Deuteronomy 34:1, commentary and pictures

Moses, after giving his final words to Israel, went up alone from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah on Mount Nebo opposite Jericho, the highest ridge and highest point he could reach. Though old, his eyes were clear and undimmed and his strength was firm and unabated as he stood in God's presence to look his fill upon the land he was not allowed to enter and there to die. The Lord spread before him a clear panoramic view of the whole of Canaan, from Gilead unto Dan, west to the Great Sea, north to Hermon, east across Moab to Bashan, and south to the desert, magnificent in richness and beauty like a second Eden, fertile and well-watered. Angels pointed out its regions and where the tribes would settle, and he saw the people he had led standing in their inheritance, learning that God watched over the land throughout the year and that keeping its home and rich blessings depended on faithful obedience to His commandments. The panorama reached beyond the land to Christ's appearing at His first advent, His rejection and death on the cross, then to His second advent and the resurrection of the just, and to the meeting of the first Adam and Christ the second Adam when Eden shall bloom on earth again, after which he died and the Son of God raised him and took him to Heaven. His calling to the top of Pisgah to have the glory of the promised land spread before him as he laid down his life with his burden for Israel was communion with God in the mount granted before death, one of God's calls to come up into the mount before every great trial, important work, and decisive moment, giving spiritual refreshing and preparation for what follows.

Ascent to Pisgah Summit

Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah opposite Jericho. That Pisgah was the highest ridge, and Nebo its highest point, the highest point he could reach. The ascent came after he had given his final words to Israel. He stood there alone in God's presence.

Though old, his eyes were clear and undimmed. His strength was firm and unabated, his eye not dimmed through age. He was upon that mount to die. He saw the land to his satisfaction even though he was not allowed to enter it.

Panorama of Promise Revealed

The Lord opened the whole land of Canaan to view in a clear panorama, including Gilead as far as Dan. The sight stretched west to the Great Sea, north to Mount Hermon, east across the table-land of Moab to Bashan where Israel had triumphed, and south to the desert of the long wanderings. It was the home Israel would possess, with its blessings shown on condition of faithful obedience to God's commandments.

The land lay spread out in richness and beauty, magnificent and fertile under God's blessing upon it, as it were a second Eden. Its soil was fertile and well-watered, bearing grain fields and fruit trees, with vineyards, flowers, cities, water, and other produce. Angels pointed out its regions and the places where the tribes would settle. He saw the people he had led standing in the land of their inheritance, and learned that God watched over the land throughout the year and that its home and rich blessings depended on faithful obedience.

After the view he died, angels buried him, but the Son of God soon came down, raised him from the dead, and took him to Heaven. The view passed before him as a panorama and reached beyond the land to the appearing of Christ at His first advent. It showed His rejection by the Jewish nation and His death upon the cross, then Christ's second advent and the resurrection of the just, and the meeting of the two Adams — Adam the first, and Christ the second Adam — when Eden shall bloom on earth again.

God's calling of Moses to the top of Pisgah to spread the glory of the promised land before him as he laid down his life with his burden for Israel was communion with God in the mount granted before death. It fulfills God's bidding to come up into the mount before every great trial and important work. It is one of God's calls to come up into the mount for communion before a decisive moment, giving spiritual refreshing and preparation for what follows.