This is the Bible Book Club, and we're in Deuteronomy.

Welcome to the club.

Welcome to the final episode of Deuteronomy.

But last episode, we were in chapters 32 and 33, and Moses is rapidly approaching the end. He blessed the people. He started with a

blessing for each tribe, but he paid special attention to his own tribe, the tribe of Levi, and the

tribes of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, which is a little unusual because normally Judah

gets top billing, because that's where Jesus is going to come from, the tribe of Judah.

Moses totally omits the tribe of Simeon. The tribe will be scattered in the territory of Judah

because unlike the tribe of Levi, tribe Simeon never redeemed themselves from their forefathers

sinful past. And lastly, Moses blesses the nation, reminding Israel that God is their refuge and that no one

is like them, a people saved by the Lord. This episode, it is time to say goodbye to Moses. He has said

all he has to say to the Israelites, he has labored in the Lord's service for over 40 long years. And his job was frustrating and filled

with difficulties and delays. He was not perfect, but he was faithful and he followed through

to the end. Well, the nation is gathered before him, probably fearfully hanging on to his

every last word. Then Moses, the only leader these poor people had

ever known, still strong in mind and body, turns away from the nation he has led and loved

and begins one last mountain climb. Not up Mount Sinai, which he climbed over half a dozen times, and not up Mount

Hoare, where he buried Aaron. But in chapter 34, then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of

Moab to the top of Piscay, across from Jericho. There, the Lord showed him the whole land from

Gilead to Dan, all of

Naftali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah, as far as the Mediterranean

sea, the Nagav, and the whole region from the valley of Jericho, the city of Palms, as far as

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