Unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah ; rather, unto Mount Nebo , the summit of Pisgah . Gilead unto Dan. Not Dan Laish, near the central source of the Jordan, which was not in Gilead, but another Dan in Northern Perea, the site of which has not yet been discovered (cf. Genesis 14:14 ). read more
Moses' vision. The end of Moses, viewing the land to which he had so long and so painfully been leading the people, yet not permitted to enter it-dying on the threshold of the accomplishment of all his hopes, and leaving Canaan to be won by his subordinate minister, Joshua,—has often been likened to the common fate of the highest characters in history, "removed from this earthly scene before their work has been appreciated, and when it will be carried on, not by themselves, but by others."... read more
The calm sunset of an eventful day. A man's death is in keeping with a man's life. You cannot have a tropical sunset in an arctic zone. It is vain to live the life of the voluptuous, and desire "the death of the righteous." Enoch's death corresponded with Enoch's life. The spirit of Elijah was characterized by heavenly fire: he ruled men with burning words of truth; it was, therefore, meet that he should depart as a king, "in a chariot of flame." Our Lord's whole life was a... read more
The last journey. (For other aspects of the death of Moses, see Homily on Deuteronomy 32:48-52 .) We have come at last to the closing scene. It is evidently recorded by other hands; for "Dan" ( Deuteronomy 34:2 ) did not exist by that name till a much later period (see Judy. Deuteronomy 18:1 , 27-29). Deuteronomy 34:10-12 indicate, moreover, a period later still; very possibly, it may have been as far on as the time of Ezra when those verses were added. And whoever will make use of... read more
The death and burial of Moses. We have in this concluding chapter the remarkable account of the death and burial of Moses. He had, as we have seen, blessed the tribes; he had laid his hands on Joshua (verse 9), and thus ordained him, so to speak, to the leadership; he had given his manuscripts to the priests to be deposited in the ark; and now all that remains for him to do is to take the course God indicated to the mountain-top, see the Promised Land, and die. It has suggested some noble... read more
Unto the utmost sea ; rather, the hinder sea , viz. the Mediterranean (cf. Deuteronomy 11:24 ). The south ; the Negeb, the pasture-land in the south, towards the Arabian desert. The plain of the valley of Jericho ; the extensive plain through which the Jordan flows, extending from Jericho to Zoar, at the south end of the Dead Sea. This wide prospect could not be surveyed by any ordinary power of vision; so that Moses must for the occasion have had his power of vision miraculously... read more
According to the word of the Lord ; literally, at the mouth of the Lord . The rabbins interpret this, "by a kiss of the Lord"; i . e . as Maimonides explains it ('More Nevoch.,' 3:51), Moses "died in a moment of holiest joy in the knowledge and love of God." The phrase, however, simply means "by or according to the command of" (cf. Genesis 45:21 ; Exodus 17:1 ; Le Exodus 24:12 ; Numbers 3:16 , etc.). read more
Moses' death and burial. Lessons from it— I. GOD WILL HAVE NO ONE , LIVING OR DEAD , TO STAND BETWEEN HIS CREATURES AND HIMSELF . "He dies apart, and is buried in secret, where his grave can be dishonored by no pilgrimage, and where no false veneration can rear altars to his memory." II. GOD WISHES MEN TO SEE SOMETHING MORE LEFT OF HIS SERVANTS THAN THE OUTWARD SHRINE . They had the life and words of Moses, which his... read more
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John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 34:5
Verse 5 5.So Moses the servant of the Lord died. Since it was mark of ignominy to die without the borders of the Holy Land, Moses is honored with high eulogy, in order that the Israelites might learn the more to tremble at the judgment of God, who did not spare even his most illustrious servant. And it is expressly added, “according to the word (or mouth) of the Lord,” lest they should despise the threatenings which were accomplished in so memorable a manner. For, if God spared not His own... read more