Deuteronomy 34:6, commentary and pictures

He was laid to rest in a valley in Moab facing Beth-peor, and his burial place remains unknown to this day. God Himself buried him by angels, who also kept watch over the grave. The grave was hidden so Israel could not find it and turn his body into an object of idolatrous worship. He truly came under the power of death because at the rock he sinned in anger by striking it and taking to himself the honor due to God, though he repented and his record in heaven stood clear. Christ, as Michael, came with angels, freed him from death before his body saw corruption, and took him to heaven in a glorified resurrected body, after meeting Satan's claim upon him not with direct rebuke but with the words, The Lord rebuke thee.

Burial and Final Hours

He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor, and no man knows his sepulchre unto this day. He was buried by God through angels, who buried his body and watched over the grave. God buried Moses, and Michael came down with angels to guard that trust.

Before dying in Moab at God's command, he stood on Pisgah and Nebo and looked over the land of promise. There he reviewed his life and work, knew that one wrong act had barred him from entering the land, confessed that sin, and sought pardon through faith in the Promised One who would die as man's sacrifice. Before his death the laws previously given to Israel were repeated and enlarged, with some precepts explained and their reasons made plain. Before his death God also showed him the blessing of the promised land as like a second Eden, together with scenes of Christ's first and second advents and the resurrection of the just. He died after being denied entry into the promised land because of his mistake, and Joshua took his place as leader.

Why the Grave Hidden

God kept the burial place in Moab secret and concealed the grave so that Israel would not find it and turn his body and his grave into an object of idolatrous worship. He was buried by angels, who also watched over the grave to guard it from being discovered and worshiped. Had the Israelites found the grave they would have worshiped it, and the hiding of the place kept them from worshiping his body and committing idolatry. The concealment was needed because those who had rejected his counsel might have made his body an object of idolatry. In the same way, the date of Christ's birth was not revealed, because people would worship the day they believed was his birthday.

Death and Resurrection to Heaven

Moses truly passed through death because at the rock he sinned in anger and wrath by striking it and taking to himself the honor and glory due to God. That transgression displeased God, barred him from the promised land, and brought him under the power of Satan and the dominion of death. If he had remained steadfast and faithful, God would have brought him into the promised land and then translated him to heaven without his seeing death.

He repented of that sin, so his character and his name in heaven's record were clear. Even so, Satan claimed his body as his prey and disputed Christ's claim to it, accusing him before the angels on the ground that he had sinned. The devil tried to hold the body and railed against God as unjust for taking his prey.

He slept in death in the mount until Christ, Michael, the Son of God, came with angels, gave him life and called him from the tomb before his body saw corruption. By that resurrection Christ freed him from death's power and took him to heaven in a glorified, resurrected body. In that dispute Christ did not rebuke Satan directly but meekly referred him to the Father, saying, The Lord rebuke thee.