Tyndale Open Study NotesDeuteronomy 34

Moses did not enter the promised land (see study note on 32:51). However, God allowed him to share a moment of glory in the land when the divine glory of Jesus was revealed to others (Luke 9:28–36).

• Mount Nebo is a high point in the Abarim hills east of the Jordan River. From here, you can see almost all the land west of the Jordan River (32:49).

• Nebo was part of Pisgah peak (see study note on 3:17).

• Gilead as far as Dan: This was the northernmost part of the land. The Sea of Galilee and Mount Hermon are directly north of Nebo. Gilead is east of the sea, and Dan (also called Laish; Judges 18:29) was south and west of Hermon.

The land of Naphtali was northwest of Nebo and west of the Sea of Galilee.

The land of Ephraim and Manasseh included a large area to the west-northwest of Nebo, in what is now the West Bank area of Palestine.

The land of Judah was directly west-southwest of Nebo, extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

• Negev means "desert" or "south." It is a desert region that stretches from Judah to the Gulf of Eilat (or Aqaba). It extends to the far southwest of Mount Nebo.

• Jericho … to Zoar: These sites marked the northern and southern ends of the Jordan valley from the viewpoint on Mount Nebo.

  Zoar was a city on the plain that God did not destroy during Abraham and Lot's time (see Genesis 19:21–22, 30).

• Beth-peor is where Israel took part in pagan ceremonies (see 3:29; 4:3; Numbers 25). It is also where Moses gave his farewell speech (see Deuteronomy 4:44–46).

• The phrase to this day refers to the time of Deuteronomy’s final composition (see Genesis Book Introduction, “Authorship”).

At 120 years old, Moses was still strong and fully able in mind and body. He did not fail to enter Canaan because he died. Instead, he died because he was not allowed to enter Canaan.

filled with the spirit of wisdom: God chose Joshua to lead Israel after Moses died. Joshua needed the Spirit of God in order to be Israel's leader (Numbers 27:15–23; compare Numbers 11:16–30).

After Moses died, God showed that Joshua was his divinely chosen successor by giving clear evidence of the Spirit’s power and blessing.

face to face: Moses and the Lord had a very close relationship. There was no need for another person to stand between them.

At one time, Aaron and Miriam questioned the leadership of Moses. The Lord strongly corrected them (Numbers 12:8). He reminded them that they were prophets who received messages from God through dreams and visions. Moses was different.

God said, “I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles” (12:8). No other prophet in Old Testament times had the same kind of relationship with God (see study note on Deuteronomy 18:15).

awesome deeds … in the sight of all Israel: The people of Israel saw the mighty acts that God performed. The Egyptians also saw his power. These events caused fear and awe.

The people needed to remember God’s power. This would help them obey him with reverent fear (see 4:10; 5:29; 6:2; Proverbs 1:7).