Deuteronomy 34 Study Notes

34:6 Moses’s burial place is unknown today. That was even true “to this day,” that is, at the time of the final editing of the book of Deuteronomy. Jude referred to the mystery surrounding Moses’s burial place, alluding to the dispute of Michael the archangel with the devil about the matter (Jd 9).

34:7 Moses’s remarkable vitality at the age of one hundred twenty years is mentioned to make the point that he died not of “natural” causes but because he had finished the task of leadership to which God had called him. A person is immortal until God pleases to let his life come to an end.

34:9 Joshua had been well schooled to succeed Moses (3:28; 31:7-8; Nm 27:18-21), but all the training in the world was insufficient without his being filled with the spirit of wisdom (cp. Nm 11:17,24-30). When it was apparent to the people that Joshua was adequately prepared for leadership, they obeyed him . . . as the Lord had commanded Moses.

34:10 It is impossible to know when the last words of Deuteronomy were penned, but whoever did so remarked that until his day no prophet . . . like Moses had arisen again in Israel. What set him apart was that he was the only one God communicated with face to face (Ex 33:19-23; Nm 12:6-8).

34:11-12 Moses was unique among the prophets also in the number and nature of the signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do against the land of Egypt (cp. Ex 4-12). These had the effect of convincing the Egyptians of the mighty power of Israel’s God (Ex 8:19; 9:27-28; 10:16-17). They were also performed in the sight of all Israel to persuade the Lord’s own people of his mighty power and glory (Ex 14:31).