The Valley of Moses' Grave

"He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows the place of his burial to this day"

It is ironic that of the Israelites who were delivered from slavery in Egypt in the Exodus, nearly all of the adults did not make it to the Promised Land (for the reason why, see A Journey Without A Destination). Included among those who didn't make it was Moses himself, in his case for the reason stated by The Lord in the verses quoted above.

"And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And The Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. And The Lord said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there." (Deuteronomy 34:1-4 RSV)

Moses died and was buried "in the valley in the land of Moab," within sight of the Promised Land, but east of the Jordan River. The location of Moses' grave is unknown, most likely because it would be idolized if the exact location were known (perhaps also the reason that Satan tried to take charge of Moses' body - see the Fact Finder question below). It's also known that Moses' death was brought about to happen at that time, for although he was old in years, "his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated" (see also Why Did Christ Put Moses To Death?).

"So Moses the servant of The Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of The Lord, and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows the place of his burial to this day. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended." (Deuteronomy 34:5-8 RSV)

Nevertheless, Moses was a great man of God who will be in the Kingdom of God.

"And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him; so the people of Israel obeyed him, and did as The Lord had commanded Moses. And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom The Lord knew face to face, none like him for 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 for all the mighty power and all the great and terrible deeds which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel." (Deuteronomy 34:9-12 RSV)

Fact Finder: After Moses died, did Satan try to steal the body? Who stopped him?
Jude 1:9, see also Michael

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