John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 34:1-12
The Death of MosesIn obedience to the divine command (Deuteronomy 32:48-52) Moses ascends to the top of Mt. Nebo, whence he views the Land of Promise. Thereafter he dies and God buries him. No man knows of his sepulcher.1-4. Dan is used to indicate the extreme N., as in the phrase ’from Dan to Beersheba,’ though it was not till the time of the Judges that the Danites settled in that district: see Judges 18:28, Judges 18:29. The utmost sea (lit. ’hinder, i.e. western, sea’: see on Deuteronomy... read more
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 34:1-12
E. Moses’ death and burial: narrative epilogue ch. 34"A testament is of force only after the death of the testator [cf. Hebrews 9:16-17]. So the Deuteronomic Covenant in its testamentary aspect . . . would not become operative until after the death of Moses. Only then would Joshua succeed to the role of vicegerent of God over Israel, and only then under the leadership of Joshua could the tribes, according to the declarations of the Lord, enter into their inheritance in Canaan. It was,... read more