Christianity

Deuteronomy 34The Death of Moses

Summary

Deuteronomy 34 tells how Moses climbs from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah on Mount Nebo, where God shows him the whole land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses dies there and is buried in a valley in Moab, but no one knows his grave. He was 120, his eyes undimmed. Israel mourns thirty days, Joshua leads in the spirit of wisdom, and the Torah closes saying no prophet arose like Moses, whom God knew face to face.

Key verse

“And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.”

Deuteronomy 34:7

Themes

Death and Legacy
Unfulfilled Hope
Succession
Unique Prophet

And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,

And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,

And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.

And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.

So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,

And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Islam
Surah An-Nisa (4): God Spoke to Moses
The Quran does not narrate Moses' death, but it honors his unique closeness to God: Quran 4:164 says God spoke directly to Moses, and 7:144 says God chose him above others by his messages and speech.
Christianity
Jude: Michael and the Body of Moses
Jude 9 mentions the archangel Michael disputing with the devil about Moses' body, a tradition not found in Deuteronomy, which says only that no one knows his grave.
Christianity
Matthew 17: The Transfiguration
In Matthew 17:3 Moses appears with Elijah talking with Jesus on a mountain, and many readers contrast this with Moses only viewing the land from Nebo.

Questions about Deuteronomy 34

Who wrote about Moses' death?

Since Deuteronomy 34 describes Moses' death and burial, the Talmud records a view that Joshua wrote the last verses, while another says Moses wrote them in tears. Modern scholars attribute the chapter to later editors.

How old was Moses when he died?

Deuteronomy 34:7 says he was 120, with sight undimmed and strength unabated. A traditional Jewish blessing wishes a person to live until 120.

Where is Moses buried?

Deuteronomy 34:6 says he was buried in a valley in Moab opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows the place. A site on Mount Nebo in Jordan commemorates him.