Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 32:50
And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:
50. unto thy people ] Better thy father’s folk, as always in this phrase. The word, ‘am, originally meant this, but in Heb. is usually widened to people, while in Ar. it = ‘father’s brother’ and ‘father’s brother’s children’ (Driver). The whole phrase is frequent in P, Gen 25:8; Gen 35:29, Num 20:24; Num 20:26, etc., and is found nowhere else.
on Hor, the mountain ] Always so in P; cp. Num 20:22-29; Num 21:4; Num 33:37-41. Contr. above Deu 10:6 (E).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 50. And die in the mount – as Aaron] Some have supposed that Moses was translated; but if so, then Aaron was translated, for what is said of the death of the one is said of the death of the other.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And die in the mount whither thou goest up,…. Immediately after having taken a view of the land, expect to die, prepare for it, and willingly and cheerfully submit to it:
and be gathered unto thy people; to the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven, his more immediate and more remote ancestors, the souls of good men; for otherwise there were none that died, and were buried here, before him, and therefore can have no respect to the buryingplace of his people:
as Aaron thy brother died in Mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people; of which Moses was an eyewitness; and which is observed, because there was a great likeness between the death of him, and what Moses was now called to, both as to the place and manner of it; and likewise the cause of it, later mentioned; as also to make death more easy and familiar, and less terrible to him, when he cared to mind how calmly, cheerfully, and comfortably, his brother Aaron died; see
Nu 20:25.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(50, 51) And die in the mount . . . as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor . . . because ye trespassed against me.It may be asked why Moses and Aaron should both have been made to ascend a mountain to die. I believe a clue to the reason may be found in the words and act which constituted their transgression. They were bidden to speak to the rock in Kadesh, and they struck it. The words which Moses used on that occasion were, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this cliff (Selagh)? The last words of the sentence are emphatic; and the rock is described as a cliff, not by the name given to the Rock in Horeb (Tzr). The emphasis laid upon these words has been much discussed by Jewish commentators, though it escapes English readers. I suspect that the mistake Moses and Aaron made, in thinking it needful to strike the cliff, also led them to think it necessary to ascend it, instead of gathering the congregation together beneath it, and speaking to it from below. This view harmonises with the spiritual significance of the act. The smitten Rock in Horeb was Christ; the Cliff not to be smitten in Kadesh pointed also to Christ, ascended now, needing only the prayer of faith to call down all that He will give. And so Moses himself taught, in some of his latest words. It is not in heaven that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us? . . . But the word is nigh thee, in thy mouth.
The impatient words of Moses, after toiling up the cliff with his brother Aaron, had to be recompensed by their ascending mount Hor and mount Nebo to die. Moses, as the more responsible of the two, had to ascend on each occasion, for his brothers death and for his own. The remembrance of his brothers death in the Lord may well have comforted Moses in the prospect of his own.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
die . . . be gathered. Figure of speech Heterosis (of Mood), App-6. Imperative for Indicative. Compare Gen 25:8, Gen 25:17.
as Aaron = according as Aaron. Compare Num 20:24; Num 27:12-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
be gathered: Gen 15:15, Gen 25:8, Gen 25:17, Gen 49:33, Dan 12:13
as Aaron: Num 20:24-29, Num 33:38
Reciprocal: Num 20:12 – ye shall Num 20:28 – died there Num 26:65 – They shall Num 27:13 – as Aaron Deu 34:5 – died there
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 32:50. And died in the mount Not immediately, but after he had blessed the people, as in the next chapter. Be gathered unto thy people We seem to be compelled to understand this of the soul of Moses, to be associated in paradise with the souls of the just, here termed his people; in which sense it is taken by some of the Jewish writers. For if it were to be interpreted of his body only, or chiefly, it could hardly be said to be sense, since the people of Moses were not buried in mount Abarim. See on Gen 25:8.