The death of Moses
Deuteronomy · Draft · BSB
Content revision: 0dc3e54fe58f85dd · No editorial review date recorded
Date: c. 1406 BC · Year 40, month 11 (Deuteronomy 1:3). Dated from 1 Kings 6:1 (the Exodus c. 1446 BC). Many scholars instead date the Exodus to about 1260 BC, placing these speeches about 1220 BC.
Moses climbs from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah on Mount Nebo, and the LORD shows him the whole land he promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses dies there in Moab at 120, his eyes undimmed and his strength unabated, and the LORD buries him in a valley; no one knows his grave. Israel mourns thirty days, Joshua is filled with the spirit of wisdom, and no prophet has arisen like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.
Deuteronomy records Moses’ last speeches to the new generation of Israel on the plains of Moab, in the fortieth year after the Exodus (1:3). It looks back over the journey from Egypt and Horeb and forward to life in the land, calling Israel to love the LORD and remember what he has done. Each section below lists what Moses recalls, with links to those events on the timeline, and where the rest of Scripture takes up the passage.
Joshua commissioned, the Song of Moses, the blessing of the tribes, and Moses’ death (31–34).
Primary Scripture
34:1 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which faces Jericho. And the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead as far as Dan,
34:2 all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea,
34:3 the Negev, and the region from the Valley of Jericho (the City of Palms) all the way to Zoar.
34:4 And the LORD said to him, “This is the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross into it.”
34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, as the LORD had said.
34:6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab facing Beth-peor, and no one to this day knows the location of his grave.
34:7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not diminished.
34:8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.
34:9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.
34:10 Since that time, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face—
34:11 no prophet who did all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent Moses to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and to all his officials and all his land,
34:12 and no prophet who performed all the mighty acts of power and awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Moses looks back
Moses’ view and death on Nebo.
The land sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The signs and wonders in Egypt.
Where Scripture takes it up
After Moses’ death the LORD speaks to Joshua.
Moses appears with Jesus at the Transfiguration.
Moses faithful as a servant; Christ as a Son.
Location evidence
Plains of Moab: Approximate region. Coordinates [longitude, latitude]: [35.64, 31.85]. Classification source: editorial.
Illustrative regional extent: [[35.56,31.77],[35.7,31.91]]; not a measured confidence interval.
Numbers 33:48–49 · extent of the camp
For the class
Deuteronomy ends waiting for a prophet like Moses. How does the New Testament answer that?
Interpretation and reuse
Narrative order is a reading arrangement, not a proven chronology. Dates retain their stated uncertainty. An identified locality does not establish the exact venue or prove an event. Region extents and routes are illustrative, not surveyed boundaries or ancient roads. Draft material has not completed editorial review.
Record source: editorial
Study guide: original editorial writing for Scripture Atlas.
Place coordinates: OpenBible.info, CC BY 4.0.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain. https://berean.bible/licensing.htm