Deuteronomy 32:48-52

LESSON TWENTY-FOUR Deuteronomy 32:48 to Deuteronomy 34:12

D. MOSES COMMANDED TO ASCEND

MOUNT NEBO (Deuteronomy 32:48-52)

48 And Jehovah spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, 49 Get thee up into this mountain of Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession; 50 and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: 51 because ye trespassed against me in the midst of the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. 52 For thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither into the land which I gave the children of Israel.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 32:48-52

567.

What day is meant by the expression that selfsame day?

568.

There are three names used: Abarim, Nebo, and Pisgah, are these all names of the same place?

569.

In death Moses was to be gathered unto thy peoplejust where are his people that death would unite the two?

570.

Please notice carefully the sin of Moses at Kadeshthere is something far more serious than speaking or striking the rockwhat is it?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 32:48-52

48 And the Lord said to Moses that same day,
49 Get up into this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho; and look at the land of Canaan, which I give to the Israelites for a possession;
50 And die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people;
51 Because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you did not set Me apart as holy in the midst of the Israelites.
52 For you shall see the land over opposite you, but you shall not go there, into the land which I give the Israelites.

COMMENT 32:48-52

GET THEE UP INTO THIS MOUNTAIN (Deuteronomy 32:49)See also Deuteronomy 3:23-28, Deuteronomy 34:1 ff. There is no practical purpose for distinguishing between Pisgah and Nebo, the former the name of Nebo in Deuteronomy 3:27.

Because of Moses-' transgression at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20:2-13), neither Moses nor Aaron were allowed to enter the Promised Land proper. We find no indication on their part of bitterness or inner rebellion against God because of this prohibitionin fact, all scripture with reference to their death leads us to believe they had long since quietly aquiesced to the will of God in this matter. Yet, what deep and overwhelming emotion must have engulfed Moses-' soul as he ascended that mountain! Surely from this distance it is impossible to imagine it! See further on this under Deuteronomy 34:1.

AS AARON. DIED IN MOUNT HOR (Deuteronomy 32:50)See Numbers 20:22-29, and note that, as in the case of Moses, Aaron could not enter Canaan because ye rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20:24. Compare Deuteronomy 32:51 of this chapter). Aaron had died on the first day of the fifth month of this year (Numbers 33:38). Moses-' death was not too much later, for even after the events of Deuteronomy, Moses-' death, the thirty days of mourning, and Joshua's leading of Israel across Jordan, we are only in the tenth day of the first month of the next year (Joshua 4:19).

BECAUSE YE SANCTIFIED ME NOT (Deuteronomy 32:51)See notes under Deuteronomy 1:37. There is much misunderstanding concerning the nature of Moses-' (and Aaron'S) sinsin so great in God'S eyes to keep this great man of faith from taking part in the final victory and entering Canaan with Israel. It is frequently explained that God condemned him because of his disobedience in striking the rock (an act which had been commanded of him in a previous instance, Exodus 17:6), instead of merely speaking to it as instructed. And though this may be part of Moses-' violation, it is not mentioned as a reason for preventing his entrance into Canaan. See Numbers 20, especially Deuteronomy 32:12. Moses did not sanctify God in the eyes of the people, Because ye believed not in me. In whom or what, then, did Moses have faith? It seems to have been himself, along with Aaron. And perhaps, too, (though it is hard to believe!) in the powers of his rodthe rod he had previously used to perform such feats as splitting the waters of the Red Sea or bringing forth water at Rephidim. Had Moses come to think of his rod as a magic stick? We do not know. At any rate, as he and Aaron stood before Israel, the shout of Moses was, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock? The name of God was not mentioned. The people only saw Moses and Aaron.

If ever there is a reminder of God's demand for his own glory to be reflected in our words and lives, it is illustrated here. His words must be followed, and the credit for his power (no matter who he works through) must be given to HIM!