Death of Moses

[Num. 27:12] And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.
12-17 Moses being told of his approaching death, ask for a successor.
Although the Israelites were now on the confines of the promised land, Moses was not privileged to cross the Jordan, but died on one of the Moabitic range of mountains, to which the general name of Abarim was given (33:47). The privation of this great honor was owing to the unhappy conduct he had manifested in the striking of the rock at Meribah (20:12); and while the pious leader submitted with meek acquiescence to the divine decree, he evinced the spirit of genuine patriotism in his fervent prayers for the appointment of a worthy and competent successor.
Moses must die: but death does not cut him off; it only gathers him to his people, brings him to rest with the holy patriarchs that were gone before him. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were his people, the people of his choice, and to them death gathered him.
Concerning his successor, we should concern ourselves both in our prayers and in our endeavors for the rising generation, that G-ds kingdom may be advanced among men, when we are in our graves. The request for a successor was most suitably made to G-d in this character, as the Author of all the intellectual gifts and moral graces with which men are endowed, and who can raise up qualified persons for the most arduous duties and the most difficult situations. Go out before them who may wisely conduct them in all their affairs, both when they go forth to war, or upon other occasions, and when they return home and live in peace. A metaphor from shepherds, who in those places used not to go behind their sheep, as ours now do, but before them, and to lead them forth to their pasture, and in due time to lead them home again.
18-23 Joshua appointed to succeed Moses. A strong testimony is here borne to the personality of the divine Spirit--the imposition of hands was an ancient ceremony. (See Gen. 48:14, Lev. 1:4, 1 Tim. 4:14). The spirit of government, of wisdom, and of fear of the L-rd.
Lay thy hand by which ceremony Moses did both design the person and confer the power, and by his prayers, which accompanied that rite, obtain from G-d all the spiritual gifts and graces necessary for his future employment.
Before all the congregation that they may be witnesses of the whole action, and may acknowledge him for their supreme ruler.
Give him charge thou shalt give him counsels and instructions for the right management of that great trust.
In the whole history of Israel there arose no prophet or ruler in all respects like unto Moses till the Messiah appeared, whose glory eclipsed all. But Joshua was honored and qualified in an eminent degree, through the special service of the high priest, who asked counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the L-rd. And Moses did as the L-rd commanded him, it had been little to resign his honor to a son of his own. But with his own hands, first ordain Eleazar high priest, and now Joshua chief ruler, while his own children had no preferment at all, but were left in the rank of common Levites: this was more to his glory than the highest advancement of his family could have been. This shews him to have had a principle which raised him above all other lawgivers, who always took care to establish their families in some share of the greatness themselves possessed.
Deut. 34
Moses was now an old man, a hundred and twenty years old. He had been the faithful leader of the children of Israel from the day that the Lord spoke to him at the burning bush and sent him to bring the people out of Egypt. He had prepared them to hear the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai and had taught them many other laws from the Lord, and he had done many signs and wonderful works at the Lord's command with his rod, both in Egypt and in the wilderness. Do you remember some of them? Once when Moses used his rod to do one of the wonderful works, he did not speak humbly and give the Lord the praise; it was when water was given the second time from the rock; and the Lord told Moses that he should not lead the people into the promised land. He should see it with his eyes, but he should not go over thither; he should die in Mount Nebo, a mountain in the land of Moab.
So Moses went up from the plain where the people were camping by the Jordan, to the top of Mount Nebo. Pisgah seems to be another name for Nebo, perhaps for the top of Nebo. It was opposite Jericho, across the meadows and the Jordan. From there the Lord showed Moses the land, to the north and west and south, where the tribes would soon find their homes. It was a wonderful view -the land which the Lord had promised to the people, to which he had been leading them; the good land of hills and valleys watered by the rain of heaven, the land of springs and streams, of wheat and vines and olives. "A land which the Lord thy God careth for. The eyes of the L-rd thy G-d are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the, end of the year." (Dent. 11:12) The land was so blessed because it was a picture of heaven.
So Moses died in the mountain, in the L-rd's care, and his grave was not known to anyone. He was old, but clear of sight and strong. The people mourned for Moses thirty days. Who would now be their leader? Joshua, who had been Moses' helper. At the L-rd's command also, Joshua had been appointed and was ready to take the lead, and the people were ready to follow and obey him. Moses was remembered as one who knew the L-rd and gave the people the L-rd's message.