2:15). Moved by fear, Moses fled from Egypt, and betook himself to the
land of Midian, the southern part of the peninsula of Sinai, probably by
much the same route as that by which, forty years afterwards, he led the
Israelites to Sinai. He was providentially led to find a new home with the
family of Reuel, where he remained for forty years (Acts 7:30), under
training unconsciously for his great life’s work.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the burning bush
(Exodus 3), and commissioned him to go down to Egypt and “bring forth
the children of Israel” out of bondage. He was at first unwilling to go, but
at length he was obedient to the heavenly vision, and left the land of
Midian (4:18-26). On the way he was met by Aaron (q.v.) and the elders
of Israel (27-31). He and Aaron had a hard task before them; but the Lord
was with them (ch. 7-12), and the ransomed host went forth in triumph.
(See EXODUS.) After an eventful journey to and fro in the wilderness, we
see them at length encamped in the plains of Moab, ready to cross over the
Jordan into the Promised Land. There Moses addressed the assembled
elders (Deuteronomy 1:1-4; 5:1-26:19; 27:11-30:20), and gives the people
his last counsels, and then rehearses the great song (Deuteronomy 32),
clothing in fitting words the deep emotions of his heart at such a time, and
in review of such a marvellous history as that in which he had acted so
conspicious a part. Then, after blessing the tribes (33), he ascends to “the
mountain of Nebo (q.v.), to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho”
(34:1), and from thence he surveys the land. “Jehovah shewed him all the
land of Gilead, unto Dan, and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and
Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, and the south,
and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar”
(Deuteronomy 34:2-3), the magnificient inheritance of the tribes of whom
he had been so long the leader; and there he died, being one hundred and
twenty years old, according to the word of the Lord, and was buried by
the Lord “in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor” (34:6).
The people mourned for him during thirty days.
Thus died “Moses the man of God” (Deuteronomy 33:1; Joshua 14:6). He
was distinguished for his meekness and patience and firmness, and “he
endured as seeing him who is invisible.” “There arose not a prophet since
in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs
and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to
Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all that mighty