The great Ruler of nations had declared that Moses was not to lead the congregation of Israel into the goodly land, and the earnest pleading of God's servant could not secure a reversing of His sentence. He knew that he must die. Yet he had not for a moment faltered in his care for Israel. He had faithfully sought to prepare the congregation to enter upon the promised inheritance. At the divine command Moses and Joshua repaired to the 470 tabernacle, while the pillar of cloud came and stood over the door. Here the people were solemnly committed to the charge of Joshua. The work of Moses as leader of Israel was ended. Still he forgot himself in his interest for his people. In the presence of the assembled multitude Moses, in the name of God, addressed to his successor these words of holy cheer: "Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee." He then turned to the elders and officers of the people, giving them a solemn charge to obey faithfully the instructions he had communicated to them from God.

Nationernes store konge havde sagt, at Moses ikke skulle føre Israels menighed ind i det herlige land, og Guds tjeners alvorlige bønner formåede ikke at ændre Guds dom. Moses vidste, at han skulle dø. Men hans omsorg for Israel aftog ikke et eneste øjeblik. Han havde trofast søgt at forberede menigheden til at overtage den lovede arv. På Guds befaling begav Moses og Josua sig hen til tabernaklet, mens skyen flyttede sig hen over indgangen. Her fik Josua højtideligt overdraget ansvaret for folket. Moses' gerning som Israels leder var til ende, men han glemte stadig sig selv og viede folket al sin interesse. I hele menighedens nærværelse henvendte Moses i Guds navn disse ord til sin efterfølger som en hellig opmuntring: "Vær frimodig og stærk; thi du skal føre israelitterne ind i det land, jeg tilsvor dem. Jeg vil være med dig!" Derpå talte han til folkets embedsmænd og ledere og pålagde dem højtideligt at vise ubetinget lydighed over for den vejledning, han havde givet dem fra Gud.