This will complete our journey through the book of Deuteronomy.
17.Bringing it to the people:
Moses has enlisted the help of the elders and the priests. Then, because of his impending death, he brought the message of Deuteronomy to all the Israelites:
When Moses had finished giving these instructionsto all the people of Israel, he said, “I am now 120 years old, and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has told me, ‘You will not cross the Jordan River.’ But the Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy the nations living there, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua will lead you across the river, just as the Lord promised.
“The Lord will destroy the nations living in the land, just as he destroyed Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites. The Lord will hand over to you the people who live there, and you must deal with them as I have commanded you. So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Dt. 31:1 – 6. NLT
Now, Moses reminds them that he cannot enter the Promised Land (because he and his brother Aaron took credit for God’s miracle of bringing water from a rock – see Nu. 20:2 – 12). Note that he refers to his age. However, Moses did not die because he was old:
Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. Dt. 34:7 NLT
He will die because God is taking him home.
Moses also encourages the people to have courage and strength because God Himself will be their Vanguard in battle – guaranteed.
Then, Moses transfers his leadership to Joshua in front of all the people:
Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Dt. 31:7, 8. NLT
Moses then writes down the entirety of the laws in Deuteronomy, and instructs the Israelites in how to keep the knowledge of it in perpetuity:
So Moses wrote this entire body of instruction in a book and gave it to the priests, who carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, and to the elders of Israel. Then Moses gave them this command: “At the end of every seventh year, the Year of Release, during the Festival of Shelters, you must read this Book of Instruction to all the people of Israel when they assemble before the Lord your God at the place he chooses. Call them all together—men, women, children, and the foreigners living in your towns—so they may hear this Book of Instruction and learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions. Do this so that your children who have not known these instructions will hear them and will learn to fear the Lord your God. Do this as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.” Dt. 31:9 – 13. NLT
God then told Moses to gather Joshua and meet Him in the Tent of Meeting (Tabernacle). Jehovah manifested as a pillar of cloud at the entrance.
The Lord said to Moses, “You are about to die and join your ancestors. After you are gone, these people will begin to worship foreign gods, the gods of the land where they are going. They will abandon me and break my covenant that I have made with them. Then my anger will blaze forth against them. I will abandon them, hiding my face from them, and they will be devoured. Terrible trouble will come down on them, and on that day they will say, ‘These disasters have come down on us because God is no longer among us!’ At that time I will hide my face from them on account of all the evil they commit by worshiping other gods.
“So write down the words of this song, and teach it to the people of Israel. Help them learn it, so it may serve as a witness for me against them.” Dt. 31:16 – 19. NLT
God is prophesying that when Moses dies, the Israelites will ultimately turn to pagan worship. So, He instructs Moses to write His words in a song, and have the people memorize it.
Thus, when they begin this blasphemous behavior, the song will convict them for their wayward path.
Jehovah directly commissions Joshua:
Then He commanded and commissioned Joshua, the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the sons of Israel into the land which I have sworn to give them, and I will be with you.” Dt. 31:23 AMP
18.Song of Moses:
Even though God commissioned Moses to write this song, it is referred to as the ‘Song of Moses.’ It is quite lengthy (See Dt. 31:30 – 32:47). I will paraphrase:
“For I proclaim the name [and presence] of the Lord; Ascribe greatness and honor to our God!
“The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness without iniquity (injustice), Just and upright is He.” Dt. 32:3, 4. AMP
Declaring that God is pure goodness, just, perfect, and faithful. But then Moses rebukes Israel for how they will corrupt themselves after he dies, regardless of all the God has done for them. They forget how Jehovah specifically chose them to be His people. How He met their needs and protected them and successfully brought them to the Promised Land.
Yet when they became affluent and flourished, the Israelites abandoned God and turned to pagan rites and idol worship. All of this caused God to reject them and set misfortunes against them.
“O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they could discern their future and ultimate fate!” Dt. 32:29 AMP
It is obvious that God pines over them for what their situation will be, when He is out of their sphere.
However, their merciful Creator will rescue His woe begotten children when they hit rock bottom:
“Indeed, the Lord will give justice to his people, and he will change his mind about his servants, when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.
Then he will ask, ‘Where are their gods, the rocks they fled to for refuge? Where now are those gods, who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their offerings?
Let those gods arise and help you! Let them provide you with shelter! Dt. 32:36 – 38. NLT
God first drives home the impotence of their false gods; then He clarifies once again (what a patient God), where their faith should lie:
“Look now; I myself am he! There is no other god but me! I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from my powerful hand!” Dt. 32:39 NLT
During the time of the Israelites deep dive into paganism, they were conquered, enslaved, and exiled from their land. Once they return to Jehovah, He will take the yokes of their enemies off their backs: (Mind you, we are talking about future events.)
“For he will avenge the blood of his children; he will take revenge against his enemies.
He will repay those who hate him and cleanse his people’s land.” Dt. 32:43 NLT
Moses finishes relaying the song to the people and leaves the people with an imperative:
“Take to heart all the words of warning I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of these instructions. These instructions are not empty words—they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you will occupy when you cross the Jordan River.” Dt. 32:46, 47. NLT
19.Saying goodbye to Moses:
That same day the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Moab, to the mountains east of the river, and climb Mount Nebo, which is across from Jericho. Look out across the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the people of Israel as their own special possession. Then you will die there on the mountain. You will join your ancestors, just as Aaron, your brother, died on Mount Hor and joined his ancestors.” Dt. 32:48 – 50. NLT
The Torah does not generally speak to there being an ‘afterlife’. The above scripture certainly infers that there is.
***It is at this juncture, entering the last two chapters of Deuteronomy, that were added to the Bible after Moses’ death, by another author.***
Moses’ last act was to bless the 12 tribes of Israel, similar as to when Joseph did so before his death. (See Dt. 33:1 – 29.)
Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land, from Gilead to Dan, and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah to the western sea (Mediterranean Sea), and the Negev (South country) and the plain in the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” Dt. 34:1 – 4. AMP
Moses could not have been able to see the entirety of Canaan from a single vantage point. Therefore, God must have shown him supernaturally.
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 the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows where his burial place is to this day. Dt. 34:5, 6. AMP
The greatest man of God was buried by Jehovah Himself. That speaks volumes for their relationship and how He loved him so much.
After 30 days of mourning, Joshua was filled with the Holy Spirit to be able to lead the people.
Finally, we are left with Moses’ epitaph:
Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, [none equal to him] in all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land, and in all the mighty power and all the great and terrible deeds which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel. Dt. 34:10 – 12. AMP
The phrase ‘no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses’ suggests that this Scripture was added after the Israelites would be exiled from the land of Israel, because it had to added by someone who was aware of all the prophets who arose in that time.
What a journey we have had with Moses. How greatly he was used by God to give us the entire Torah – from creation to the fall of humankind in Eden, Cain and Abel, the flood, tower of Babel, the foundation of the Hebrews through Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, Joseph’s captivity and his reign, Pharoah, Exodus, Ten Commandments and other moral codes, Mt. Sinai, and the Mosaic laws.
The Torah is the foundation of the entire Bible. How greatly we have been blessed…