Ulangan 32:48-50

Instructions about Moses’ Death

32:48 Then the Lord said to Moses that same day, 32:49 “Go up to this Abarim ¹  hill country, to Mount Nebo (which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho ² ) and look at the land of Canaan that I am giving to the Israelites as a possession. 32:50 You will die ³  on the mountain that you ascend and join your deceased ancestors, ⁴  just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor ⁵  and joined his deceased ancestors,

[32:49]  ¹ 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.

[32:49]  ² map For the location of Jericho see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

[32:50]  ³ 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.

[32:50]  ⁴ tn Heb “be gathered to your people.” The same phrase occurs again later in this verse.

[32:50]  ⁵ sn Mount Hor. See note on the name “Moserah” in Deut 10:6.