Moses Stands on a Mountain Top with His StaffBible World
34:3Deuteronomy 34:3
And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
From Pisgah on Mount Nebo Moses was shown the whole land of Canaan, including the southern district and the palm-filled plain of the valley of Jericho stretching to Zoar. He stood there alone with God and the angels on the highest point over against Jericho, looking in every direction until he had seen it all to his satisfaction. Though one hundred and twenty years old with undimmed eye and unabated strength, he was there to die, and after the view angels buried him where Israel could never find him, and Christ soon raised him and took him to heaven. What he saw was the fertile, well-watered inheritance sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, passing before him like a second Eden, that he might fully realize the rich blessings Israel would enjoy through faithful obedience. The same view reached beyond to Christ's first coming and rejection and death, and to His second coming and the resurrection when the two Adams shall meet and Eden shall bloom again, showing that communion with God in the mount refreshes and reveals His glory before life's work is laid down.
Moses Views from Pisgah
The south, the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees which is Jericho, and the country unto Zoar were part of the whole land of Canaan shown to Moses from Pisgah, from Mount Nebo, from the mountaintop. The southern territory and the plain of the Jericho valley extending to Zoar belonged to the promised inheritance sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which Moses was permitted to see though he was not to enter it. He saw the whole land, Israel's promised home, and the places where the tribes would live. The regions of the panoramic view were pointed out to him by angels.
He was called to the top of Pisgah, the highest prominence attainable over against Jericho, and there stood alone in the presence of God and heavenly angels. From that mountain he looked out over the promised land in every direction. He continued looking until he had viewed Canaan to his satisfaction.
The plain is the plain of the Jordan near Jericho, extending southward to Zoar. Jericho is identified as the city of palm trees, and the abundance of palms across the river made this fertile plain remind some Israelites of the Nile region.
He was one hundred and twenty years old, with eye not dimmed and natural force not abated, with clear sight and firm, unabated strength, yet he was there to die. After he had viewed Canaan to his satisfaction he lay down like a tired warrior to rest in the sleep of death on Mount Nebo. Angels buried his body in the valley where Israel could never find it, to prevent idolatry over his body. The Son of God soon came down and raised him from the dead and took him to heaven.
Promise, Prophecy, and Preparation
The south and the plain of the valley of Jericho unto Zoar shown to Moses were part of the promised inheritance sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was Israel's promised home opened before him, though he himself was not to enter it. From Mount Nebo he was shown the places where the tribes of Israel would live.
The country thus spread before him was fertile, well watered, and rich in grain fields and fruit trees. Its landscape belonged to an abundant land bearing fruit trees, flowers, water, grain, vineyards, and honey. With God's blessing upon it, it passed before him as a panorama like a second Eden.
From that view he understood and fully realized the rich blessings Israel would enjoy if they faithfully obeyed God's commandments. The same view carried him beyond Canaan to the appearing of Christ at His first advent. He was shown Christ's rejection by the Jewish nation and His death on 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 called Moses to the top of Pisgah before he laid down his life with his burden for Israel, and spread out before him the glory of the promised land. That communion with God in the mount prepares for laying down life's work, giving spiritual refreshing and a view of God's glory before the close.
From Pisgah on Mount Nebo Moses was shown the whole land of Canaan, including the southern district and the palm-filled plain of the valley of Jericho stretching to Zoar. He stood there alone with God and the angels on the highest point over against Jericho, looking in every direction until he had seen it all to his satisfaction. Though one hundred and twenty years old with undimmed eye and unabated strength, he was there to die, and after the view angels buried him where Israel could never find him, and Christ soon raised him and took him to heaven. What he saw was the fertile, well-watered inheritance sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, passing before him like a second Eden, that he might fully realize the rich blessings Israel would enjoy through faithful obedience. The same view reached beyond to Christ's first coming and rejection and death, and to His second coming and the resurrection when the two Adams shall meet and Eden shall bloom again, showing that communion with God in the mount refreshes and reveals His glory before life's work is laid down.
Moses Views from Pisgah
The south, the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees which is Jericho, and the country unto Zoar were part of the whole land of Canaan shown to Moses from Pisgah, from Mount Nebo, from the mountaintop. The southern territory and the plain of the Jericho valley extending to Zoar belonged to the promised inheritance sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which Moses was permitted to see though he was not to enter it. He saw the whole land, Israel's promised home, and the places where the tribes would live. The regions of the panoramic view were pointed out to him by angels.
He was called to the top of Pisgah, the highest prominence attainable over against Jericho, and there stood alone in the presence of God and heavenly angels. From that mountain he looked out over the promised land in every direction. He continued looking until he had viewed Canaan to his satisfaction.
The plain is the plain of the Jordan near Jericho, extending southward to Zoar. Jericho is identified as the city of palm trees, and the abundance of palms across the river made this fertile plain remind some Israelites of the Nile region.
He was one hundred and twenty years old, with eye not dimmed and natural force not abated, with clear sight and firm, unabated strength, yet he was there to die. After he had viewed Canaan to his satisfaction he lay down like a tired warrior to rest in the sleep of death on Mount Nebo. Angels buried his body in the valley where Israel could never find it, to prevent idolatry over his body. The Son of God soon came down and raised him from the dead and took him to heaven.
Promise, Prophecy, and Preparation
The south and the plain of the valley of Jericho unto Zoar shown to Moses were part of the promised inheritance sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was Israel's promised home opened before him, though he himself was not to enter it. From Mount Nebo he was shown the places where the tribes of Israel would live.
The country thus spread before him was fertile, well watered, and rich in grain fields and fruit trees. Its landscape belonged to an abundant land bearing fruit trees, flowers, water, grain, vineyards, and honey. With God's blessing upon it, it passed before him as a panorama like a second Eden.
From that view he understood and fully realized the rich blessings Israel would enjoy if they faithfully obeyed God's commandments. The same view carried him beyond Canaan to the appearing of Christ at His first advent. He was shown Christ's rejection by the Jewish nation and His death on 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 called Moses to the top of Pisgah before he laid down his life with his burden for Israel, and spread out before him the glory of the promised land. That communion with God in the mount prepares for laying down life's work, giving spiritual refreshing and a view of God's glory before the close.