32:39 See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me; it is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded, and it is I who heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand. 

The Book of Deuteronomy concludes with a song that will witness against Israel’s unfaithfulness, a final blessing to the tribes, and the death of Moses. Throughout this section we see blessing and cursing, love and hate. This is the relationship dynamic of a righteous God who loves and commits Himself to unrighteous people. 

With this song in their law, the nation will know that their eventual and brutal suffering is because of their own evil rather than the unfaithfulness of their God. We hear yet again that they will turn from Yahweh who loves them to love and serve the demon-gods of the land. This will not only incur all the curses promised in the Law, but God will respond by “making them jealous with those who are not a people… and a wickedly foolish nation.” And still, in Israel’s darkest hour, their Lord will gather them from the nations, bring them back, render justice to their oppressors, and glorify His Name. Chapter 33 describes prophetic blessing and roles to the tribes, and a heart-warming blessing at the end that reiterates Yahweh’s love for His people Israel. 

Moses finally dies as the Lord had told him, despite his plea for mercy to enter the land. He died of the will of God and not natural causes. The closing is very important as it describes the glory of Moses as a prophet: he knew God face to face, and performed great signs and wonders of divine power. This not only shows us what to look for in this ultimate prophet, but demonstrates that Israel is indeed waiting for this figure.