Deuteronomy 10:6

"(And the children of Israel journeyed from Beeroth Benejaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priests office in his stead. From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbatha, a land of brooks of water."

Now these two verses have sent the scholars into a tailspin for generations. These verses are: "probably a fragment of an old itinerary,"[8] "obviously an interpolation,"[9] "probably a gloss, added by Moses when he wrote down his address,"[10] "These verses are evidently a parenthesis,"[11] etc.! Even the immortal McGarvey, basing his conclusion on there seeming to be a break in the thought, stated that, "These verses are not a part of the original text of Deuteronomy."[12]

Now it happens that these verses are NOT a gloss, an interpolation, or anything of the kind. The oldest manuscripts confirm their being an integral part of the Book of Deuteronomy. Although unable to explain them, some of the older commentators of the 19th century nevertheless confirmed the fact of the verses actually belonging to the text of Deuteronomy. Jamieson wrote:

"These verses are found in the most ancient Hebrew manuscripts, and we must receive them as they stand, although acknowledging our inability to explain their appearance here."[13]

The most obvious problem here is the statement that Aaron died at Mosera, whereas Numbers states unequivocally that he died at Mount Hor. However, as Alexander pointed out, "The places mentioned here are undoubtedly the same as those in Numbers." The general ignorance of mankind about all of the place names mentioned here should guard against all rash conclusions. Several of these places are in a very restricted area around Mount Hor. Mosera might well have been one of the shoulders of Hor.

That these verses are not a disconnected entry into this address is evident when the continuity of the office of High Priest is seen as a most vital and necessary element in the renewal of the Covenant, which is Moses' subject here. Dummelow observed this: "The notice of Aaron's death here seems to be inserted to show that the sin of Aaron and the people did not bring the priesthood to a close."[14]

In Adam Clarke's unabridged commentary, a Dr. Kennicott is quoted in a rather lengthy article affirming that the Samaritan Pentateuch clears up, absolutely, all of the problems encountered in these verses, confirming them as an abbreviated account of what is written in Numbers.[15]

Scholars who, prior to the discovery of the suzerainty treaty format of the Book of Deuteronomy, complained of "a break" here, were simply mistaken about their being a "break in the thought." Kline pointed out that "Deuteronomy 10:6-7 are relative to the context; for they enhance the covenant-renewing grace of God by recalling, just here, that the Lord re-instituted the priesthood of Aaron."[16]