Deuteronomy 34 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Deuteronomy 34 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Moses’ speech, recorded in the opening chapters of Deuteronomy, occurred immediately following the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.  

• The Israelites were in the wilderness from approximately 1490-1450 B.C.

• The Book of Deuteronomy opens on the 1st day of the 11th month in the 40th year (Deu 1:3) following the Israelites departure from Egypt (approximately 1450 B.C.).

CHARACTERS:

• Israelites (Hebrews) – The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God granted them freedom after several hundred years in slavery in Egypt. Leading up to the book of Deuteronomy, the Israelites had spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness as they made their way to Canaan, the land God promised to give them as a home.

• Moses – Moses was selected by God to lead the Israelites to Canaan. God spoke directly to Moses and Moses communicated God’s words and laws to the people.    

• Joshua - Moses’ assist and while he led the people in the wilderness. God selected Joshua to lead the Israelites after Moses’ death.

WHERE:

• Deuteronomy 1:5 tells us Moses spoke the words recorded in Deuteronomy while in Moab, probably on the plains of Moab near Pisgah (Numbers 22:1).

• Mount Nebo (Mount Pisgah; 34:1) is highlighted in this chapter. God appointed Mount Nebo as the place where Moses would die.

OUTLINE:

• THE DEATH OF MOSES AND THE LEADERSHIP OF JOSHUA (34:1-12):

  • After blessing the nation of Israel in Deuteronomy 33, Moses went up Mount Nebo as the Lord instructed him.

  • There, the Lord showed him the land He would give to the Israelites, the same land He promised to Abraham hundreds of years before.    

  • “So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab…” (34:5). He was 120 years old.

  • God buried Moses’ body in the land of Moab, but nobody was told the exact location.

  • The Israelites mourned for Moses 30 days.

  • God appointed Joshua to lead the people. Joshua is described as a man “full of the spirit of wisdom.”

  • The concluding words of Deuteronomy read, “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel” (34:10-12).
    

APPLICATION:

• The great servants of God are those who allow God to give them identity and direction.

• When God first spoke to Moses, at the burning bush, Moses’ identity had been stripped away from him (he was no longer a prince of Egypt) and the direction of his life had been radically altered.

• He knew he wanted to delivery his people from slavery, but he had no direction on how to do it.

• God met Moses on the mountain and gave him identity (a prophet of God) and the direction he needed to free his people.

• Although Moses initially resisted God’s call, he eventually submitted to it and found his place within the will of God.

• Will you let God do the same for you?