Numbers 27:12

12 dixit quoque Dominus ad Mosen ascende in montem istum Abarim et contemplare inde terram quam daturus sum filiis Israhel

Numbers 27:12 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 27:12

And the Lord said unto Moses
After the covenant made with Israel in the plains of Moab, and the song delivered to them, ( Deuteronomy 29:1 ) ( Deuteronomy 32:1-49 )

get thee up to this Mount Abarim;
which was a range of mountains, so called from the passages by them over Jordan into the land of Canaan; one part of which was Nebo, and the top of that Pisgah, from whence Moses had the view of the good land here directed to; see ( Numbers 33:47 ) ( Deuteronomy 32:49 ) ( 34:1 ) .

and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel;
for though he was now one hundred and twenty years old, his eyes were not dim, he could see at a great distance; and the height of this hill gave him an advantage of taking a prospect of the land, a great way into it; and very probably his sight might be greatly strengthened and increased at this time by the Lord, for the purpose; this may be an emblem of that sight by faith, which believers have at times of the heavenly Canaan, and sometimes are favoured with an enlarged one of it before their death.

Numbers 27:12 In-Context

10 quod si et fratres non fuerint dabitis hereditatem fratribus patris eius

11 sin autem nec patruos habuerit dabitur hereditas his qui ei proximi sunt eritque hoc filiis Israhel sanctum lege perpetua sicut praecepit Dominus Mosi

12 dixit quoque Dominus ad Mosen ascende in montem istum Abarim et contemplare inde terram quam daturus sum filiis Israhel

13 cumque videris eam ibis et tu ad populum tuum sicut ivit frater tuus Aaron

14 quia offendistis me in deserto Sin in contradictione multitudinis nec sanctificare me voluistis coram ea super aquas hae sunt aquae Contradictionis in Cades deserti Sin