As the people gazed upon the aged man, so soon to be taken from them, they recalled, with a new and deeper appreciation, his parental tenderness, his wise counsels, and his untiring labors. How often, when their sins had invited the just judgments of God, the prayers of Moses had prevailed with Him to spare them! Their grief was heightened by remorse. They bitterly remembered that their own perversity had provoked Moses to the sin for which he must die.

Idet folket betragtede den gamle mand, som snart skulle tages fra dem, mindedes de med en ny og dybere erkendelse hans faderlige ømhed, hans vise råd og hans utrættelige arbejde. Hvor ofte havde Moses' bønner ikke bevæget Gud til at skåne dem, når de havde nedkaldt hans retfærdige domme over sig på grund af deres synder! Deres sorg kulminerede i dyb anger. De tænkte med smerte på, at det var deres ondskab, der havde fået Moses til at begå den synd, som nu kostede ham livet.