Promised Land

Study note

Moses climbs Mount Nebo and God shows him the entire Promised Land stretching in every direction. The Lord reminds him that this is the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses may see it, but he will not enter it.

1 Moses climbed from the Moab plains up Mount Nebo, to the peak of Pisgah, which overlooks Jericho. From there the Lord gave him a panoramic view of the entire land -- from Gilead all the way up to Dan, And 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,

2 He saw all of Naphtali. He saw the lands of Ephraim and Manasseh. He saw all of Judah to the sea. And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,

3 the Negev desert, and the wide-open plain of the Jericho Valley -- the city of palm trees -- reaching all the way to Zoar. And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.

4 The Lord told him, 'This is the land I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, "I will give it to your descendants." I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not go there yourself.' And 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.

The Death and Burial of Moses

Study note

Moses, the servant of the Lord, dies in Moab at the age of 120, still strong and clear-eyed. The Lord himself buries Moses in a secret location. The Israelites mourn for thirty days.

5 And so Moses, the Lord's servant, died there in Moab, just as the Lord had said he would. So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

6 The Lord himself buried Moses in a valley in Moab, near Beth-peor. But to this day, nobody has ever found his grave. And 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.

7 Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. Remarkably, his eyesight was still sharp and his body was still strong. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

8 The people of Israel mourned for Moses on the Moab plains for thirty days. Then the time of grieving came to an end. And 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.

Moses' Unique Legacy

Study note

Joshua takes over leadership, filled with wisdom from Moses' commission. The book closes with a tribute to Moses as the greatest prophet Israel has ever known -- the one the Lord knew face to face, who performed unmatched signs, wonders, and mighty deeds.

9 Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had placed his hands on him. The Israelites followed Joshua's leadership and did what the Lord had told Moses. 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.

10 Israel has never had another prophet like Moses. The Lord spoke with him face to face. And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

11 No one else ever did what the Lord sent Moses to do. He did amazing signs and wonders against Pharaoh. He did them against all his leaders and his whole country of Egypt. In 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,

12 No one else ever showed such great power. No one else carried out the awesome deeds Moses did. The whole nation of Israel watched. And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.

Key Themes

Themes in Deuteronomy 34

The end of an eraSeeing the promise even when you cannot enter itThe uniqueness of Moses in salvation historyGod buries his servant

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Deuteronomy 34:10-12 Hebrews 3:3-6

The declaration that no prophet like Moses has arisen sets up the comparison in Hebrews, where Jesus is shown to be worthy of greater glory than Moses, as a son over God's house rather than a servant within it.

Deuteronomy 34:5-6 Jude 1:9

Jude references a dispute between the archangel Michael and the devil over Moses' body, connecting to the mysterious burial of Moses by God himself.

Apply This Today

Living Deuteronomy 34

Moses saw the entire Promised Land from Nebo but never set foot in it. Some of us plant seeds we will never harvest, and that is not failure but faithfulness. God himself buried Moses, an act of tender love for His servant. The statement that 'no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses' stood as a signpost pointing forward to one who would be even greater.

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