So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
Moses the servant of the Lord died alone in the land of Moab according to the word and command of the Lord, on Pisgah in the presence of God and heavenly angels after viewing Canaan to his full satisfaction. He looked upon the whole land with clear and undimmed eyes and in full strength, realizing the rich blessings Israel would enjoy in obedience as a second Eden under God's blessing, then lay down like a tired warrior and slept the sleep of death. His death followed his one transgression at the rock, where in anger and unbelief he smote the rock and took to himself the glory due to God, so that he fell under the dominion of death and was barred from entering Canaan as leader. His death was not the end, for before his body saw corruption Michael the Son of God came down, gave him life by the power of His word against Satan's contending claim, and took him with a resurrected and glorified body to heaven to wait upon the Son at the transfiguration. Angels buried his body in an unknown place and watched over his grave, keeping it secret so Israel could never find it and make it an object of idolatry, showing that even one so honored and entrusted was not excused for turning from the right path.
Death and Burial in Moab
So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab according to the word and command of the Lord. His death took place in Moab at God's command after the laws previously given had been repeated and enlarged for Israel. Because of his mistake he could not enter the promised land as Israel's leader, but went up the mountain and died, and Joshua took his place.
He died alone on the top of Pisgah, with no one permitted to go up with him, standing in the presence of God and heavenly angels. He had first viewed Canaan from Pisgah to his full satisfaction, and had seen the promised land of Canaan. He viewed the whole land with clear and undimmed eyes and in full strength, not from weakness of age, his strength and clear sight remaining undiminished until death. In that view he fully realized the rich blessings Israel would enjoy if they faithfully obeyed the commandments of God, beholding the promised land with His blessing upon it as a second Eden.
Before he died God also showed him Christ's first coming, rejection by the Jews and death on the cross, Christ's second coming and the resurrection of the just, and the future meeting of the first Adam and Christ the second Adam when Eden blooms on earth again. Before he died the laws previously given were repeated and enlarged, their enforcement explained, some precepts clarified, and the reasons for them made plain. Commands violated in earlier judgments were repeated to warn that disobedience would bring God's punishment.
After seeing the land and beholding the scene revealed to him, he lay down like a tired warrior to rest, closed his eyes in death, and sleep came upon him as the sleep of death. Angels took his body and buried it in the valley and on the mountain in an unknown place in Moab so Israel could never find his sepulchre. They watched over his grave where he slept until Christ came to raise him to life, and the burial was kept secret so the people would not sin by making his body or grave an object of idolatry and worship.
Sin, Resurrection, and Lessons
Moses died because of his one transgression at the rock, where in anger and unbelief provoked by Israel's unbelief he smote the rock and took to himself the glory due to God instead of honoring Him. By that act he fell under Satan's power and came under the dominion of death, and was therefore barred from entering Canaan. Had he remained faithful and steadfast, God would have brought him into the promised land and then translated him to heaven without seeing death, but instead he passed through death in Moab according to the word of the Lord.
As he looked over the promised land he recalled his life of service and judged wise his choice of affliction with God's people over sin's temporary pleasures. His one transgression remained a source of sorrow, and in humility and faith he confessed it with sorrow and sought pardon through Jesus, the Promised One who would die as humanity's sacrifice. His death was not the end, for before his body saw corruption or decay Michael, the Son of God, came down to his grave and gave him life by the power of His word. Satan contended for the body and claimed it as his prey, but Christ overcame Satan's claim and answered him by referring him to God the Father.
He was raised with a resurrected and glorified body and borne to heaven and to the courts above. There he was commissioned by the Father as one of the two to wait upon the Son at the transfiguration. His burial place was kept secret and not revealed, angels having buried him where Israel could never find his sepulchre, so the people would not sin by making his body or grave an object of idolatry and worship. This withholding illustrates how God withholds knowledge of a sacred site lest people worship it, as they have worshiped the date they suppose was Christ's birthday.
Though honored by God and entrusted with instructing Israel, his death for one transgression demonstrates God's impartiality. Even those whom God greatly honors are not excused when they turn from the right path. It warns that people in positions of responsibility are accountable for their words and actions, since others may follow their example.
Moses the servant of the Lord died alone in the land of Moab according to the word and command of the Lord, on Pisgah in the presence of God and heavenly angels after viewing Canaan to his full satisfaction. He looked upon the whole land with clear and undimmed eyes and in full strength, realizing the rich blessings Israel would enjoy in obedience as a second Eden under God's blessing, then lay down like a tired warrior and slept the sleep of death. His death followed his one transgression at the rock, where in anger and unbelief he smote the rock and took to himself the glory due to God, so that he fell under the dominion of death and was barred from entering Canaan as leader. His death was not the end, for before his body saw corruption Michael the Son of God came down, gave him life by the power of His word against Satan's contending claim, and took him with a resurrected and glorified body to heaven to wait upon the Son at the transfiguration. Angels buried his body in an unknown place and watched over his grave, keeping it secret so Israel could never find it and make it an object of idolatry, showing that even one so honored and entrusted was not excused for turning from the right path.
Death and Burial in Moab
So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab according to the word and command of the Lord. His death took place in Moab at God's command after the laws previously given had been repeated and enlarged for Israel. Because of his mistake he could not enter the promised land as Israel's leader, but went up the mountain and died, and Joshua took his place.
He died alone on the top of Pisgah, with no one permitted to go up with him, standing in the presence of God and heavenly angels. He had first viewed Canaan from Pisgah to his full satisfaction, and had seen the promised land of Canaan. He viewed the whole land with clear and undimmed eyes and in full strength, not from weakness of age, his strength and clear sight remaining undiminished until death. In that view he fully realized the rich blessings Israel would enjoy if they faithfully obeyed the commandments of God, beholding the promised land with His blessing upon it as a second Eden.
Before he died God also showed him Christ's first coming, rejection by the Jews and death on the cross, Christ's second coming and the resurrection of the just, and the future meeting of the first Adam and Christ the second Adam when Eden blooms on earth again. Before he died the laws previously given were repeated and enlarged, their enforcement explained, some precepts clarified, and the reasons for them made plain. Commands violated in earlier judgments were repeated to warn that disobedience would bring God's punishment.
After seeing the land and beholding the scene revealed to him, he lay down like a tired warrior to rest, closed his eyes in death, and sleep came upon him as the sleep of death. Angels took his body and buried it in the valley and on the mountain in an unknown place in Moab so Israel could never find his sepulchre. They watched over his grave where he slept until Christ came to raise him to life, and the burial was kept secret so the people would not sin by making his body or grave an object of idolatry and worship.
Sin, Resurrection, and Lessons
Moses died because of his one transgression at the rock, where in anger and unbelief provoked by Israel's unbelief he smote the rock and took to himself the glory due to God instead of honoring Him. By that act he fell under Satan's power and came under the dominion of death, and was therefore barred from entering Canaan. Had he remained faithful and steadfast, God would have brought him into the promised land and then translated him to heaven without seeing death, but instead he passed through death in Moab according to the word of the Lord.
As he looked over the promised land he recalled his life of service and judged wise his choice of affliction with God's people over sin's temporary pleasures. His one transgression remained a source of sorrow, and in humility and faith he confessed it with sorrow and sought pardon through Jesus, the Promised One who would die as humanity's sacrifice. His death was not the end, for before his body saw corruption or decay Michael, the Son of God, came down to his grave and gave him life by the power of His word. Satan contended for the body and claimed it as his prey, but Christ overcame Satan's claim and answered him by referring him to God the Father.
He was raised with a resurrected and glorified body and borne to heaven and to the courts above. There he was commissioned by the Father as one of the two to wait upon the Son at the transfiguration. His burial place was kept secret and not revealed, angels having buried him where Israel could never find his sepulchre, so the people would not sin by making his body or grave an object of idolatry and worship. This withholding illustrates how God withholds knowledge of a sacred site lest people worship it, as they have worshiped the date they suppose was Christ's birthday.
Though honored by God and entrusted with instructing Israel, his death for one transgression demonstrates God's impartiality. Even those whom God greatly honors are not excused when they turn from the right path. It warns that people in positions of responsibility are accountable for their words and actions, since others may follow their example.