Deuteronomy 34:4
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, but thou shalt not go over thither. 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, but thou shalt not go over thither.
On the top of Pisgah Moses stands alone with God and the angels and is shown the whole of the land sworn by oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to give to their seed, yet is told he shall not go over into it. Though about to die he is still strong with clear undimmed eyes, and is caused to see it fully to his satisfaction as a fertile, beautiful, well-watered country rich in soil and abundance under God's watchful care. He is shown where the tribes will settle established in their inheritance, and fully realizes the rich blessings they will enjoy there if they faithfully obey God's commandments, as he lays down his burden in this final view. His exclusion is for his one wrong act that marred his record, so after the view he lies down like a tired warrior and dies, and angels bury him secretly in an unknown sepulchre in Moab lest Israel idolize it, until his return to life in resurrection. With the earthly land he is also shown Christ's first appearing and rejection and death on the cross, then Christ's second advent and the resurrection of the just when Eden shall bloom on earth again, for this solitary communion before the close of his work gives moral power for every great trial and duty.
The View from Pisgah
Moses was brought alone to the top of Pisgah, the highest prominence attainable on Nebo, with no one permitted to go up with him, and there he stood in the presence of God and heavenly angels. Though facing death he was still strong, with clear and undimmed eyes not dimmed by age. God caused him to see the whole land fully and to his satisfaction with his own eyes.
The land spread before him was the land sworn by oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, with the promise to give it to their seed as the promised home and inheritance of Israel. It was confirmed to him as that same promised land even as he was told he would view it but not enter it. It appeared as a fertile, beautiful, well-watered country, rich in soil and water, in grain fields and fruit trees and other abundance. It passed before him like a panorama, as a second Eden under God's blessing and watchful care resting upon it throughout the year.
He was shown where the tribes of Israel would settle, and he saw the people he had led standing established within their inheritance. In that view he fully realized the rich blessings and good things Israel would enjoy in the land if they faithfully obeyed God's commandments.
Exclusion, Death, and Hope
Moses was permitted to look upon the promised land sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give to their descendants, yet he was told he would not cross over into it, and the sight spread before his own eyes was his final view as he laid down his burden for Israel. He beheld it fully without entering, for the viewing from Pisgah before death was the fulfillment of being caused to see with his eyes what he would not be allowed to enter. This last sight was given as he faced death on the mountain where his life and work for the people came to their close.
The exclusion rested upon his one wrong act or mistake, which marred his record, so that he must die on the mountain while Joshua took his place. Knowing that Israel would receive the promised good things when faithful and obedient, he accepted this sentence, confessed his wrong, and asked pardon in faith in Jesus, the Promised One who would die as man's sacrifice. After the view he lay down like a tired warrior and died, and angels took his body and buried it secretly in the valley in Moab in an unknown sepulchre. The burial was hidden so that Israel could never find it and be led into the sin of idolatry over it, and his later resurrection was his return to life.
Together with the earthly land and God's blessing upon it, appearing like a panorama as a second Eden, he was also shown the appearing of Christ at His first advent, His rejection by the Jewish nation, and His death upon the cross. Then followed Christ's second advent and the resurrection of the just, and finally the meeting of Adam the first with Christ the second Adam when Eden shall bloom on earth again. The call to the top of Pisgah before he laid down his life with his burden for Israel was solitary communion with God granted before the close of his work to prepare him to finish and die. That final communion matches the communion granted before every great trial and task, showing that fresh communion with God gives moral power for every great trial, task, and duty.