Single lesson
Moses Sees the Land and Dies
Deuteronomy 32:48–52; Deuteronomy 34:1–12
In this lesson, children trace the final part of Moses’ story: Yahweh tells Moses to go up Mount Nebo, shows him the land, and Moses dies there. The class will order the events and notice Yahweh’s holiness, Yahweh’s word, and Israel’s response.
Before you teach
These verses begin with Yahweh speaking to Moses and telling him to go up Mount Nebo to see the land of Canaan. The passage explains why Moses will see the land but not enter it, then tells of his death, Israel’s mourning, Joshua’s leadership, and the special place Moses held in Israel.
Students will be able to put the passage in order and explain that Moses saw the land, did not enter it, died according to Yahweh’s word, and was remembered as a unique prophet.
Welcome: What happened at the end of Moses’ life?
4 minShow children the title and explain that today’s reading tells the end of Moses’ life. Ask them to listen for four big events: Yahweh’s command, Moses seeing the land, Moses’ death, and what happened after. Briefly explain that Mount Nebo is the mountain Yahweh told Moses to climb.
Deuteronomy 32:49, Deuteronomy 34:1, Deuteronomy 34:5, Deuteronomy 34:8, Deuteronomy 34:9
Read and explain: Moses sees the land
8 minRead the passage aloud. Explain that Yahweh told Moses to go up Mount Nebo and see the land of Canaan. The passage also gives the reason Moses would not enter it: he trespassed at Meribah and did not uphold Yahweh’s holiness among Israel. Moses could truly see the land, but only from a distance.
Deuteronomy 32:48, Deuteronomy 32:49, Deuteronomy 32:50, Deuteronomy 32:51, Deuteronomy 32:52, Deuteronomy 34:1, Deuteronomy 34:4
Discuss the outcomes: What does this teach about Yahweh and people?
6 minRead Deuteronomy 34:5–9. Ask children to name what the passage says about Yahweh and what it says about people. Yahweh spoke, showed Moses the land, and Moses died according to Yahweh’s word. Israel wept for Moses, and the people listened to Joshua. Keep answers tied to the verses.
Deuteronomy 32:48, Deuteronomy 34:1, Deuteronomy 34:5, Deuteronomy 34:8, Deuteronomy 34:9
Make and respond: Sequence cards
8 minChildren make simple picture cards for the main events, then place them in order and retell the passage. Encourage them to include the reason given in the text, not only the actions. If time allows, they can add a final card showing how Moses is described as a prophet unlike any other in Israel.
Deuteronomy 32:51, Deuteronomy 32:52, Deuteronomy 34:1, Deuteronomy 34:4, Deuteronomy 34:5, Deuteronomy 34:8, Deuteronomy 34:9, Deuteronomy 34:10
Closing: Remembering Moses
4 minFinish by reviewing the sequence together. Emphasise that the passage shows Yahweh is holy, Moses really died, the people mourned him, and Joshua led after him. It also says there had not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face.
Deuteronomy 32:51, Deuteronomy 34:5, Deuteronomy 34:8, Deuteronomy 34:9, Deuteronomy 34:10, Deuteronomy 34:12
Questions to explore
Why was Moses told he would see the land but not go into it?
Look for the reason Yahweh gives in the passage itself: Moses trespassed at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh and did not uphold Yahweh’s holiness among the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 32:51, Deuteronomy 32:52
What happened after Moses saw the land?
Follow the order in the verses: Moses saw the land, died there in Moab according to Yahweh’s word, Israel wept, and Joshua was listened to by the people.
Deuteronomy 34:4, Deuteronomy 34:5, Deuteronomy 34:8, Deuteronomy 34:9
How does the passage describe Moses at the end?
Notice both his physical condition and his unique place in Israel: his eye was not dim, his strength was not gone, and no prophet had arisen like him in Israel.
Deuteronomy 34:7, Deuteronomy 34:10, Deuteronomy 34:12
Make, think or respond
Moses’ Final Journey Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Ask children to choose four to six events from the passage, such as God’s command, Moses seeing the land, Moses’ death, Israel weeping, and Joshua leading.
- Have them draw one event on each card and write a short label with help.
- Mix the cards up, then work in pairs or as a whole group to place them in the correct order.
- Invite each child or pair to retell the story using their ordered cards, keeping close to the words of the passage.
This activity helps children sequence the account carefully and notice the choices and outcomes named in Deuteronomy 32:51, Deuteronomy 32:52, Deuteronomy 34:1, Deuteronomy 34:4, Deuteronomy 34:5, Deuteronomy 34:8, Deuteronomy 34:9, and Deuteronomy 34:10.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the event titles for them to copy and limit the sequence to four cards.
- For older or confident readers, ask them to add a verse reference to each card and explain which details show Yahweh’s holiness, Moses’ death, and Joshua’s leadership.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “Lord God, thank you for your word. Please help us listen carefully, understand what this passage says, and remember your holiness and your word. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Deuteronomy 32
48 Yahweh spoke to Moses that same day, saying,
49 “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is across from Jericho; and see the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel for a possession.
50 Die on the mountain where you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people;
51 because you trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you didn’t uphold my holiness among the children of Israel.
52 For you shall see the land from a distance; but you shall not go there into the land which I give the children of Israel.”
Deuteronomy 34
1 Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is opposite Jericho. Yahweh showed him all the land of Gilead to Dan,
2 and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, to the Western Sea,
3 and the south, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, to Zoar.
4 Yahweh 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.”
5 So Moses the servant of Yahweh died there in the land of Moab, according to Yahweh’s word.
6 He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor, but no man knows where his tomb is to this day.
7 Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor his strength gone.
8 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.
9 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 Yahweh commanded Moses.
10 Since then, there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face,
11 in all the signs and the wonders which Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,
12 and in all the mighty hand, and in all the awesome deeds, which Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
Source passages
Something to make together
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