Deuteronomy chapter 34

vs 1

Apparently it's all visible on a clear day - so perhaps God parted the clouds, or just gave Moses a clear day - so he could see everything of the land.

vs 2

Seeing all the way to the sea is a not inconsiderable distance from there. And Moses didn't have one of those tourist telescopes that you put a coin in.

They call it the "Western sea" in the other translations (NIV, NASB - KJV calls it the "utmost sea"), and what else would you call it from Israel? But we have a new name for it, so why not use it?

vs 3

I wonder if he knew all the places by sight, or had a map, or God told him, or if he just saw a lot of land.

vs 4

And these are the last words recorded between God and Moses. Bit of a downer for him. But at least he is assured that Israel will take hold of it. Moses' life work was to bring them to this point, so he can be glad of that.

vs 5

That's all she wrote for Moses.

vs 6

They didn't even take his bones with them into the promised land. Of course, if God buried him, then they wouldn't have had the chance. But if they buried him, then this is kind of important.

vs 7

That's a pretty good innings. And yet, even though he was healthy, God was done with him, so that's it, he can go, and clear the way for the next generation of leadership. That's worth thinking about. Moses was old, but that didn't discount him from leadership. He was still healthy, but that didn't guarantee him the job either.

vs 8

They could have been crossing over and taking the land in this time, but they instead stood and wept and mourned appropriately. After all, what's 30 more days?

vs 9

To begin with, Joshua's job is more of a caretaker - to make sure Israel does what Moses told them to. And they do. But it's not long before he has to make his own deicisions and give his own orders. That's when leadership becomes your own job.

vs 10

Of course, since then suggests that either this was written later, or was added later. There's not much point writing "since then" if Moses has been dead 5 minutes.

vs 11

Again with the importance of the signs and wonders. They really do play a large part in the mind of Israel.

vs 12

So I guess you could say these comments were written before Elijah and Elisha? But even then, it's a mug's game trying to compare the miracles in one person's time with another. This could be as much a statement of respect for Moses and his ministry as anything.

And with that, we bring the book to a close. It's been fun.