Deuteronomy 34:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 34:5-8

Here is, I. The death of Moses (Deut. 34:5): Moses the servant of the Lord died. God told him he must not go over Jordan, and, though at first he prayed earnestly for the reversing of the sentence yet God's answer to his prayer sufficed him, and now he spoke no more of that matter, Deut. 3:26. Thus our blessed Saviour prayed that the cup might pass from him, yet, since it might not, he acquiesced with, Father, thy will be done. Moses had reason to desire to live a while longer in the world. He... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 34:5

So Moses the servant of the Lord died there, in the land of Moab ,.... Which formerly belonged to Moab, and was taken from them by Sihon king of the Amorites, and now in the possession of Israel: here on a mountain in this land Moses died; and yet, contrary to the express words of this text, some Jewish writers affirm F23 T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 13. 2. Yalkut & R. Abraham Seba in Tzeror Hammor in loc. that be died not, but was translated to heaven, where he ministers; yea, that he was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 34:5

So Moses - died - according to the word of the Lord - יהוה פי על al pi Yehovah , at the mouth of Jehovah; i. e., by the especial command and authority of the Lord; but it is possible that what is here said refers only to the sentence of his exclusion from the promised land, when he offended at the waters of Meribah. read more

John Calvin

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 34:1-8

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 34:1-9

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 34:1-12

EXPOSITION read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 34:1-12

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 34:5

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 34:5-6

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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