Deuteronomy 34:8
And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
Original Language Analysis
בְנֵ֨י
And the children
H1121
בְנֵ֨י
And the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 14
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
3 of 14
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 14
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּעַֽרְבֹ֥ת
in the plains
H6160
בְּעַֽרְבֹ֥ת
in the plains
Strong's:
H6160
Word #:
6 of 14
a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the jordan and its continuation to the red sea
מוֹאָ֖ב
of Moab
H4124
מוֹאָ֖ב
of Moab
Strong's:
H4124
Word #:
7 of 14
moab, an incestuous son of lot; also his territory and descendants
יְמֵ֥י
days
H3117
יְמֵ֥י
days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
9 of 14
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
וַֽיִּתְּמ֔וּ
were ended
H8552
וַֽיִּתְּמ֔וּ
were ended
Strong's:
H8552
Word #:
10 of 14
to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive
יְמֵ֥י
days
H3117
יְמֵ֥י
days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
11 of 14
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
Cross References
Genesis 50:3And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.Genesis 50:10And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.Numbers 20:29And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.Isaiah 57:1The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.Acts 8:2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.1 Samuel 25:1And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
Historical Context
The thirty-day mourning period parallels ancient Near Eastern customs for significant figures. The plains of Moab, where Israel camped before crossing the Jordan, witnessed both Moses' death and the people's preparation for conquest. This mourning preceded the circumcision and Passover celebration at Gilgal (Joshua 5:2-11), marking the transition from wilderness to conquest generation. The formal end of mourning synchronized with Israel's spiritual readiness to enter Canaan.
Questions for Reflection
- How can you honor past spiritual leaders while avoiding paralyzing nostalgia that prevents moving forward in faith?
- What 'mourning period' do you need to complete before embracing the new work God has for you?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. The sheloshim yom (thirty days) of mourning matches the period for Aaron (Numbers 20:29), indicating the highest honor for covenant leaders. This formalized grieving acknowledged not merely personal loss but the end of an era—the exodus generation's final representative had passed. The bekhi (weeping) and misped (mourning) vocabulary indicates profound corporate lament, not merely individual grief.
Yet mourning has an endpoint—vatitemu (were ended/completed). Israel must move forward under Joshua's leadership. The limitation on grieving prevents paralyzing nostalgia and prepares for new work. While honoring the past, faith looks forward to God's continuing purposes. The mourning period prepares Israel emotionally and spiritually for the Jordan crossing, processing loss before embracing the new challenge.