Deuteronomy 3:23-29

Moses Forbidden to Enter the Land

23 "And I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying,
24 'O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant 1your greatness and your mighty hand. For 2what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?
25 Please let me go over and see 3the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and 4Lebanon.'
26 But 5the LORD was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the LORD said to me, 6'Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again.
27 7Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan.
28 But 8charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.'
29 So we remained in 9the valley opposite Beth-peor.

Deuteronomy 3:23-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 3

In this chapter the account is carried on of the conquest of the Amorites by Israel, of Og king of Bashan, and his kingdom, De 3:1-11, and of the distribution of their country to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, De 1:12-17 and then the command to the said tribes is observed, to go out armed before their brethren, and assist them in the conquest of the land of Canaan, and then return to their possessions, De 3:18-20 and also that to Joshua not to fear, but to do to the Canaanitish kings and kingdoms what he had seen done to the two kings of the Amorites, De 3:21,22. After which Moses relates the request he made, to go over Jordan and see the good land, which was denied him, only he is bidden to look from the top of an hill to see it, De 3:23-27. And the chapter is closed with the charge he was to give Joshua, De 3:28 which was received in the valley where they abode, De 3:29.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Deuteronomy 5:24; Deuteronomy 11:2; Deuteronomy 32:3; 1 Chronicles 29:11
  • 2. See Exodus 15:11
  • 3. Deuteronomy 4:22; Exodus 3:8
  • 4. [Joshua 1:4]
  • 5. See Deuteronomy 1:37
  • 6. [2 Corinthians 12:9]
  • 7. Numbers 27:12, 13
  • 8. Deuteronomy 1:38; Deuteronomy 31:3, 7; Numbers 27:23
  • 9. Deuteronomy 4:46; Deuteronomy 34:6
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.