Deuteronomy — Chapter 34

And Moses went up from the plains of Moab upon mount Nebo, to the top of Phasga over against Jericho: and the Lord shewed him all the land of Galaad as far as Dan. Moses ascends Mount Nebo to see the Promised Land he cannot enter—a profound typology. Lapide (following Rupert and Rabanus): Moses dying at the entrance to Canaan signifies the passing of the Mosaic Law at the advent of Christ; Josue (= Jesus) leads the people into the inheritance that the Law could only show from afar.

And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab by the commandment of the Lord. Lapide on Moses's death: Josephus (Ant. IV ult.) records that Moses was suddenly surrounded by a cloud and taken away; the historian hesitated to write that he died, fearing that, on account of his surpassing virtue, men would say he was assumed by God. God Himself took Moses's soul—for his body showed no sign of decay: 'his eyes were not dim, nor were his teeth worn' (v. 7). The Septuagint and Chaldaean render: 'Moses died by the word (mouth) of the Lord.'

And he buried him in the valley of the land of Moab over against Phogor: and no man hath known of his sepulchre until this day. God buried Moses through the ministry of angels, Michael contending with the devil over the body (Jude 1:9). Lapide cites Oecumenius: the devil accused Moses of being unworthy of burial because he had slain the Egyptian and buried him in the sand; Michael refused to revile the devil, but said only: 'The Lord rebuke thee.' The concealment of Moses's tomb served two purposes: (1) to honour so great a man by angelic burial in a place hidden from men; (2) to prevent the Hebrews, prone to idolatry, from worshipping his body. Lapide draws the conclusion: God Himself honoured the relics of Moses by hiding them from profane use, teaching us how we ought to venerate the relics of the saints.

Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor were his teeth moved. Moses at 120 died without natural decay—his faculties intact. Lapide: God removed his soul directly; there was no sickness, no aging weakness, but only the divine command and instant death. His 120 years were divided into three parts of 40: youth in Egypt's court, exile in Midian, and leadership of Israel.

And Josue the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands upon him. The laying on of hands transmits the spirit of wisdom and governance—a type of apostolic succession. As Moses conferred his spirit on Josue, Christ conferred His Spirit on the Apostles, and they in turn on their successors through the imposition of hands.

And there arose no more a prophet in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. Lapide: No prophet like Moses arose until Christ—the Prophet like Moses (ch. 18:15), but incomparably greater. Moses spoke with God face to face as a servant with a master; Christ is the very Word of God, knowing the Father as only the Son can know Him (Matt. 11:27). The closing eulogy of Moses (vv. 10–12) thus opens onto the fulfilment of the promise: the greater Prophet, the Christ, is coming.

In all the signs and wonders, which the Lord sent by him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharao and to all his servants, and to all his land, and all the mighty hand, and great miracles, which Moses did before all Israel. Moses's unique greatness is attested by his miracles—the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the giving of the Law, the forty years of Providence in the desert. Yet all these point forward to Christ, of Whom Moses said: 'Him shall you hear.' The Book of Deuteronomy ends as it began—with the authority of Moses as the great Lawgiver whose every word directs Israel to the greater Prophet yet to come.