Deuteronomy 32:48-52
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Moses’s Death Foretold
48 On that very day the Lord addressed Moses as follows: 49 “Ascend this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites for a possession;(A) 50 you shall die there on the mountain that you ascend and shall be gathered to your kin, as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his kin, 51 because both of you broke faith with me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, by failing to maintain my holiness among the Israelites.(B) 52 Although you may view the land from a distance, you shall not enter it, the land that I am giving to the Israelites.”(C)
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Deuteronomy 32:48-52
New English Translation
Instructions about Moses’ Death
48 Then the Lord said to Moses that same day, 49 “Go up to this Abarim[a] hill country, to Mount Nebo (which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho), and look at the land of Canaan that I am giving to the Israelites as a possession. 50 You will die[b] on the mountain that you ascend and join your deceased ancestors,[c] just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor[d] and joined his deceased ancestors, 51 for both of you[e] rebelled against me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin when you did not show me proper respect[f] among the Israelites. 52 You will see the land before you, but you will not enter the land that I am giving to the Israelites.”
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- Deuteronomy 32:49 sn Abarim. This refers to the high plateau region of the Transjordan, the highest elevation of which is Mount Pisgah (or Nebo; cf. Deut 34:1). See also the note on the name “Pisgah” in Deut 3:17.
- Deuteronomy 32:50 tn In the Hebrew text the forms translated “you will die…and join” are imperatives, but the actions in view cannot really be commanded. The imperative is used here in a rhetorical, emphatic manner to indicate the certainty of Moses’ death on the mountain. On the rhetorical use of the imperative see IBHS 572 §34.4c.
- Deuteronomy 32:50 tn Heb “be gathered to your people.” The same phrase occurs again later in this verse.
- Deuteronomy 32:50 sn Mount Hor. See note on the name “Moserah” in Deut 10:6.
- Deuteronomy 32:51 tn The use of the plural (“you”) in the Hebrew text suggests that Moses and Aaron are both in view here, since both had rebelled at some time or other, if not at Meribah Kadesh then elsewhere (cf. Num 20:24; 27:14).
- Deuteronomy 32:51 tn Heb “did not esteem me holy.” Cf. NIV “did not uphold my holiness”; NLT “failed to demonstrate my holiness.”
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