1 And Moses H4872 went up H5927 from the plains H6160 of Moab H4124 unto the mountain H2022 of Nebo, H5015 to the top H7218 of Pisgah, H6449 that is over against H6440 Jericho. H3405 And the LORD H3068 shewed H7200 him all the land H776 of Gilead, H1568 unto Dan, H1835
2 And all Naphtali, H5321 and the land H776 of Ephraim, H669 and Manasseh, H4519 and all the land H776 of Judah, H3063 unto the utmost H314 sea, H3220
3 And the south, H5045 and the plain H3603 of the valley H1237 of Jericho, H3405 the city H5892 of palm trees, H8558 H5899 unto Zoar. H6820
4 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, This is the land H776 which I sware H7650 unto Abraham, H85 unto Isaac, H3327 and unto Jacob, H3290 saying, H559 I will give H5414 it unto thy seed: H2233 I have caused thee to see H7200 it with thine eyes, H5869 but thou shalt not go over H5674 thither.
5 So Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 died H4191 there in the land H776 of Moab, H4124 according to the word H6310 of the LORD. H3068
6 And he buried H6912 him in a valley H1516 in the land H776 of Moab, H4124 over against H4136 Bethpeor: H1047 but no man H376 knoweth H3045 of his sepulchre H6900 unto this day. H3117
7 And Moses H4872 was an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 when he died: H4194 his eye H5869 was not dim, H3543 nor his natural force H3893 abated. H5127
8 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 wept H1058 for Moses H4872 in the plains H6160 of Moab H4124 thirty H7970 days: H3117 so the days H3117 of weeping H1065 and mourning H60 for Moses H4872 were ended. H8552
9 And Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun H5126 was full H4392 of the spirit H7307 of wisdom; H2451 for Moses H4872 had laid H5564 his hands H3027 upon him: and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 hearkened H8085 unto him, and did H6213 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
10 And there arose H6965 not a prophet H5030 since H5750 in Israel H3478 like unto Moses, H4872 whom the LORD H3068 knew H3045 face H6440 to face, H6440
11 In all the signs H226 and the wonders, H4159 which the LORD H3068 sent H7971 him to do H6213 in the land H776 of Egypt H4714 to Pharaoh, H6547 and to all his servants, H5650 and to all his land, H776
12 And in all that mighty H2389 hand, H3027 and in all the great H1419 terror H4172 which Moses H4872 shewed H6213 in the sight H5869 of all Israel. H3478
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Deuteronomy 34
Commentary on Deuteronomy 34 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 34
De 34:1-12. Moses from Mount Nebo Views the Land.
1. Moses went up from the plains of Moab—This chapter appears from internal evidence to have been written subsequently to the death of Moses, and it probably formed, at one time, an introduction to the Book of Joshua.
unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah—literally, the head or summit of the Pisgah; that is, the height (compare Nu 23:14; De 3:17-27; 4:49). The general name given to the whole mountain range east of Jordan, was Abarim (compare De 32:49), and the peak to which Moses ascended was dedicated to the heathen Nebo, as Balaam's standing place had been consecrated to Peor. Some modern travellers have fixed on Jebel Attarus, a high mountain south of the Jabbok (Zurka), as the Nebo of this passage [Burckhardt, Seetzen, &c.]. But it is situated too far north for a height which, being described as "over against Jericho," must be looked for above the last stage of the Jordan.
the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead—That pastoral region was discernible at the northern extremity of the mountain line on which he stood, till it ended, far beyond his sight in Dan. Westward, there were on the horizon, the distant hills of "all Naphtali." Coming nearer, was "the land of Ephraim and Manasseh." Immediately opposite was "all the land of Judah," a title at first restricted to the portion of this tribe, beyond which were "the utmost sea" (the Mediterranean) and the Desert of the "South." These were the four great marks of the future inheritance of his people, on which the narrative fixes our attention. Immediately below him was "the circle" of the plain of Jericho, with its oasis of palm trees; and far away on his left, the last inhabited spot before the great desert "Zoar." The foreground of the picture alone was clearly discernible. There was no miraculous power of vision imparted to Moses. That he should see all that is described is what any man could do, if he attained sufficient elevation. The atmosphere of the climate is so subtle and free from vapor that the sight is carried to a distance of which the beholder, who judges from the more dense air of Europe, can form no idea [Vere Monro]. But between him and that "good land," the deep valley of the Jordan intervened; "he was not to go over thither."
5. Moses … died—After having governed the Israelites forty years.
6. he buried him—or, "he was buried in a valley," that is, a ravine or gorge of the Pisgah. Some think that he entered a cave and there died, being, according to an ancient tradition of Jews and Christians, buried by angels (Jude 9; Nu 21:20).
no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day—This concealment seems to have been owing to a special and wise arrangement of Providence, to prevent its being ranked among "holy places," and made the resort of superstitious pilgrims or idolatrous veneration, in after ages.
8. wept for Moses … thirty days—Seven days was the usual period of mourning, but for persons in high rank or official eminence, it was extended to thirty (Ge 50:3-10; Nu 20:29).
9. Joshua … was full of the spirit of wisdom—He was appointed to a peculiar and extraordinary office. He was not the successor of Moses, for he was not a prophet or civil ruler, but the general or leader, called to head the people in the war of invasion and the subsequent allocation of the tribes.
10-12. there arose not a prophet since—In whatever light we view this extraordinary man, the eulogy pronounced in these inspired words will appear just. No Hebrew prophet or ruler equalled him in character or official dignity, or in knowledge of God's will and opportunities of announcing it.