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Commentary on Deuteronomy 34 verses 9–12
We have here a very honourable encomium passed both on Moses and Joshua; each has his praise, and should have. It is ungrateful so to magnify our living friends as to forget the merits of those that are gone, to whose memories there is a debt of honour due: all the respect must not be paid to the rising sun; and, on the other hand, it is unjust so to cry up the merits of those that are gone as to despise the benefit we have in those that survive and succeed them. Let God be glorified in both, as here.
I. Joshua is praised as a man admirably qualified for the work to which he was called, v. 9. Moses brought Israel to the borders of Canaan and then died and left them, to signify that the law made nothing perfect, Heb 7:19. It brings men into a wilderness of conviction, but not into the Canaan of rest and settled peace. It is an honour reserved for Joshua (our Lord Jesus, of whom Joshua was a type) to do that for us which the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, Rom 8:3. Through him we enter into rest, the spiritual rest of conscience and eternal rest in heaven. Three things concurred to clear Joshua's call to this great undertaking: - 1. God fitted him for it: He was full of the spirit of wisdom; and so he had need who had such a peevish people to rule, and such a politic people to conquer. conduct is as requisite in a general as courage. Herein Joshua was a type of Christ, in whom are hidden the treasures of wisdom. 2. Moses, by the divine appointment, had ordained him to it: He had laid his hands upon him, so substituting him to be his successor, and praying to God to qualify him for the service to which he had called him; and this comes in as a reason why God gave him a more than ordinary spirit of wisdom, because his designation to the government was God's own act (those whom God employs he will in some measure make fit for the employment) and because this was the thing that Moses had asked of God for him when he laid his hands on him. When the bodily presence of Christ withdrew from his church, he prayed the Father to send another Comforter, and obtained what he prayed for. 3. The people cheerfully owned him and submitted to him. Note, An interest in the affections of people is a great advantage, and a great encouragement to those that are called to public trusts of what kind soever. It was also a great mercy to the people that when Moses was dead they were not as sheep having no shepherd, but had one ready among them in whom they did unanimously, and might with the highest satisfaction, acquiesce.
II. Moses is praised (Deu 34:10-12), and with good reason.
1.He was indeed a very great man, especially upon two accounts: - (1.) His intimacy with the God of nature: God knew him face to face, and so he knew God. See Num 12:8. He saw more of the glory of God than any (at least of the Old Testament saints) ever did. He had more free and frequent access to God, and was spoken to not in dreams, and visions, and slumberings on the bed, but when he was awake and standing before the cherubim. Other prophets, when God appeared and spoke to them, were struck with terror (Dan 10:7), but Moses, whenever he received a divine revelation, preserved his tranquillity. (2.) His interest and power in the kingdom of nature. The miracles of judgment he wrought in Egypt before Pharaoh, and the miracles of mercy he wrought in the wilderness before Israel, served to demonstrate that he was a particular favourite of Heaven, and had an extra-ordinary commission to act as he did on this earth. Never was there any man whom Israel had more reason to love, or whom the enemies of Israel had more reason to fear. Observe, The historian calls the miracles Moses wrought signs and wonders, done with a mighty hand and great terror, which may refer to the terrors of Mount Sinai, by which God fully ratified Moses's commission and demonstrated it beyond exception to be divine, and this in the sight of all Israel.
2.He was greater than any other of the prophets of the Old Testament. Though they were men of great interest in heaven and great influence upon earth, yet they were none of them to be compared with this great man; none of them either so evidenced or executed a commission from heaven as Moses did. This encomium of Moses seems to have been written long after his death, yet then there had not arisen any prophet like unto Moses, nor did there arise any such between that period and the sealing up of the vision and prophecy. by Moses God gave the law, and moulded and formed the Jewish church; by the other prophets he only sent particular reproofs, directions, and predictions. The last of the prophets concludes with a charge to remember the law of Moses, Mal 4:4. Christ himself often appealed to the writings of Moses, and vouched him for a witness, as one that saw his day at a distance and spoke of him. But, as far as the other prophets came short of him, our Lord Jesus went beyond him. His doctrine was more excellent, his miracles were more illustrious, and his communion with his Father was more intimate, for he had lain in his bosom from eternity, and by him God does now in these last days speak to us. Moses was faithful as a servant, but Christ as a Son. The history of Moses leaves him buried in the plains of Moab, and concludes with the period of his government; but the history of our Saviour leaves him sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high, and we are assured that of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. The apostle, in his epistle to the Hebrews, largely proves the pre-eminence of Christ above Moses, as a good reason why we that are Christians should be obedient, faithful, and constant, to that holy religion which we make profession of. God, by his grace, make us all so!
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SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 34:12 serves as the climactic and poignant conclusion to the Pentateuch, offering a profound summary of Moses' unparalleled prophetic ministry and the extraordinary, publicly displayed power of God manifested through him. This verse encapsulates the awe-inspiring divine interventions—the "mighty hand" and "great terror"—that defined Israel's formative wilderness journey, solidifying Moses' unique status as God's chosen mediator and the nation's foundational relationship with Yahweh. It stands as a final testament to the singular nature of Moses' life and the foundational acts of God that shaped Israel's identity.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 34:12, as the climactic concluding statement of the Pentateuch, employs several powerful Literary Devices to achieve its profound impact. The use of Hyperbole is evident in the phrases "all that mighty hand" and "all the great terror," emphasizing the comprehensive and overwhelming nature of God's interventions through Moses. This is not merely a partial display but a complete and total manifestation of divine power and awe. Furthermore, these two distinct but related concepts ("mighty hand" representing God's active power and "great terror" representing the awe inspired by His presence) function as a Merism or Synecdoche, where two extremes or significant parts are used to represent the full spectrum of God's miraculous and terrifying interventions. The "mighty hand" itself is a well-established Epithet for God's power, particularly His deliverance. Finally, the verse serves as a powerful Inclusio and Summary, echoing and bringing to a climactic close the themes of divine power, Moses' unique mediation, and Israel's foundational experiences that have been developed throughout Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It acts as a final, definitive statement on the unparalleled nature of Moses' ministry and God's faithfulness to His covenant people.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 34:12 stands as a profound theological statement on God's active involvement in human history and His choice to work through human agents. It highlights the principle that God's power is not abstract but is concretely "shewed" or demonstrated through His chosen servants, even if Moses' role was unique in its scope and directness. The verse emphasizes that the God of Israel is a God who acts decisively, powerfully, and in ways that inspire both awe and reverence. Remembering these past acts of God's "mighty hand" and "great terror" is crucial for the ongoing faith and obedience of His people, reminding them of His faithfulness, His authority, and His ability to deliver and sustain. This historical memory forms the bedrock of Israel's identity, their understanding of God's covenant promises, and the basis for their continued trust in Him as they enter the Promised Land.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 34:12, while celebrating Moses' unique role, offers timeless principles for believers today. It calls us to remember and reflect on the "mighty hand" of God at work throughout biblical history and, indeed, in our own lives and the world around us. Just as God powerfully intervened for Israel, He continues to act on behalf of His people, demonstrating His power, faithfulness, and love in ways both grand and personal. This remembrance should cultivate a healthy "great terror"—a profound sense of holy awe, reverence, and respectful dread for God's holiness, majesty, and omnipotence, which is the beginning of wisdom and the foundation of true worship and humble obedience. While we are not Moses and do not mediate a covenant in the same way, the verse reminds us that God still chooses to work through His faithful servants. We are called to be vessels through whom His character, power, and purposes are "shewed" to a watching world, not necessarily through signs and wonders of the same magnitude, but through lives of obedience, service, and witness that reflect His transformative grace and truth, drawing others to His glory.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of Deuteronomy 34:12 being the final verse of the Pentateuch?
Answer: The final verse of the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy 34:12, serves as a powerful and definitive epitaph for Moses, solidifying his unparalleled status as a prophet and leader in Israelite history. It provides a climactic summary of his entire ministry, emphasizing that the "mighty hand" and "great terror" were not merely abstract concepts but tangible, public demonstrations of God's power performed through Moses. This conclusion brings a sense of closure to the foundational narrative of Israel's origins, their deliverance from Egypt, and the establishment of the covenant at Sinai, while simultaneously looking forward to their entry into the Promised Land. It highlights that no prophet before or since Moses had such a direct, face-to-face relationship with God or was used to perform such a comprehensive array of public signs and wonders. This final statement also implicitly prepares the reader for the transition to Joshua's leadership, underscoring the unique foundational role Moses played in God's redemptive plan for Israel and the enduring significance of the covenant mediated through him.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 34:12, in its celebration of Moses' unparalleled mediation of God's power and terror, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ. Moses was unique in his direct communion with God and the signs he performed, yet Hebrews 3:1-6 declares Christ to be greater than Moses, for Moses was a faithful servant in God's house, but Christ is the Son who built the house. The "mighty hand" of God, which delivered Israel from physical bondage through Moses, finds its supreme expression in the "mighty hand" of Christ, who delivers humanity from the spiritual bondage of sin and death through His atoning sacrifice and glorious resurrection (Colossians 1:13-14). The "great terror" manifested at Sinai, inspiring holy dread and revealing God's unapproachable holiness, is ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus. For those who believe, this terror is transformed into profound awe, worship, and reverence for the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Yet, for those who reject Him, the "great terror" of God's righteous judgment will be fully revealed by the conquering Christ, who will return with overwhelming power and authority to execute judgment and establish His eternal kingdom (Revelation 19:11-16). Christ not only "shewed" God's power but is the very power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24), embodying the divine presence and performing even "greater works" than Moses, ultimately drawing all people to Himself through His cross and resurrection (John 14:12 and John 12:32).