Deuteronomy Chapter 34 · Verse 1

Authorized King James Version

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And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,

Original Language Analysis

וַיַּ֨עַל went up H5927
וַיַּ֨עַל went up
Strong's: H5927
Word #: 1 of 22
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
מֹשֶׁ֜ה And Moses H4872
מֹשֶׁ֜ה And Moses
Strong's: H4872
Word #: 2 of 22
mosheh, the israelite lawgiver
מֵֽעַרְבֹ֤ת from the plains H6160
מֵֽעַרְבֹ֤ת from the plains
Strong's: H6160
Word #: 3 of 22
a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the jordan and its continuation to the red sea
מוֹאָב֙ of Moab H4124
מוֹאָב֙ of Moab
Strong's: H4124
Word #: 4 of 22
moab, an incestuous son of lot; also his territory and descendants
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 5 of 22
near, with or among; often in general, to
הַ֣ר unto the mountain H2022
הַ֣ר unto the mountain
Strong's: H2022
Word #: 6 of 22
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
נְב֔וֹ of Nebo H5015
נְב֔וֹ of Nebo
Strong's: H5015
Word #: 7 of 22
nebo, the name of a babylonian deity
רֹ֚אשׁ to the top H7218
רֹ֚אשׁ to the top
Strong's: H7218
Word #: 8 of 22
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
הַפִּסְגָּ֔ה of Pisgah H6449
הַפִּסְגָּ֔ה of Pisgah
Strong's: H6449
Word #: 9 of 22
pisgah, a mountain east of jordan
אֲשֶׁ֖ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֖ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 10 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 11 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְּנֵ֣י that is over against H6440
פְּנֵ֣י that is over against
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 12 of 22
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְרֵח֑וֹ Jericho H3405
יְרֵח֑וֹ Jericho
Strong's: H3405
Word #: 13 of 22
jericho or jerecho, a place in palestine
וַיַּרְאֵ֨הוּ shewed H7200
וַיַּרְאֵ֨הוּ shewed
Strong's: H7200
Word #: 14 of 22
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
יְהוָ֧ה And the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֧ה And the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 15 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 16 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 17 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָאָ֛רֶץ him all the land H776
הָאָ֛רֶץ him all the land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 18 of 22
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 19 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַגִּלְעָ֖ד of Gilead H1568
הַגִּלְעָ֖ד of Gilead
Strong's: H1568
Word #: 20 of 22
gilad, a region east of the jordan; also the name of three israelites
עַד H5704
עַד
Strong's: H5704
Word #: 21 of 22
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
דָּֽן׃ unto Dan H1835
דָּֽן׃ unto Dan
Strong's: H1835
Word #: 22 of 22
dan, one of the sons of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; likewise a place in palestine colonized by them

Analysis & Commentary

Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah—Moses's final journey ascends from the Jordan valley (900 feet below sea level) to Nebo's peak (2,680 feet), symbolizing his life's pilgrimage toward but not into the Promised Land. Har Nebo rosh ha-Pisgah (Mount Nebo, head/summit of Pisgah) overlooks the Jordan valley and provides a panoramic view of Canaan. Nebo was the Babylonian deity of wisdom/writing—ironic that YHWH's revelation to Moses culminates here, superseding pagan mythologies.

The LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan—Vayar'ehu YHWH (the LORD caused him to see) indicates supernatural vision. Natural sight couldn't encompass the entire promised territory from one vantage point; God gave Moses a prophetic, panoramic revelation of Israel's inheritance. From Gilead (Trans-Jordan) to Dan (far north)—this is comprehensive grace, letting Moses see what disobedience at Meribah (Numbers 20:12) prevented him from entering.

Historical Context

Mount Nebo is located in modern Jordan, about 10 miles east of where the Jordan River enters the Dead Sea, directly opposite Jericho. This occurred circa 1406 BC (traditional dating) just before Joshua led Israel across Jordan. The 'Dan' reference is proleptic (anticipatory), as Laish wasn't renamed Dan until Judges 18—either Moses used the later name prophetically, or this phrase was added editorially to clarify geography for later readers (common in ancient historiography).

Questions for Reflection