Bible Study Outline
"The Final Blessings And The Death Of Moses"
Deuteronomy 32:48-34:12
Lesson 34 (The Final Lesson)

I. Moses Is Denied Entry To Promised Land (32:48-52).
1. The reason why Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (vv.48-51).

A. Moses' ministry was over and all that remained was for him to give the patriarchal and prophetic blessing on the tribes.

B. On the same day that Moses recited the song, God called Moses to the top of Mount Nebo where he would be allowed to see the Promised Land before He died (vv.48-50).

1) Numbers 27:12-14 gives us some additional information.

2) Mount Nebo is one of the more prominent peaks in the Abarim Mountains range.

A) The Mountain range runs in a general north and south direction about ten miles east of the most northern part of the Dead Sea.

B) It rises to about 4,000 feet above the Dead Sea, which would be about 2,700 feet above the Mediterranean (sea level).

C) Nebo is 2,631 feet above sea level.

D) From Nebo, Moses could see Canaan in the north beyond Lake Galilee, on the west the mountains of Judea, and toward the south as far as the area south of the Dead Sea (Zoar).

C. God reminds Moses why he would not be allowed to enter the promised Land (v.51)

1) The reason why Moses was denied entrance into the Promised Land is given here in more detail than what was given for Aaron in Numbers 20:24.

- There it was simply stated that Moses and Aaron had rebelled against the Lord's command at the waters of Meribah.

2) Here Moses is told that they "broke faith" with God in Israel's presence and did not uphold His holiness among the Israelites (v.51; Num.20:1-13).

A) They had not properly conveyed the Lord's message or followed the way the Lord intended to supply water to the thirsty Israelites at Meribah Kadesh.

B) Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses and Aaron called the people rebels and struck the rock twice.

C) God denounced this action on the spot as a failure to trust him enough to honor him as holy.

D) Because of this, Moses was not be permitted to bring Israel into the land (Num 20:12; Psa.106:32-33).

Application: Truths to remember: 1) Leadership is a privilege given by God and is removed by God. 2) No matter how great or spiritual our leaders are, they are still capable of sinning, so this is why we are to keep our eyes upon the Lord and not men. So while churches are to love and follow their leaders, they are not to blindly follow them. 3) We are reminded here that it is God who is in control and not man.

II. Moses' Final Blessings Upon The Tribes Of Israel (33:1-29).
1. General blessings; God's loving care of Israel (vv.1-5).

A. There were three things that was necessary to make Israel a nation.

1) They had to be a common people.

- The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness formed them into a common people.

2) They had to have a common constitution (v.4).

- The giving of the Law at Sinai gave them a common constitution.

3) They had to have a common land.

- Entering into the Promised Land would give them a common land.

B. God came from Heaven and the angels to meet with sinful Israel to give them His Law because He loved them (vv.2-4).

- This looks back to the nation's deliverance from Egypt and the giving of the Law.

C. God would be their King (v.5).

- This may also anticipate His giving them the Promised Land.

A. The blessing of the tribe of Reuben (v.6).

1) Reuben was the firstborn, so Moses mentioned this tribe first.

2) Reuben would be located east of the Jordan River and just north of Moab which would make them vulnerable to attack.

A) Also they were about to march into the Promised Land at the head of the army (Josh.4:12) and would not return to their land until the conquest was completed (22:1-9).

B) Between the 1^st and 2^nd censuses in Numbers (Num.1 & 26) they lost 2,770 men.

C) The tribe had a reputation for being courageous soldiers (1 Chron.5:10).

3) So this prayer is probably for the tribe to grow and not become extinct.

B. The blessing of the tribe of Judah (v.7).

1) Judah had also led the way into battle (Num.2:9), so there was a need for this prayer.

2) Moses prayed that God would hear Judah's prayers, to give them victory on the battlefield, and to bring their armies back home safely.

C. The blessing of the tribe of Levi (vv.8-11).

1) Moses' blessing, here, speaks of Levi's status as caretaker, teacher, and revealer of the covenant and will of God, and of the bearing of the priestly responsibility of offering the sacrifices of the ritual system.

A) The Levites were both to represent the people before the Lord and to represent the Lord and his revelation to the people.

B) This involved taking care of the written Book of the Law and the means of determining the Lord's will through the use of the Thummim and Urim that were deposited in the breast piece of the high priest.

C) They were also to teach that word to the people at regular intervals (Lev 10:11; Deut 31:9-13).

2) The one that the Thummim (thum'im) and Urim (yoor'im) belonged to was called the godly man or the man God favored (v.8a).

A) These were the objects Israel, and especially the high priest, used to determine God's will and little is known about them.

B) They are first mentioned in Exodus as being kept by the high priest in a "breastplate of judgment" (Ex. 28:15-30).

C) Moses gave the tribe of Levi special responsibility for their care here in this passage.

D) After Aaron's and Moses' death, Eleazar was to carry and to use the lots to inquire of the Lord (Num. 27:18-23).

E) They were apparently two objects that served as sacred lots, that were used to determine God's will or to receive a divine answer to a question (Holman Bible Dict.).

(1) Saul called for their use, for instance, in determining who had broken Saul's vow in a battle with the Philistines (1 Sam. 14:41-45).

(2) This text also hints as to how the objects were used.

(A) They were "given," perhaps drawn or shaken from a bag.

(B) One object gave one answer, and the other lot gave another answer.

(C) Probably, whichever lot came out first, that was understood to be God's answer.

(3) The Urim and Thummim were not, however, automatic or mechanical.

(A) God could refuse to answer.

(B) Saul sought the spirit of Samuel through a witch because God would not answer Saul through Urim or dreams or prophets (1 Sam. 28:6-25).

3) The tribe of Levi is identified in the blessing by those certain acts that portrayed its loyal adherence to the Lord and to the covenant (v.8b-9).

A) The strife that arose at Massah and Meribah over water points out the difficulties that Moses, Aaron, the leaders of Israel, and the leaders of the tribe of Levi suffered on the journey from Egypt to Moab (v.8b).

B) The special devotion of Levi to the Lord is said to be portrayed by the action of the Levites in purging the community of sin by killing many of their own relatives after they had worshiped the golden calf (v.9; Exod 32:26-29).

C) It was because of their loyalty to the Lord on that occasion, they were set apart to Him as the priestly tribe (Exod 32:29; Deut 10:8).

4) Offering incense and whole offerings to the Lord are together descriptions of the whole sacrificial system (v.10).

5) Moses concluded his blessing on Levi with a prayer for their enablement and success in using their skills in God's work (v.11a).

6) Moses also prayed that the power of Levi's enemies would be destroyed, and never to rise again (11b).

D. The blessing of the tribe of Benjamin (v.12).

1) Moses prays for the security and peace of the tribe of Benjamin.

2) The temple would be located in Benjamin's territory, surrounded by shouldering hills, therefore Benjamin is pictured here as a beloved tribe who will enjoy intimate communion with the Lord (Gen.44:20).

E. The blessing of the tribes of Joseph [Manasseh and Ephraim] (vv.13-17).

1) Moses prays for the tribe of Joseph which represented the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim.

2) First, Moses prays for their material prosperity (vv.13-16a).

A) That their lands would be watered and so that they would be abundantly fruitful (vv.13-15).

B) That they would enjoy the goodwill of the One who revealed Himself in the burning bush (v.16a).

3) Next, Moses prays for their military success (vv.16b-17).

A) Ephraim became the dominant tribe in the northern kingdom and was often militarily the more powerful kingdom in Canaan in the ninth, eighth, and seventh centuries B.C.

B) The goring of the nations is thought by some rabbinic authorities to be fulfilled in the conquests under Joshua, who was an Ephraimite.

C) The extent of the military victories of Joseph, should best be taken as poetic hyperbole signifying the greater relative strength and prowess predicated of the Joseph tribes.

F. The blessing of the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar (vv.18-19).

1) These two tribes could expect God's blessings in their daily lives (v.18).

2) The identity of the mountain is uncertain, but the source of their prosperity was clearly the seas (v.19).

A) Some believe that this is a reference to the Millennial Kingdom since the tribes were basically land-locked.

B) Issachar was near the sea of Kinnereth (Galilee) and was only a few miles from the Mediterranean sea, so this could possibly be a reference to merchants who would trade in both territories with their products from the sea.

G. The blessing of the tribe of Gad (vv.20-21).

1) The translation of some of these lines is uncertain.

2) The general sense seems to be that even though Gad had been allotted its territory east of the Jordan, the tribe still fought valiantly (like a lion) in the conquest of Canaan.

A) It was choice pastureland that he chose for himself -- a leader's portion (v.21a).

B) They also joined with the others to conquer the land west of the Jordan, thus carrying out God's righteous will (v.21b).

H. The blessing of the tribe of Dan (v.22).

1) Moses compares the tribe to a young lion who suddenly springs forth to ambush its prey.

A) This could be referring to the impetuous nature of the tribe, who were quick to follow their own inclinations.

B) Since they are referred to as a lion's whelp which would point to them not being mature yet.

2) Some believe the word Bashan is a reference to a snake because Jacob compared them to a serpent (Gen.49:16-17) as in relationship to Satan, and since Dan became idolatrous and apostate (Judges 17-18).

I. The blessing of the tribe of Naphtali (v.23).

1) This blessing describes the geographical location of this tribe, who were located in northeast Canaan and extending south to the Sea of Galilee.

2) This tribe would enjoy God's favor and His blessing.

J. The blessing of the tribe of Asher (vv.24-25).

1) Asher would experience abundant fertility and prosperity (v.24).

- To dip or bathe one's feet in oil rather than simply anointing them would be an extravagant act, thus symbolizing the prosperity they would experience.

2) The reference to Asher's "shoes" (KJV), "bolts" (NIV) or "locks" (NASB) as being like iron and bronze indicate the tribes military security (v.25).

- The Hebrew word used here is "man'al" {man-awl'} which is used to indicate the securing of one's sandals, or bolting/locking one's door or gate.

A. There are no other gods, like the God of Israel (vv.26-27a).

B. God will drive out Israel's enemies (v.27b).

C. Because of who God is, and Israel's relationship to Him, they can live in security and experience His blessings (v.28)

D. God will protect and give Israel victories over their enemies (v.29).

III. Moses' Death And A New Leader (34:1-12).
1. The Death of Moses (vv.1-8).

A. Moses goes up from the plains of Moab to the top of Mount Pisgah and there God showed him the Promised Land (vv.1-4).

1) The description indicates the area one would see from Nebo when looking first northward (from Gilead to Dan), turning his gaze northwest (all of Naphtali; the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh), and west (all the land of Judah as far as the western sea), and then looking southward (the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar).

2) As Moses viewed Canaan from the top of Mount Nebo, God told him that this was the land He had promised to Abraham's descendants (Gen 12:7; 13:14-17; 15:18; 17:8; 26:3; 28:4, 13, where the promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is recorded).

3) The phrase, "I will give it to your descendants" (v.4) is exactly as the promise is given in Exodus 33:1; its substance is in Deuteronomy 1:8.

B. Moses, the "servant of the LORD" (v.5), died and was buried in an unknown way, in an unknown grave, in the valley facing Beth Peor, where the Israelites were encamped (3:29).

1) No doubt the reason for the secrecy of his grave was to prevent men from making a shrine at the lawgiver's tomb and worshiping him there.

2) Moses was 120 years old at the time of his death and still in good heath.

C. The nation of Israel mourned his passing for thirty days (v.8) which was according the period that they mourned for Aaron (Num 20:29).

A. Joshua assumed his duties as commander-in-chief of the nation of Israel (v.9).

B. We are told that Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom, which could be a reference to the Holy Spirit (Isa.11:2) or it could be a reference to his inner spirit.

A. Deuteronomy closes eulogizing Moses as the greatest of all prophets, the one whom the Lord knew intimately, and the greatest miracle worker.

B. The acts of the Lord through Moses are said to be miraculous signs, wonders, and awesome deeds performed with mighty power.

1) These were done before Pharaoh, his officials, his people, and in the sight of all Israel.

2) These were done to accomplish the task the Lord had called Moses to do in Egypt and on the journey to Canaan.

3) There was none greater than Moses, the emancipator, prophet, lawgiver, and father of his country, until the Lord Jesus Christ came (the one whom Moses spoke about, John 5:46; Heb.3:1-6).