1 “And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And 2 the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan; and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the 3 land of Judah, unto the hinder sea; and the South, and the plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. 4 And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, 5 but thou shalt not go over thither. So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the 6 word of the Lord. And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-peor; but no man knoweth of 7 his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye was not dim, nor his 8 natural force abated. 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. 9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him; and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses. And 10 there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto 11 Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face; in all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land; 12 and in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terror, which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel.”
Golden Text.—“The Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” Ex. 33:11.
Special Helps.—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” Ch. 43, pages 469–480.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) At the time contemplated in this lesson, where was Israel encamped? To what high eminence did Moses go? What did the Lord there show him? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) What other regions are mentioned? Verses 2, 3. (3) What did the Lord say to Moses concerning this land? What was the limit of Moses’ privilege? Verse 4. Note 2. (4) What then befell Moses? For what reason was Moses thus cut off? Verse 5. Note 3. (5) What is said of the burial of Moses? Verse 6. Note 4. (6) How old was Moses at this time? What is said of his physical condition? Verse 7. Note 5. (7) What token of respect was shown to Moses by the people? Verse 8. (8) Who became Moses’ successor in office? How was he specially qualified for the position? How had Moses recognized Joshua as his successor? How was Joshua received by the people? Verse 9. Note 6. (9) What is said of Moses as a prophet? Verses 10–12. Note 7.
NOTES.
1. “The plains of Moab” lay to the north of the Dead Sea and east of the Jordan River. Israel was encamped there. Nebo (now called Nebo) is the highest summit of Pisgah, in the Abarim range. See Deut. 32:49. One spur on this peak is 3,586 feet high, and commands an extensive view.
2. Moses’ vision of the promised land notwithstanding the altitude of his position, was more extended than was possible with the natural eye. It included the land which the Lord had sworn to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that is designated as extending from the “river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.” Gen. 15:18. The vision was not only broad from the standpoint of natural sight, but it was a prophetic view. However, the land described in this lesson was the primary objective point of the people under Moses’ immediate command, and it was to this land that he was prohibited from going. In the greater inheritance of Abraham and his spiritual seed (Rom. 4:13) he had an undisputed interest. His resurrection is proof of that fact. Jude 9; Matt. 17:1–8.
3. Moses died because on one occasion, when provoked by the perversity of the people, he failed to do exactly as the Lord had commanded him. Num. 20:7–12; Deut. 32:48–52.
4. Notwithstanding the failure of Moses to give glory to God on that occasion, the Lord honored him with a divine burial. It is well that He purposely records the fact that “no man knoweth his sepulchre,” else there would have been in ancient times, as in more modern days, no end of idolatrous superstitions connected with it.
5. Moses’ condition of health and strength shows that physically he was not disqualified for leading the people into the promised land. Man would have deemed it a dangerous experiment to change leaders at such a critical moment. But there is in this the lesson for us that God is not dependent upon any man, no matter what his experience, or influence, or other apparent qualification. He is always prepared for any emergency.
6. The humble submission of Moses to the will of the Lord showed that he was not grieved at the judgment in his case. He willingly set apart his servant Joshua as his successor in office; he gave his blessing and a most excellent and timely charge. His own dismissal from office did not in the least abate his deep concern for the welfare of his people, nor his confidence that the cause of redemption would finally triumph.
7. The appearance in Israel of Jesus of Nazareth, who was the Prophet like unto Moses, modifies to that extent the declaration that there hath not arisen one like to him. Of course Jesus must be excepted, but He is the only exception. When these words were written, and for centuries afterward, Jesus as a prophet had not arisen in Israel.
