Topical Bible: Moses: Mourning For, Thirty Days in the Plains of Moab

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Topical Encyclopedia

Moses, the great prophet and leader of the Israelites, is a central figure in the Old Testament. His death marked the end of an era for the Israelites, who had been led by him out of Egyptian bondage and through the wilderness for forty years. The mourning for Moses is a significant event recorded in the Scriptures, highlighting the deep respect and love the Israelites had for their leader.

Biblical Account

The mourning for Moses is detailed in the Book of Deuteronomy. After Moses viewed the Promised Land from Mount Nebo, he died in the land of Moab, as the LORD had said. The LORD Himself buried Moses in a valley in Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but to this day, no one knows the exact location of his grave (Deuteronomy 34:5-6). The Israelites mourned for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days, a period of mourning that was customary for a person of great importance. The Scripture states: "The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end" (Deuteronomy 34:8).

Significance of the Mourning Period

The thirty-day mourning period for Moses reflects the profound impact he had on the Israelite community. As a prophet, lawgiver, and leader, Moses was instrumental in shaping the identity and faith of the Israelites. His leadership was marked by his intimate relationship with God, his role in delivering the Law, and his intercession on behalf of the people. The mourning period allowed the Israelites to express their grief and honor the memory of the man who had been their guide and mediator.

Transition of Leadership

The mourning for Moses also marked a transition in leadership. Joshua, the son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. The Israelites listened to Joshua and did as the LORD had commanded Moses (Deuteronomy 34:9). This transition was crucial for the continuation of the journey into the Promised Land, as Joshua would lead the people in the conquest of Canaan.

Cultural and Theological Context

In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, mourning practices were an essential part of honoring the deceased. The thirty-day period of mourning for Moses was a significant expression of the communal grief experienced by the Israelites. Theologically, the mourning period underscores the human aspect of loss and the need for closure, even as the people of God continued to trust in His promises and guidance.

Moses' death and the subsequent mourning period serve as a reminder of the transient nature of human leadership and the enduring faithfulness of God. The Israelites' mourning for Moses in the plains of Moab is a testament to the legacy of a leader who faithfully served God and His people.

Nave's Topical Index

Deuteronomy 34:8
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.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Last Words of Moses
... The Israelites wept for Moses on the plain of Moab thirty days, and then
the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the last words of moses.htm

Chapter l
... For Moses they mourned but thirty days (De 34:8 ... And the Canaanites, the inhabitants
of the land, beheld the mourning in Goren Atad and they said: Heavy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter l.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... called Xerxes, was at that time thirty-four years ... Several days passed in skirmishing
without definite results ... Persian horse if he ventured down into the plains. ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... growth of the young generations to whom Moses or Joshua ... the hand of their enemies
all the days of the ... the latter river, and, spreading over the plains of Mount ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... Nehushtan, the origin of which was attributed to Moses.***. ... called them to "weeping,
and to mourning, and to ... disburse immediately a ransom of thirty talents of ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... forests, which the peasants of our own days have thinned ... a series of steep inclines
to arid plains, fringed or ... rises some five and twenty to thirty feet above ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... the fashionable women of Jerusalem during the last thirty years of ... 24:7 to a writing
in which Moses is said ... the Lord and to His goodness in the latter days."**. ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... reign of Arbakes, instead of the number thirty, to give ... those of Athens and Sparta
in the days of Darius ... the steppes of Southern Russia into the plains of the ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... the Trojan war,*** one thousand before Moses, and six ... standing on his right hand
and thirty on his ... remained in the neighbourhood for three days, hovering near ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm