Topical Bible: Death: Scenes of Death of Moses

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The death of Moses, a pivotal figure in the Old Testament, marks the end of an era for the Israelites and the conclusion of the Pentateuch. Moses, the servant of the LORD, led the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, received the Law at Sinai, and guided the people through the wilderness for forty years. His death is recorded in Deuteronomy 34, a chapter that provides a poignant and solemn account of his final moments.

Location and Circumstances

Moses' death occurs on Mount Nebo, specifically on the summit of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. The LORD had previously instructed Moses to ascend this mountain to view the Promised Land, which he would not enter due to his disobedience at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20:12). Deuteronomy 34:1-4 describes this moment: "Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which faces Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land... And the LORD said to him, 'This is the land I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your descendants. I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross into it.'"

Moses' Death

Moses' death is described with simplicity and dignity. Deuteronomy 34:5-6 states, "So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, as the LORD had said. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but to this day no one knows the location of his grave." The text emphasizes that Moses died "as the LORD had said," indicating the fulfillment of God's word and the divine orchestration of his passing. The unique detail that God Himself buried Moses underscores the special relationship between the LORD and His servant.

Moses' Legacy

Moses was 120 years old at the time of his death, yet the text notes that "his eyes were not dim, nor had his vigor abated" (Deuteronomy 34:7). This description highlights Moses' enduring strength and vitality, a testament to his extraordinary life and leadership. The Israelites mourned for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days, a period of national grief and reflection on the loss of their leader (Deuteronomy 34:8).

Transition of Leadership

Following Moses' death, leadership transitioned to Joshua, the son of Nun, who was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him (Deuteronomy 34:9). This transition signifies the continuation of God's plan for Israel, as Joshua would lead the people into the Promised Land, fulfilling the promise made to the patriarchs.

Moses' Unique Role

The final verses of Deuteronomy 34 reflect on Moses' unparalleled role as a prophet: "Since then, no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. For all the signs and wonders the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh and all his officials and all his land, and for all the mighty acts of power and terrifying deeds that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel" (Deuteronomy 34:10-12). Moses' intimate relationship with God and his role as a mediator and lawgiver set him apart as a central figure in the history of Israel and in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

Nave's Topical Index

Deuteronomy 31:14-30
And the LORD said to Moses, Behold, your days approach that you must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.
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Deuteronomy 32:1-52
Give ear, O you heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
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Deuteronomy 33:1-29
And this is the blessing, with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
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Deuteronomy 34:1-7
And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead, to Dan,
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Library

From Kadesh to the Death of Moses.
... Final Scenes at Kadesh. ... (3) Moses asked permission of the King of Edom to pass peaceably
through his land and was refused. ... (1) The death of Aaron in Mount Hor ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter vii from kadesh to.htm

Author's Preface.
... Chapter VII. From Kadesh to the Death of Moses. ... Events of the forty years' wandering.
Final scenes at Kadesh. ... Last acts of Moses. Last scene on Moab. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tidwell/the bible period by period/authors preface.htm

On Our Lord's Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension
... People who could enjoy such scenes as men slaying one ... which Christ died, because
by His death He showed ... God; also the rod that Aaron"Moses' brother"changed ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 8 on our lords.htm

Joshua
... completely effected till long after Joshua's death: indeed the ... associated with him
as Aaron with Moses (Exodus 8:5 ... is not particularly rich in scenes of direct ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/joshua.htm

Victory Over Death.
... And he does not mean particularly the law of Moses. ... Either very few death-beds are
Christian ones, or else ... Rapture is a rare thing, except in books and scenes. ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xvii victory over death.htm

Imprisonment and Death of John
... eyes to behold the light of day, the scenes of nature ... The witness borne of him after
his death, by those who ... the dead, as Elijah did, nor to wield Moses' rod of ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 22 imprisonment and death.htm

Deuteronomy
... The book ends with an account of the death of Moses ... it was written by Moses"eg,
"when Moses had made ... written,[1] these shrines, which were the scenes of an ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/deuteronomy.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1812 to the Death of ...
... the Canadas, as those places were the principal scenes of the ... hands or bound or open
are, as Moses or Elijah ... me." " "I would not be loved to death, and so ...
/.../chapter 2 from the close.htm

The Earlier Hebrew Histories.
... I think that this is the first intimation, after the death of Moses, that the ...
commandments have been disobeyed, form one of the most striking scenes of the ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter iv the earlier hebrew.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... trade, slavery, and war, will call to mind scenes of vice ... nor was he better at all
in his death; such may ... me for condemning him, as they did at Moses for doing ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm