Deuteronomy 34

Deuteronomy 34:1

PLaines of Moab] A part of the wildernesse where Moses had given his instructions to the people, and pronounced his last blessing upon them.

Nebo] A part of Mount Abarim. See Annot. on Numbers 27:12.

Pisgah] Nebo was one of the Mountaines of Abarim, and among them the highest, and Pisgah was the highest top of Nebo, thither he ascended, from thence he had the fairest and truest prospect of the Land of Canaan.

the land of Gilead] The land of Gilead is here taken largely for that part of the land which was bestowed upon the Reubenites, Gadites, and halfe Tribe of Manasseh, before the Israelites passed over Jordan to take possession of the Land of Canaan for the other Tribes; and Moses being on the top of Pisgah which afforded him a prespect every way, he first cast his eyes upon Gilead where the two Tribes and an halfe were already possessed of their portion; and having taken a view of that, he directed his sight to the surveigh of the other part of Canaan beyond Jordan.

unto Dan] A Citie anciently called Leshem, Joshua 19:47. or Laish, Judges 18:27; Judges 18:29. but afterward possessed by the Danites, it was called Dan; it was the furthest part of the Land of Canaan towards the North, as Beer-sheba was toward the South; and by these two were the utmost limitations of it set out: See Judges 20:1.

Deuteronomy 34:2

all Naphtali, and the land] Their portions were not severally assigned them in Moses time, therefore he either uttered this by the Spirit of prophesie, as that this was afterward by lot to be the portion of the Tribe of Naphtali; or it was written not by Moses, but by some other sacred pen-man of the Holy Ghost who wrote the rest of this Chapter from vers. 5. to the end of it.

and all the land of Judah] The like may be understood of the Land alotted to the other Tribes, for his prospect was not limited to those particularly named.

utmost Sea] The Mediterranean Sea; the Hebrews use to call any great confluence of waters Sea; and they called this the utmost Sea, because it was the utmost bound of the Land of Canaan.

Deuteronomy 34:3

valley of Jericho] This was in the Tribe of Benjamin.

citie of palme-trees] Jericho is so called, because it abounded with Palme-trees. Joseph. Antiq. lib. 4. cap. 5.

Zar] Lots place of refuge, situate neere the Lake Asphaltites; whereof see Annot. on Genesis 19:20.

Deuteronomy 34:5

died] And he died (as some, who seeme exact in the computation of time, affirme) the third or fourth day of the moneth Adar, which answereth to our February: from hence the rest of the Chapter (and it may be the whole) was not written by Moses, but by some other by the Lords appointment, who is thought by some to be Ezra, but by others more probably Joshua. The like observation is to be made of the Booke of Joshua made by Joshua untill the 28. vers. of the last Chap. but from the 29. where his death is mentioned, is thought to be supplied by Samuel, Ezra, or King Hezekiah.

Deuteronomy 34:6

he buried him] The Lord himselfe, without any humane act or aide, prepared a grave for Moses, and laid his body in it, having taken his soule unto himselfe.

over against Beth-Peor] The place of that abominable Idol fore-mentioned, Chap. 3. 29. & 4. 46.

but no man knoweth] For though it be said, he was buried in a valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-Peor, that was so great in space of ground that the particular grave might be altogether unknowne; especially Gods purpose being to conceale it, he would leave no outward appearance of it lest the Israelites should have made it an occasion of Idolatry. But why had Moses possession of the land of Moab by his buriall, when God said, he would give the Israelites none of the land of Moab? for answer to this doubt, see Annot. on Chap. 2. vers. 9.

Deuteronomy 34:7

his eye was not] See Annot. on Chap. 31. 2.

Deuteronomy 34:8

thirty dayes] It was the manner to make thirty daies the measure of mourning for principall Rulers, whether of the Church or State, so long was Aaron lamented for, Numbers 20:29.

Deuteronomy 34:9

and Joshuah—was full of] Hereby appeareth the favour of God, that leaveth not the Church destitute of a Governour.

hands upon him] See Annot. on Numbers 8:10.

Deuteronomy 34:10

since] By this it seemes that this part of Deuteronomie was written not presently, but a good while after the death of Moses: or, for since him, we may reade besides him, according to some Translations, (which accord well enough with the Originall) and so the writer having the Spirit of prophesie, might speake not for his owne time, but for a good while after.

face to face] Unto whom the Lord did reveale himselfe so plainely. See Annot. on Exodus 33:11. & on Numbers 12:8.

Deuteronomy 34:11

In all the signes] That is, there is none like him in might and miraculous operations; whereby the Lord magnified his owne Majestie, and dignified his servant Moses his Ministerie. This is no prejudice to the praise of John Baptist, whose excellency did not consist in signes and wonders, nor in such familiaritie with God, but in other graces wherein he was exceeded by none that went before him.