The Farewell and Death of Moses

In the fortieth year after the exodus, with Israel camped east of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses addressed the people for the last time (Deuteronomy 1:1–5). The book of Deuteronomy is presented as these speeches. In them he restates the law and makes a covenant in Moab “in addition to the covenant which he made with them in Horeb” (Deuteronomy 29:1). It binds everyone present, from the leaders to the woodcutters and water-carriers, and also “those who are not here with us today” (Deuteronomy 29:10–15). He sets before them life and death, blessing and curse, and urges them to choose life (Deuteronomy 30:15–20).

Moses, now a hundred and twenty years old, told the people that he would not cross the Jordan, and charged Joshua in the sight of all Israel to be strong and courageous (Deuteronomy 31:1–8). He had earlier laid his hands on Joshua before the priest Eleazar and the whole community (Numbers 27:18–23). Deuteronomy says that Moses wrote “this law” and gave it to the priests and elders, to be read aloud to all Israel every seventh year at the feast of tents, and that the book was placed beside the ark as a witness (Deuteronomy 31:9–13) (Deuteronomy 31:24–26). He taught the people a song and pronounced a last blessing on Israel (Deuteronomy 31:22, 30) (Deuteronomy 33:1).

He had asked to be allowed to cross and had been refused (Deuteronomy 3:23–28); the reason given in the command to go up the mountain is his failure at the waters of Meribah (Deuteronomy 32:48–52). He went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, opposite Jericho, and was shown the whole land, from Gilead and Dan to the western sea and south to Zoar. “I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there” (Deuteronomy 34:1–4). Moses died there in the land of Moab and was buried in a valley opposite Beth-peor, “but no man knows where his tomb is to this day”. Israel wept for him thirty days (Deuteronomy 34:5–8).

The book closes with the judgment that no prophet has since arisen in Israel like Moses, “whom Yahweh knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10–12). Earlier in the book Moses promises a prophet like himself (Deuteronomy 18:15–18), and in Acts Peter applies that promise to Jesus (Acts 3:12, 22). In the Gospels Moses appears with Elijah at the transfiguration (Luke 9:28–31). The New Testament names the first part of the Scriptures after him, “the law of Moses” (Luke 24:44).