Deuteronomy 3:21-29

Deuteronomy 3:21-29

[21] And I commanded  Joshua  at that time,  saying,  Thine eyes  have seen  all that the LORD  your God  hath done  unto these two  kings:  so shall the LORD  do  unto all the kingdoms  whither thou passest.  [22] Ye shall not fear  them: for the LORD  your God  he shall fight  for you. [23] And I besought  the LORD  at that time,  saying,  [24] O Lord  GOD,  thou hast begun  to shew  thy servant  thy greatness,  and thy mighty  hand:  for what God  is there in heaven  or in earth,  that can do  according to thy works,  and according to thy might?  [25] I pray thee, let me go over,  and see  the good  land  that is beyond  Jordan,  that goodly  mountain,  and Lebanon.  [26] But the LORD  was wroth  with me for your sakes, and would not hear  me: and the LORD  said  unto me, Let it suffice  thee; speak  no more  unto me of this matter.  [27] Get thee up  into the top  of Pisgah,  and lift up  thine eyes  westward,  and northward,  and southward,  and eastward,  and behold  it with thine eyes:  for thou shalt not go over  this Jordan.  [28] But charge  Joshua,  and encourage  him, and strengthen  him: for he shall go over  before  this people,  and he shall cause them to inherit  the land  which thou shalt see.  [29] So we abode  in the valley  over against  Bethpeor. 

What does Deuteronomy 3:21-29 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Moses encouraged Joshua , his successor, to take courage on the basis of all that God had done for Israel thus far, especially in defeating Sihon and Og ( Deuteronomy 3:21-22). A better translation of Deuteronomy 3:22 is "... for Yahweh [1] your Elohim [2], He [3] is the one fighting for you." Israel"s future success was certain because of Israel"s God, not because of Israel"s strength or wisdom.
Moses was so eager to see the Promised Land that he requested permission to enter it even for just a brief visit ( Deuteronomy 3:23-25). Because of his sin, which the people provoked by their incessant complaining but which Moses did not shirk responsibility for, God did not permit this ( Deuteronomy 3:26). God did, however, allow Moses to view the land from a good vantage point ( Deuteronomy 3:27; cf. Deuteronomy 34:1-3).
"In this section we also have one of Moses" prayers ( Deuteronomy 3:23-29). These prayers contribute to a profile of Moses as a type or model figure that is anticipatory of later figures in the biblical tradition. The primary components of this profile show Moses as a suffering servant [4], teacher (see discussion of Deuteronomy 5:22-33), intercessor (see ch9), and prophet (see Deuteronomy 18:9-22)." [5]
God charged Moses with encouraging Joshua further ( Deuteronomy 3:28). It is much easier to live by sight than by faith in God"s promises.