Mount Nebo is a mountain located in modern-day Jordan that is significant in the Bible as the place where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death. Though Moses led the Israelites for 40 years through the wilderness, he was not permitted to enter the Promised Land himself due to an earlier act of disobedience against God.
The name “Nebo” comes from the Babylonian god of wisdom and writing. The mountain is located about 10 miles west of the ancient city of Jericho and rises over 2,600 feet above sea level. From the top of Mount Nebo, expansive views of the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho, and Jerusalem are visible on a clear day.
Moses Views the Promised Land
According to Deuteronomy 32:49-52, God instructed Moses to climb Mount Nebo where He allowed him to see the Promised Land before dying. This event is recorded in Deuteronomy 34:
Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land…And the LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 34:1-5 ESV)
Though Moses was not allowed to enter Canaan, God mercifully and graciously allowed him to view the land He had promised centuries earlier to Abraham and his descendants. For 40 years Moses had led the people toward this destination, and now on Mount Nebo he was finally able to cast his eyes on the goal that had motivated the people’s long wilderness journey.
Why Was Moses Not Allowed to Enter the Promised Land?
Moses was forbidden from entering the Promised Land as a consequence of Israel’s disobedience at the waters of Meribah recorded in Numbers 20:1-13. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites camped at Kadesh where there was no water for the people or livestock. They assembled against Moses and Aaron and quarreled with them, demanding water. The Lord then instructed Moses to take his staff and speak to the rock to bring forth water. However, Moses, impatient and angry with the people, struck the rock twice with his staff. Though water gushed out abundantly, the Lord rebuked Moses for not honoring Him properly and told him he would not bring the people into the Promised Land.
While Moses’ actions at Meribah revealed an impatience and anger that did not honor God, it must be remembered that Moses had faithfully led Israel for four decades. His one recorded act of disobedience occurred at the very end of Israel’s wilderness wanderings after decades of faithful service. While serious, this one transgression did not entirely overshadow Moses’ devoted leadership over the years.
The Death and Burial of Moses
After viewing Canaan from Mount Nebo, Moses died and was buried in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor. Deuteronomy 34:5-8 records:
So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days.
Though Moses was not permitted to enter the Promised Land, his vigor and health remained strong up to his death at the remarkable age of 120. The people deeply mourned this great leader who had shaped the nation of Israel through his divine calling, dedicated leadership, miraculous works before Pharaoh, and faithful obedience in the wilderness. Moses was the human instrument through which the Law was delivered to Israel, and his impact shaped the spiritual life of the nation for generations.
Mount Nebo in the New Testament
In the New Testament, Mount Nebo is specifically mentioned by name only once in 2 Peter 1:13-15, where Peter refers to his impending death:
I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder…since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
Peter realized his death was near just as Moses did on Mount Nebo. Both men faithfully used the time remaining to exhort and teach the people following them to remain obedient to God after their departure.
While not specifically mentioning Mount Nebo, Jude 1:9 also contains an important reference to this event:
But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”
This cryptic verse references a Jewish tradition found in the apocryphal Book of Enoch that the devil claimed Moses’ body at his death as the wages of his sin. However, Michael the archangel did not condemn Satan but said, “The Lord rebuke you,” leaving judgment to God alone.
Lessons Christians Can Learn from Mount Nebo
While Mount Nebo represented the end of Moses’ life and service to God, several valuable lessons emerge for modern-day Christians:
- Life has an end – Our lives, like Moses’, eventually draw to a close in this world. Keeping an eternal perspective and living for Christ each day is vital.
- Disobedience has consequences – One act of disobedience kept Moses out of the Promised Land physically. Obedience matters.
- God is merciful – Though God prevented Moses from entering Canaan, He mercifully allowed him to see it from afar after 40 years of leadership.
- Finish faithful – Despite his sin, Moses finished strong in exhorting Israel before his death. We must press on in serving Christ to the end.
- The faithful are remembered – Israel deeply mourned Moses’ death. A godly legacy extends beyond the grave.
- Heaven surpasses earth – While Canaan was the Promised Land, Christians look forward to an eternal Promised Land infinitely greater than anywhere on earth.
Archaeological Discoveries at Mount Nebo
In modern times, archaeologists have made important discoveries at Mount Nebo that shed additional light on its biblical significance:
- Byzantine Monastery – In 1933 archaeologists discovered the foundations of an early Byzantine monastery from the 4th-5th century AD with a stunning mosaic floor featuring animal and botanical motifs.
- Votive Offerings – Numerous votive offerings were also uncovered at Mount Nebo dating back to the 4th century BC, suggesting it was a holy site and destination for pilgrims even in Israel’s ancient past.
- Inscription – An ancient inscription was found reading “possession of the place of the memorial of Moses” which demonstrates the association between Mount Nebo and Moses dates back over 2,000 years.
These archaeological finds confirm that the association between Mount Nebo and Moses was widely recognized in antiquity centuries after the biblical events transpired.
Mount Nebo as a Place of Pilgrimage
As early as the 4th century AD, Christian pilgrims were making their way to Mount Nebo to honor Moses and view the Holy Land. Today Mount Nebo receives over 100,000 annual visitors who ascend the mountain top for panoramic views and to reflect on the life of one of the Bible’s greatest figures.
A modern-day church, the Moses Memorial Church, was built in the 4th century AD to commemorate Moses’ death. Its roof offers excellent views of the surrounding region, allowing pilgrims to see many of the same landmarks Moses beheld millennia ago. Whether religious or secular in background, tourists agree this sacred site carries a powerful sense of history and occasion.
The Significance of Mount Nebo
In summary, the biblical significance of Mount Nebo includes:
- The place God showed Moses the Promised Land
- The location where Moses died and was secretly buried after disobeying God
- A reminder that even great men of faith have moments of weakness
- A place associated with Moses for thousands of years by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike
- A modern pilgrimage site attracting over 100,000 visitors annually
While Mount Nebo marked the end of Moses’ earthly life and ministry, his influence and example of obedient leadership shaped the nation of Israel for centuries. Even today he remains one of the most towering figures of the Old Testament inspiring billions through his dramatic life story. For this reason Mount Nebo continues to draw pilgrims from many backgrounds who reflect on Moses’ integral place in the biblical narrative.