Deuteronomy 34 · a question people ask
Why does the Law end before Israel goes into the land?
The chapter doesn't say why. It ends with Israel still "in the plains of Moab" (34:8), Joshua leading (34:9), and the land sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob seen but not entered (34:4). Christians read that ending in two main ways, each resting on verses. Both agree that the story goes straight on in Joshua, "after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD" (Joshua 1:1), and that there the book says, "Nothing failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass" (Joshua 21:45).
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
An ending that looks ahead
Those who hold this view read the Law's ending, with the promise still ahead (34:4), as pointing past Joshua as well. They note that Hebrews, after naming Moses among the faithful (Hebrews 11:24), says of them all, "These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise" (Hebrews 11:39), and says of Joshua's day, "For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day" (Hebrews 4:8).
Deuteronomy 34:4 · Hebrews 11:24 · Hebrews 11:39-40 · Hebrews 4:8
An ending that hands over to Joshua
Those who hold this view read the ending as a handing over. Moses had said, "Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, shall go in there" (1:38), and the chapter ends with the people listening to Joshua (34:9). Joshua then records the promise of 34:4 kept: "So the LORD gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers. They possessed it, and lived in it" (Joshua 21:43). On this reading the Law stops at the Jordan because that is where Moses' part ends and Joshua's begins.
Deuteronomy 1:38 · Deuteronomy 34:9 · Joshua 21:43
The verses
“The LORD said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.””
“The children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended. Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. The children of Israel listened to him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.”
“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,”
“Nothing failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.”