1474 B.C. Moses' last four speeches to the people of Israel

Just before he died, Moses delivered four big speeches to his people. He wrote a beautiful song and expressed a blessing for the people he had led for forty years.

In his first speech, he thanked JHWH for everything He had done during all those years for himself and for the people. He reminded the people of the many times they had been rebellious, unreasonable, and hard to handle. He advised them to improve their ways. He also gave a short summary of the main events in the wilderness and begged the people to be mindful of the covenant they had made with their God (For the literal text of this first farewell speech, read Deuteronomy 1:1 to 4:19).

In his second speech, Moses again emphasized loyalty to God and obedience to His commandments. He talked about the Ten Commandments and the main rules and regulations of the law covenant. With great emphasis, he called upon the people to destroy everything in Canaan that had to do with the false religion that they practiced there. In addition, he gave further instructions regarding the organization of a proper judicial system and a good form of government.

Very striking in this second speech is a reference to the coming of Jesus Christ. Moses said literally: "JHWH, your God, will raise a prophet like me for you, from your own midst, from your own brothers, --you must listen to Him" (Deuteronomy 18:15).

At the end of this very long speech, Moses discussed a number of laws which had to do with daily life. (For the literal text of this second farewell speech read Deuteronomy 5:1 to 26:19.)

In his third speech, Moses summed up the horrible things that Israelites would have to suffer if they would be disobedient towards their God and would not keep the law covenant they had concluded with Him. JHWH would punish them severely. On the other hand, if the Israelites would obey, they would be able to live in paradise-like circumstances in a wonderful land, flowing with milk and honey, and they would be abundantly blessed by JHWH.

For us in the 21st century who always interpret the Hebrew Scriptures with our knowledge of the Greek Scriptures, it is striking that among all the horrible punishments and great blessings mentioned, there is no reference to a life after death or a resurrection. Obviously, the Israelites accepted death as the natural end of life and did not expect any punishment or reward after their death. The law covenant did not do anything to change this way of thinking.

This state of affairs probably explains why during His life on earth, Jesus found it so hard to get His thoughts regarding a life after death and a Kingdom which is not of this world, across to His listeners. His listeners, who naturally only knew the Hebrew Scriptures, were not very familiar with these kinds of thoughts. Only many years after Jesus' death did His apostles really begin to understand His teachings with respect to a resurrection and a Heavenly Kingdom. That was the time when they began to explain these teachings in their writings (the Greek Scriptures). (For the literal text of this third farewell speech, read Deuteronomy 27:1 to 28:68.)

In his fourth and last big speech, Moses repeated, for the last time, the main items of the law covenant and asked the people if they could agree to all the conditions, regulations, and laws. Again, the people unanimously said yes. (For the literal text of this fourth and last farewell speech, read Deuteronomy 29:1 to 30:20.)

Finally, Moses composed a wonderful farewell song in which he expressed his gratitude for all the blessings and miracles that God had provided for himself and his people. He even read this to the people (Deuteronomy 32).

At the very end of his life, Moses expressed blessings for the people in general and for each tribe in particular (Deuteronomy 33).

Moses was 120 years old when he obeyed God's last order. God had commanded him to climb Mount Nebo which was situated opposite Jericho, and to die there. He would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. But God did allow him to see it from a distance just before he died.

Moses had finished forty years of difficult labor in the service of his God when he climbed Mount Nebo all by himself to die there in 1473 B.C. The Bible says literally that despite his old age his eyesight had not become dim and that he had not lost his vitality.

After Moses' death, JHWH buried his earthly friend (Read the literal texts of all these events in Deuteronomy 34).