Deuteronômio 34

Deuteronômio 34

PREVIOUS NEXT (Joshua 1) Moses on Mt Nebo (Deuteronomy 34:1+) Listen to Mt Nebo as you Ponder How Moses' May Have Felt Deuteronomy by Irving Jensen- used by permission Source: Ryrie Study Bible Deuteronomy Dt 1:1-4:43 Dt 4:44-26:19 Dt 27:1-34:12 Moses' First Discourse Moses' Second Discourse Moses' Third Discourse Historical Review Legal Exposition Prophetical Promises Looking Back 40 Years Looking Up What God Expected of Israel Looking Ahead What God Will Do for Israel Recapitulation of Wanderings Rehearsal of Israel's Law Ratification of Israel's Covenant Historical Appendices Remembrance of the past Commandments for the Present Dt 27:1-30:20 Blessing and Cursing Dt 31:1-34:12 Death of Moses Take Heed Don't forget Ten Commands Related Commands Two Choices Affecting the Future Moses' Parting Words Dt 1:1-4:43 Looking Back Dt 4:44-11:32 Exposition of Decalogue Dt 12:1-16:17 Ceremonial Laws Dt 16:18-20:20 Civil Laws Dt 21:1-26:19 Social Laws Dt 27:1-28:68 Ratification of Covenant Dt 29:1-30:20 Terms of Covenant Dt 31:1-34:12 Moses' Song, Blessing, Death Plains of Moab ca. 2 Months Moses: Author (Except Dt 34) Deuteronomy 34:1 Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, Mount Nebo: De 32:49 Nu 27:12 Nu 33:47 Pisgah: Nu 21:20 showed him: De 34:4 3:27 Nu 32:33-40 Eze 40:2 Rev 21:10 Dan: Ge 14:14 Jos 19:47 Jdg 18:29 Moses on Mt Nebo (Deuteronomy 34:1+) Listen to Mt Nebo as you Ponder How Moses' May Have Felt SUPERNATURAL SCENE SHOWN TO HIS SERVANT Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan (picture) - Moses' ministry ends as it began—in the very presence of God (Ex 3:1-14+)! See approximate location of Mt Nebo in the red triangle on the map. As was typical of Moses, he obeyed God, this time even knowing he was going to his death. This is an illustration of a soul that is fully surrendered, one who is willing to die to self in the fullest sense! (cf Mark 8:34-39+) As far as Dan is the farthest point north (see red dot in Wikipedia map). Deuteronomy 32:49 “Go up to this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel for a possession. Numbers 27:12-13 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up to this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel. 13 “When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was; THOUGHT - When your time comes to die, the important thing is not the grandeur of your funeral but the greatness of your life. In fact, how you live now will determine how you will die. Moses lived in the heights, and he died in the heights. He often met God on the mountain, saw His glory, and experienced His grace. Keep your mind and heart “in the heavenlies” as you live on earth (Col. 3:1-4+). Moses lived in God’s will and died in God’s will. You never have to fear life or death if you walk in obedience to the Lord. Moses died “the death of the righteous” (Num. 23:10) because he lived the life of the righteous. Finally, Moses lived with a forward vision, and he died with a forward vision as he viewed the Promised Land. The nation so often wanted to go back to Egypt, but he challenged them to go forward to the inheritance God prepared for them. It is good to plan your funeral, but it is also good to live your life in such a way that you will be missed when you are gone. (Warren Wiersbe) Pisgah - Place name perhaps meaning, “the divided one.' Mountain in the Abarim range across the Jordan River from Jericho. Some Bible scholars believe it was part of Mount Nebo; others think it could have been a separate rise, either en-Neba or near modern Khirbet Tsijaga. God allowed Moses to view the Promised Land from the heights of Pisgah (Deuteronomy 34:1) but would not let him cross into Canaan. Israel had camped near Pisgah (Numbers 21:20 ). Balak took Balaam to its height so the prophet could see Israel and curse them (Numbers 23:14 ). It was a limit of Sihon's kingdom (Joshua 12:23 ); Ashdoth-pisgah in KJV and also for the tribe of Reuben (Joshua 13:20 ). (Holman Bible Dictionary) Plains of Moab - 12v - Num. 22:1; Num. 26:3; Num. 26:63; Num. 31:12; Num. 33:48; Num. 33:49; Num. 33:50; Num. 35:1; Num. 36:13; Deut. 34:1; Deut. 34:8; Jos. 13:32 Nebo - 12v - Num. 32:3; Num. 32:38; Num. 33:47; Deut. 32:49; Deut. 34:1; 1 Chr. 5:8; Ezr. 2:29; Ezr. 10:43; Neh. 7:33; Isa. 15:2; Jer. 48:1; Jer. 48:22 Pisgah - 8v - Num. 21:20; Num. 23:14; Deut. 3:17; Deut. 3:27; Deut. 4:49; Deut. 34:1; Jos. 12:3; Jos. 13:20 THE CHRISTIAN'S "CORONATION DAY"! "And the Lord showed him all the land So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died" Deuteronomy 34:1, 5 When I was a sixth grader, an elderly lady visited our one-room country schoolhouse to announce a community event. Though energetic and full of zest for life, she was somewhat stooped, her hair was white, and her face was lined with wrinkles. After she left, one of the boys loudly said, "I never want to get old." The teacher, a bitter unbeliever, countered with the words, "Do you want to die young?" "No," the boy replied. "Well," came the sharp retort, "you will either die young or grow old and die. There are no alternatives." These words made a deep impression on me. I was only a boy, but even young chil­dren think about death. The tone of utter despair in my teacher's voice sent chills down my spine. Without Christ the future is dismal indeed. How different the prospect for the believer! For him old age can be a time of fullness and blessing, and death does not hold the same dread and fear. I like to think of Moses as he went calmly and serenely up the mountain where he knew he would die. Before God took him from this life, He graciously gave him a full view of the land his people would soon enter. He passed from this life full of faith and confident that the Lord's promises of a glorious future for both himself and his people would cer­tainly be realized. Another child of God, Dwight L. Moody, had a glorious and triumphant Home-going. In his final moments he exclaimed, "Heaven opens before me! If this is death, it is sweet! There is no valley here. God is calling and I must go!" "No," said a loved one, "you are dreaming." Moody answered, "No, I'm not dreaming. I have looked within the gates, and I have seen the chil­dren's faces. This is my triumph. This is my coronation day!" Like Moses, Moody had seen the Promised Land — and then peacefully "fallen asleep" in the arms of God! Death need not trouble the Christian—his future is as sure as the promises of God! The Best Is Yet to Come The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27 Today's Scripture & Insight: Deuteronomy 34:1–12 Are the best days of your life behind or in front of you? Our outlook on life—and our answer to that question—can change with time. When we’re younger, we look ahead, wanting to grow up. And once we’ve grown older, we yearn for the past, wanting to be young again. But when we walk with God, whatever our age, the best is yet to come! Over the course of his long life, Moses witnessed the amazing things God did, and many of those amazing things happened when he was no longer a young man. Moses was 80 years old when he confronted Pharaoh and saw God miraculously set His people free from slavery (Ex. 3–13). Moses saw the Red Sea part, saw manna fall from heaven, and even spoke with God “face to face” (14:21; 16:4; 33:11). Throughout his life, Moses lived expectantly, looking ahead to what God would do (Heb. 11:24–27). He was 120 years old in his final year of life on this earth, and even then he understood that his life with God was just getting started and that he would never see an end to God’s greatness and love. O Lord my God, I praise You for all You have done in the past. I look forward with thankfulness for all You will do in the future. And I thank You for today and all Your blessings. When we walk with God, the best is yet to come. The Great Awakening God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 Today's Scripture & Insight: Deuteronomy 34:1–8 I have a treasured memory of gatherings with family friends when our boys were small. The adults would talk into the night; our children, weary with play would curl up on a couch or chair and fall asleep. When it was time to leave, I would gather our boys into my arms, carry them to the car, lay them in the back seat, and take them home. When we arrived, I would pick them up again, tuck them into their beds, kiss them goodnight, and turn out the light. In the morning they would awaken—at home. This has become a rich metaphor for me of the night on which we “sleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14 kjv). We slumber . . . and awaken in our eternal home, the home that will heal the weariness that has marked our days. I came across an Old Testament text the other day that surprised me—a closing comment in Deuteronomy: “Moses . . . died there in Moab, as the Lord had said” (34:5). The Hebrew means literally, “Moses died . . . with the mouth of the Lord,” a phrase ancient rabbis translated, “With the kiss of the Lord.” Heavenly Father, because Your arms carry us, we can sleep in peace. For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. —William Penn Deuteronomy 34 Sunset Boulevard Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Sunset Boulevard tells the story of Norma Desmond, a former silent film star. When the talking movies came into fashion, she lost her audience. As an older woman, she longed for the glory of her past. In her mind, silent facial expressions alone made a good movie­—not dialogue. In the song “With One Look” Norma sings: With one look I can break your heart; With one look I play every part … With one look I’ll ignite a blaze; I’ll return to my glory days. Because Norma lived in the past, her life ended in tragedy. It’s been said that each life is like a book, lived one chapter at a time. If you think your most fruitful years are behind you, remember you’re writing a new chapter now. Learn to live each day with contentment in the present. Near the end of Moses’ life, God showed him the Promised Land. Clearly, he had accomplished his mission in life. But he didn’t long for the miracles of his “glory days.” Instead, Moses was content to obey God in the present. In his sunset years, he mentored Joshua to be his successor (Deut. 31:1-8). Living contentedly in the present has a way of making us productive for a lifetime—for God’s glory. —Dennis Fisher I give my life to You, O Lord, And live for You each day; Grant me contentment as I strive To follow and obey. —Sper Living in the past paralyzes the present and bankrupts the future. QUESTION - What is the significance of Mount Nebo in the Bible? ANSWER - Mount Nebo in the Bible is a high mountain in Moab where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death. Rising more than 4,000 feet above the Dead Sea, Mount Nebo is situated on the east side of the Jordan River opposite the city of Jericho. During the final phase of Israel’s journey to the Promised Land, the Israelites camped in Moab near Mount Nebo. Before Moses died, God called him to climb to the top of Mount Nebo: “On that same day the LORD told Moses, ‘Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho, and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession. There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. . . . You will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel’” (Deuteronomy 32:48–52). This same account at Mount Nebo is first mentioned in the Bible in Numbers 27:12–14. God told Moses that he would die on Mount Nebo overlooking Canaan. Moses’ prayer to see the Promised Land would be answered, but he would not enter the land because of what happened when he struck the rock at Meribah Kadesh (Deuteronomy 3:23–28). Moses and his brother Aaron had failed God that day with their anger, pride, disobedience, and lack of trust. After seeing the Promised Land from this high vantage point, Moses died on Mount Nebo and was buried in the vicinity: “Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, ‘This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, “I will give it to your descendants.” I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.’ And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is” (Deuteronomy 34:1–6). Mount Nebo is also the likely site of the conflict between Satan and the archangel Michael over the body of Moses (Jude 1:9). In extrabiblical Jewish literature, the prophet Jeremiah is said to have hidden the ark of the covenant, the tent of meeting, and the altar of incense in a cave on Mount Nebo. According to 2 Maccabees 2:4–8, Jeremiah received a revelation to take the tabernacle and the ark to a cave on the mountain and seal the entrance. The cave would then remain undiscovered until God gathers all His people together. Mount Nebo, located today in in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, still offers comprehensive views of the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, the West Bank, and, on clear days, even Jericho and Jerusalem. GotQuestions.org THE DEATH OF MOSES Deuteronomy 34 - James Smith “A change from woe to joy, from earth to Heaven, Death gives me this; it leads me calmly where The souls that long ago from mine were riven May meet again; death answers many a prayer. Bright day shine on! be glad; days brighter far Are stretched before my eyes than those of mortals are.”—NICOLL. When Moses stood on the top of Pisgah it was not as “a trembling candidate for God’s compassion,” but as a servant who had found great favour with Him, as one whose work was finished before his strength and vigour were exhausted Like the law which he represented, he was set aside before his natural force was abated. There are some things about this unique departure of Moses that suggest characteristics which belong to the death of every saint. It was— I. A Going Up. “And Moses went up to the top of Pisgah” (v. 1). Going up to die. What a thought! Mounting up in spirit to the gate of Heaven that we might depart and be with Christ. “Like Enoch, he was not, for God took him.” In dying the body departs to the earth, but the spirit to God, who made it and saved it. Those who live on the hill top of communion with the Father have not far to go when the home-call comes. II. Lonely. Moses was alone with God on the mount (v. 6). With regard to the friendships of earth, every man is alone when he meets God. Over this Jordan no human hand can guide. But the dying servant of God does not feel any loss at the absence of the kinsman according to the flesh; they are so filled with the glory of His presence that they forget the things which are behind. Alone, but without any feeling of loneliness. At home with God. III. Full of a Satisfying Vision. “The Lord showed him all the land” (v. 1). This vision of the land of promise had been before him for many years, but now the Lord caused him to see it (v. 4). If he did not enter into it, he did in spirit enter into the rest that comes throūgh trusting in a faithful God. Moses is not alone in his seeming failure here. Are there not many spiritual privileges into which we have failed to enter because of our unbelief? Yet, blessed be the God of all grace, the vision of His mercy and faithfulness in Christ will satisfy the soul while in its last pantings on earth. “I shall be satisfied when I awake in His likeness.” IV. In the Presence of the Lord. “The Lord said unto him,” etc. (chap. 10:4). To die in His presence is to die into His presence, and to be for ever with the Lord. “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Yea, saith the Spirit” (Rev. 14:13). “It is not death to die when He is near.” No, it is only entering into a fuller possession of the life of God. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me” (Psa. 23). V. According to His Word. “So Moses the servant of the Lord died, according to the word of the Lord” (v. 5). It is still so with the saints of God, His Word is, “He that believeth in Me shall never die.” Be it unto me according to Thy Word. “O death, where is thy sting; O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In His victory death is swallowed up (1 Cor. 15:54–57). VI. While His Faculties were Unimpared. “When he died his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated” (v. 7). We have no reason to expect that physically it shall be so with us when the hour of our departure comes (Psa. 90:10). But the new man created after Christ Jesus, his eye shall not be dim, nor his force abated. “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall exchange strength, and mount up with wings as eagles” (Isa. 40:30, 31). Those who die in the Lord die in His strength. In Him the eye of our hope need never grow dim, nor the natural force of our faith ever abate. VII. Followed by a Unique Funeral. “He buried him, but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day” (v. 6). It is no real loss although no man may know where a servant of God lies buried, God knows. He superintends the funeral of every servant of His. In the resurrection not a member will be left behind. The devil contended with Michael about the body of Moses (Jude 9). Did he wish to claim it because Moses had killed an Egyptian, or because he had failed to sanctify the Lord in the wilderness of Zion? (Num. 20:10–13). The body is the Lord’s as well as the spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). Is the Lord not contending for our bodies even now? (Rom. 12:1), and is not the devil still disputing this? Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask - DEUTERONOMY 34:1ff—How could Moses have written this chapter which records his own death? PROBLEM: Deuteronomy 34 is a record of the death of Moses in the valley of Moab. However, the Book of Deuteronomy has traditionally been held to be the work of Moses. How could Moses have written this chapter that records his own death and burial? SOLUTION: First, it is not necessary to conclude that Moses could not have written his own obituary. It is entirely within the power of God to reveal the future in minute detail (cf. Daniel 2; 7; 9; 12). It is not unreasonable to believe that the Spirit of God, through Moses, penned this final chapter. Whether we take this chapter as from the pen of Moses or from the pen of Joshua or some other author, it does not at all imply that Moses was not the author of the text of Deuteronomy or the other four books of the Pentateuch. Second, it is entirely reasonable to assume that someone, perhaps Joshua, added this final chapter to the books of Moses as a fitting conclusion to the life of this great man of God. It is not at all an uncommon practice for someone to add an obituary to the end of a work by a great man. This would be similar to the practice of one author writing a preface to the work of another author. Deuteronomy 34:2 and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, De 11:24 Ex 23:31 Nu 34:6 Jos 15:12 and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the western sea - See the map for the vista Moses beheld. The western sea of course is the Mediterranean Sea. Deuteronomy 34:3 and the Negev and the plain in the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. the city of palm: Jdg 1:16 3:13 2Ch 28:15 Zoar: Ge 14:2,8 19:22 Nu 34:3 " View from Mt Nebo toward Zoar (HCSB) and the Negev and the plain in the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar - The Negev "is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The region's largest city and administrative capital is Beersheba (modern pop. 209,687), in the north. At its southern end is the Gulf of Aqaba and the resort city of Eilat." Another name for Jericho is the city of palm trees. QUESTION - What is the significance of Jericho in the Bible? ANSWER - Jericho is believed to be one of the oldest cities in the world. In the Bible, Jericho is best known as the location of an astonishing miracle God performed. Jericho was the first city conquered by Israel after crossing the Jordan River and occupying the Promised Land (Joshua 5:13—6:23). Jericho’s location was key to its significance. The city was situated in the lower Jordan Valley, just west of the Jordan River and about ten miles northwest of the Dead Sea. It sat in the broadest part of the Jordan plain more than 800 feet below sea level and nearly 3,500 feet below Jerusalem, which was only 17 miles away. This geographical detail explains why Jesus said in His parable that the good Samaritan “went down from Jerusalem to Jericho” (Luke 10:30). In dramatic contrast to its desert surroundings, Jericho thrived as a fertile, spring-fed oasis. In the Old Testament, it was often called the “City of Palms” for its abundance of palm trees (Deuteronomy 34:3; Judges 1:16; 3:13; 2 Chronicles 28:15). Strategically located as a border city, ancient Jericho controlled important migration routes between the north and south, and the east and west. Eventually, the town became part of the allotment of the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:12, 21). After the death of Moses, God selected Joshua, son of Nun, to lead the people of Israel. Under the Lord’s direction, they entered Canaan and began to take possession of the land. The first city standing in Israel’s way was Jericho, a secure fortress with high, formidable walls. Joshua sent spies to investigate the city. Rahab the harlot, knowing that Israel’s God was going to overthrow Jericho, hid the spies and later helped them escape (Joshua 2). Before the battle of Jericho, God gave Joshua specific instructions for the men of war to march in silence around the city once each day for six days. The priests were to walk with them, blowing ram’s horns and carrying the ark of the covenant as a sign of God’s presence among them. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. At the appropriate signal, the priests were to blow their trumpets, and the people were to give a mighty shout. They did exactly as Joshua commanded, and on the seventh day the walls of Jericho crumbled. The soldiers went in and took the city, destroying it completely. Only Rahab and her family were spared. As the first city to fall in the conquest of Canaan, the whole of it was devoted to the Lord (Joshua 6:17). The people of Israel were to take no spoils of war; Joshua gave a clear command that “all the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury” (verse 19). In this way, Jericho was a “tithe” to the Lord who gave them the victory. God’s people were to honor Him with the firstfruits of the conquest. Achan violated this order and brought ruin on himself and his family. After the destruction of Jericho, Joshua placed a curse on anyone who might rebuild the city (Joshua 6:26). Jericho remained unoccupied until the time of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, about 500 years later. Then Joshua’s word was fulfilled when Hiel of Bethel rebuilt the city, at the cost of the lives of two of his sons (1 Kings 16:34). Jericho is mentioned briefly in the book of Judges, which says that Jericho served as a provincial outpost for Eglon the King of Moab who held Israel under tribute for 18 years (Judges 3:13). In 1 Chronicles 19:5, King David sent word for his mistreated delegates to remain in Jericho until their beards regrew. In 2 Kings 2:4–18, Jericho appears to have been the home of a “school of the prophets.” Also reported at Jericho was Elisha’s miraculous purifying of a spring (2 Kings 2:19–22). During the reign of Ahaz, a group of prisoners was spared, clothed, fed, and cared for at Jericho (2 Chronicles 28:15). The final Old Testament mention of events in Jericho was the capture of King Zedekiah after fleeing the Chaldean army (2 Kings 25:2–7; Jeremiah 39:5; 52:8). Ezra 2:34 and Nehemiah 7:36 report that the number of Jericho’s inhabitants after the return from exile under Zerubbabel was 345. These “son of Jericho” participated in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Jericho played a minor role in the ministry of Jesus. The Lord healed two blind men near the city of Jericho (Matthew 20:29–34). He also encountered Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, while passing through Jericho (Luke 19:1–10). When Jesus dined in the home of Zacchaeus, He was probably visiting one of the finest houses in Jericho. The gospels seem to indicate that Jericho, an affluent city in Christ’s day, had many beggars (Matthew 20:29–34; Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:35–43). The Jericho of New Testament times was built by Herod more than a mile to the south of the Old Testament location, at the mouth of the Wadi Qilt. Today, the modern city of Jericho includes both sites. GotQuestions.org Deuteronomy 34:4 Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants'; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there." land: Ge 12:7 13:15 15:18-21 26:3 28:13 Ps 105:9-11 I have caused: De 3:26,27 32:52 Nu 20:12 Joh 1:17 YAHWEH REAFFIRMS THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants'; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there." Hard Sayings of the Bible - F F Bruce, et al - Deut 34:5–8 Prewritten Posthumous Writing? If Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy, indeed even the Pentateuch itself, how could he have written of his own death? What is more, he would have needed to describe not only his own death, but also the general location of his burial plot, with the added knowledge that no one knew where it was “to this day,” whatever that would mean from the standpoint of Moses having written it, along with the mourning process that took place after that. How was all of this possible? Few will be willing to debate the thesis that Moses was not the author of this last chapter of Deuteronomy. There are just too many expressions that make little or no sense if placed in Moses’ mouth. For example, the phrases “to this day” (Deut 34:6), “since then, no prophet has risen” (Deut 34:10) and “for no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel” (Deut 34:12) just do not seem naturally attributed to Moses. On the contrary, such expressions must be put along with the other “post-Mosaica” such as Numbers 12:3 and treated as additions which were added by a later writer under the inspiration of the Spirit of God or as early glosses that were brought into the text under divine approval. Ancient Jews held that Joshua was the one whom the Spirit of God authorized to add statements such as appear in Deuteronomy 34 to the book Moses had left. The evidence generally cited for this view, which is also shared by a number of evangelical believers, is found in Joshua 24:26: “And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God” (a reference that many of us take to be pointing to the Pentateuch). If this is a correct assessment of the situation, then Moses did not write Deuteronomy 34 as a prognostication of his death and the events that would surround it. Instead, it was his understudy, Joshua, who undertook the task at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. Moses: Jos 1:1 Mal 4:4 Joh 8:35,36 2Ti 2:25 Heb 3:3-6 2Pe 1:1 Rev 15:3 died there: De 31:14 Dt 32:50 Jos 1:1,2 THE GREATEST TITLE THE SERVANT OF THE LORD So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. John Maxwell - Moses then “died … according to the word of the LORD” (v. 5). This phrase has been interpreted by the rabbis to mean that “he died by the kiss of the Lord.” This interpretation comes from the literal meaning of this phrase, which is “he died at the mouth of the Lord.” (Preacher's Commentary) Henry