Deuteronomy 34 Commentary
Please choose a passage:
Deuteronomy 34:1-3
God shows Moses the Promised Land from the top of Mount Nebo.
Deuteronomy 34:4-8
Having viewed the Promised Land from the top of Mount Nebo, Moses died there in the land of Moab. The LORD Himself buried him in the valley in the land of Moab.
Deuteronomy 34:9-12
This last section of the book serves as an epitaph (words written in memory to someone who has died) to Moses. In addition to presenting Joshua as the new leader of the Israelites, the epitaph then describes the unparalleled relationship Moses had with his suzerain LORD.
Additional Resources
The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth and last book of the Torah (“law”). It continues the story of the first 4 books and picks up exactly where the book of Numbers ends (with the people on the plain of Moab). Therefore, as we set the context for the book of Deuteronomy, it is important that we briefly summarize the theme of the previous books to see how the story of God unfolds.
Genesis describes God’s plan to bless the Israelites and the world through one man named Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). Exodus focuses on God’s loving act by which He rescued the Israelites from Egypt in order to have a covenant relationship with them. Once the children of Israel are redeemed, Leviticus instructs them to live a holy life that reflects the life of their covenant redeemer (cf. Lev. 19). Since the first generation of the Israelites failed to obey God wholeheartedly, the book of Numbers displays a strong contrast between God’s faithfulness and the nation’s failure. That is why the book of Deuteronomy reiterates and expands on the covenant to a new generation of Israelites poised to enter and conquer the Promised Land. The message of the book is centered around two key terms: love and loyalty (Deut. 6:4-5).
Outline of Deuteronomy:
I. Introduction: Moses will explain the law (1:1 – 5)
II. Moses’ First Sermon – a Recounting of the LORD’s Faithfulness (1:6 – 4:43)
III. Introduction to Second Sermon on expositing the Law (4:43 – 49)
IV. Moses’ Second Sermon – an Exposition of the Law Given at Mt. Sinai (5:1 – 26:19)
V. Script for Covenant Renewal Ceremony Once they enter the land (27:1 – 29:1)
VI. Moses’ Third Sermon – a Call to Obedience (29:2 – 30:20)
VII. The Last Acts of Moses (31:1 – 34:12)
Deuteronomy 34 is the epilogue to the book. In it, Moses climbs to the top of Mount Nebo. There the LORD graciously allowed him to see the Promised Land that he was prohibited from entering. Afterward, Moses died there on Mount Nebo. Then the LORD Himself buried him in the valley in the land of Moab. Joshua assumed the leadership of the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land, but neither he nor anyone else matched Moses in his special relationship with the LORD.
Deuteronomy 34 can be outlined as follows:
- Epilogue of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 34:1-12)
- Moses Shown the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34:1-3)
- The Death of Moses (Deuteronomy 34:4-8)
- Epitaph of Moses (Deuteronomy 34:9-12)
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