So we abode in the valley over against Bethpeor. In the plains of Moab, over against a temple built for Baalpeor upon a mountain, so called from that idol, or that idol from the mountain; this is the valley where Moses was buried, Deuteronomy 34:6 . read more
Beth-peor - This was a city in the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites; and as בית beth signifies a house, the place probably had its name from a temple of the god Peor, who was worshipped there. Peor was nearly the same among the Moabites that Priapus was among the Romans - the obscene god of an obscene people. This we have already seen. It is very likely that what God speaks here, both concerning Moses and Joshua, was designed to be typical of the procedure of his justice and grace... read more
CONCLUSION OF HISTORICAL RECAPITULATION . Deuteronomy 3:18-29 . read more
Prospect of death. In the full career of triumph, Moses has inward presentiment, and external announcement, that his end was near. Nature has a greater repugnance to death when we are enveloped in the bright sunshine of prosperity. The contrast is more marked. Decay and disease are natural forerunners of dissolution; but in Moses these were wanting. With him, the grave men of the trial was that his life-work was incomplete. The closer we approach to the final stroke of an undertaking, the... read more
Moses' longing to enter the Promised Land refused. The two conquests over Sihon and over Og had filled Moses with a sense of God's matchless power. With a warrior's instinct—for he had had a warrior's training, it is believed, in Egypt, in his youth—he saw in this first portion of the fight the assurance of a glorious invasion. He longed to be at its head, and to see the land which God had promised actually won. Will he not get complete the work he has been instrumental in beginning? He... read more
Prayer of Moses . Moses knew that he was not to enter the Promised Land with the people; but, reluctant to relinquish the enterprise which he had so far conducted until he should see it successfully finished, he besought the Lord that at least he might be permitted to cross the Jordan, and see the goodly land. This prayer was presented probably just before Moses asked God to set a man over the congregation to be their leader to the promised land ( Numbers 27:15-17 ); for the command to... read more
God's refusal of man's wishes. We have in this singularly pathetic passage of the private history of Moses— I. AN AFFECTING ENTREATY . "I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land," etc. ( Deuteronomy 3:24 , Deuteronomy 3:25 ). In this speaks 1. The man . How hard to flesh and blood to be cut off just then! To see the goodly land ( Deuteronomy 3:27 ), but not to enter it. Yet not an uncommon experience. Few things are more painful than to be removed when just... read more
In the valley over against Beth-peor ; i . e . in the plains of Moab (Arboth Moab, Numbers 22:1 ; cf. Deuteronomy 4:46 ; Deuteronomy 34:6 ). Beth-pe'or, i . e . the house or temple of Pe'or, the Moabitish Baah There was a hill Pe'or, in the Abarim range, near to which this town was; it was opposite to Jericho, six Roman miles north of Libias (Eusebius); it was given to the tribe of Reuben ( Joshua 13:20 ). In passing from the historical recapitulation, Moses indicates... read more
Beth-peor, i. e., the house of Peor, no doubt derived its name from a temple of the Moabite god Peor which was there situated. It was no doubt near to Mount Peor Numbers 23:28, and also to the valley of the Jordan perhaps in the Wady Heshban. read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 3:21-29
Here is I. The encouragement which Moses gave to Joshua, who was to succeed him in the government, Deut. 3:21, 22. He commanded him not to fear. This those that are aged and experienced in the service of God should do all they can to strengthen the hands of those that are young, and setting out in religion. Two things he would have him consider for his encouragement:?1. What God has done. Joshua had seen what a total defeat God had given by the forces of Israel to these two kings, and thence... read more