Moses' Final Words and His Death

Moses’ Final Words and His Death (Deuteronomy 32: 1- 34: 12)

As noted in the introduction to this essay, the Deuteronomic redactors shaped the whole of their book as the last will and testament of Moses. After the discussion of law and covenant, redactors have appended materials couched as Moses’ very last words. “The Poem of Moses” (Deut. 32), widely regarded as exilic, indicts Israel for disloyalty and declares divine judgment against them. “The Blessing of Moses” (Deut. 33) draws on traditions of a father offering a final blessing to his children as he is about to die (Gen. 49). In Deuteronomy 34, Moses dies…