The last phase of Moses' life and the transition to Joshua.
Numbers 27:12-13,18-19 One day the LORD said to Moses, "Climb one of the mountains east of the river, and look out over the land I have given the people of Israel. 13 After you have seen it, you will die like your brother, Aaron,
18 The LORD replied, "Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. 19 Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people.
Moses is barred from entering the land due to the incident at Meribah (Numbers 20:12; Deuteronomy 32:48-52). The biblical text provides specific Hebrew calendar dates for some events, showing a compressed period of roughly 6-7 months from early in the 40th year to Moses' death.
The beginning of the end for Moses is found in the last section of Numbers through the entire book of Deuteronomy, that's 44 chapters of Moses talking to the people, giving them final instructions and talking to God about his successor.
The following timeline was created using Grok.com to help me understand the last days before Moses death and the transfer of leadership to Joshua.
The Last Phase Of Moses' Life
The appointment of Joshua as Moses' successor is a key event in this final
period. It is first recorded in Numbers 27:12-23, where God instructs Moses
to commission Joshua publicly by laying hands on him before Eleazar the
priest and the assembly, transferring some authority.
This occurs shortly
after the second census (Numbers 26) and the case of Zelophehad's daughters
(Numbers 27:1-11), placing it in the sequence of events after the
Israelites' arrival in Moab but before the bulk of Deuteronomy's farewell
speeches.
Timeline of Events (40th Year After Exodus)
1st month (Nisan/Abib, roughly March/April):
Israelites arrive back at Kadesh. Miriam dies (Numbers 20:1).
Water crisis at Meribah, Moses strikes the rock and God decrees neither Moses or Aaron will enter the land (Numbers 20:2-13).
Edom refuses passage (Numbers 20:14-21).
5th month (Av, roughly July/August):
1st day: Aaron dies on Mount Hor at age 123; 30 days of mourning. (Numbers 20:22-29; 33:38-39)
Following months (roughly 6th–10th/early 11th months):
Continued journey and events in Moab area:
- Victory over Arad (Numbers 21:1-3).
- Fiery serpents and bronze serpent (Numbers 21:4-9).
- Conquests of Sihon (Amorites) and Og (Bashan) (Numbers 21:21-35).
- Encampment in plains of Moab opposite Jericho (Numbers 22:1).
- Balaam hired to curse Israel but blesses them (Numbers 22–24).
- Sin at Peor with Moabite/Midianite women; plague (Numbers 25).
- Second census of the new generation (Numbers 26).
- Case of Zelophehad's daughters and inheritance laws (Numbers 27:1-11).
Appointment of Joshua as successor:
God tells Moses to
view the land, announces his impending death, and commands him
to commission Joshua publicly. Moses obeys, laying hands on Joshua before
Eleazar and the people, transferring authority so the congregation will obey
him. (Numbers 27:12-23)
End of the book of Numbers:
- Daily/weekly offerings, vows (Numbers 28–30)
- War against Midian (Numbers 31)
- Land allocation east of Jordan to Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh (Numbers 32)
- Journey summary (Numbers 33)
- Land boundaries, cities of refuge (Numbers 34–35)
- Final inheritance rulings (Numbers 36)
Deuteronomy begins, 11th month (Shebat, roughly January/February):
Moses begins his extended farewell addresses (Deuteronomy 1:1-5
dates this explicitly to the 40th year, 11th month, 1st day).
Deuteronomy
records these speeches:
- Historical recap (chapters 1–4),
- Law restatement (chapters 5–26)
- Covenant renewal/blessings/curses (chapters 27–30)
- Moses' song/witness (chapters 32)
- Tribal blessings and final instructions (chapters 33)
Within these addresses, Moses reaffirms Joshua's role as successor and he encourages Joshua publicly including a tent of meeting ceremony where God commissions Joshua
directly.
God instructs Moses to ascend Mount Nebo (Pisgah/Abarim) to view the
Promised Land and die (Deuteronomy 32:48-52; 34:1-4).
Shortly after (likely still 11th month or very early 12th):
- Moses ascends Mount Nebo, views the land, and dies at age 120 (Deuteronomy 34:1-7)
- God buries him in an unknown spot in Moab (Deuteronomy 34:5-6)
- Israelites mourn for 30 days (Deuteronomy 34:8)
- After mourning, Joshua assumes full leadership and leads the crossing of the Jordan in the 41st year, 1st month (Joshua 3–4; Joshua 4:19)
This final stretch from their arrival in Moab through Joshua's commissioning to the Deuteronomy speeches and Moses' death emphasizes preparation, a review of the law,
covenant renewal, and orderly leadership transition.
