Numbers 27 13

Numbers 27:13 kjv

And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.

Numbers 27:13 nkjv

And when you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered.

Numbers 27:13 niv

After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was,

Numbers 27:13 esv

When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was,

Numbers 27:13 nlt

After you have seen it, you will die like your brother, Aaron,

Numbers 27 verses

Numbers 27 13 Meaning

Numbers 27:13 conveys God's decree to Moses regarding his impending death. After seeing the promised land of Canaan from a vantage point, Moses, like his brother Aaron, will be "gathered to his people," a biblical idiom for dying. This pronouncement reiterates the consequence for his disobedience at the waters of Meribah (Num 20:12), signifying that while he will perceive the land, he will not physically enter it with the Israelites. It marks the culmination of his prophetic and leadership journey, highlighting God's faithfulness to His word and His consistent justice.

Numbers 27 13 Context

Numbers 27:13 falls within the latter portion of the Book of Numbers, specifically following the second census of Israel. It directly precedes the divine command to Moses to appoint Joshua as his successor. This chapter's immediate context revolves around the establishment of laws regarding inheritance, initiated by the daughters of Zelophehad. Against this backdrop of ensuring the future and continuity of the Israelite nation in the Promised Land, God reaffirms Moses' inability to enter. This divine declaration serves as a crucial transition point in Israel's leadership and the fulfillment of God's judgment pronounced earlier in Numbers 20. Historically, this event occurs near the end of the forty-year wilderness wanderings, with the generation of the Exodus, save Joshua and Caleb, having passed away, and the new generation preparing to enter Canaan. The verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty and the unswerving consequences of disobedience, even for His most faithful servants like Moses and Aaron, establishing that no individual, regardless of their role or standing, is above divine judgment.

Numbers 27 13 Word analysis

• When you have seen it: The Hebrew verb is ra'ah (רָאָה), meaning "to see," "to perceive," or "to experience." This particular usage emphasizes visual apprehension from a distance, distinct from physically possessing or entering. For Moses, this "seeing" represents a bittersweet culmination of his ministry. He sees the culmination of the covenant promises – the land – but cannot physically participate in its inheritance. This limitation often serves as a theological point for scholars: the Law (represented by Moses) can show the way but cannot bring one into the fullness of the promise, a role reserved for grace through Joshua (meaning "Yahweh saves," akin to Jesus).
• you also: The Hebrew is gam 'attah (גַּם־אַתָּה), literally "also you." This emphasizes inclusion. It highlights that Moses is not exempt from the general fate of the generation that was condemned to die in the wilderness, nor from the specific judgment meted out to him and Aaron for their act of disobedience at Meribah (Num 20:12). It reinforces God's consistent standard of justice applying equally to all, irrespective of status.
• shall be gathered: The verb is ne'esaph (נֶאֱסַף), the Niphal (passive) form of 'asaph (אָסַף), meaning "to gather," "to collect," or "to take away." This is a common biblical euphemism for death, particularly for those who die peacefully or as part of their natural lifespan, often implying joining departed ancestors. It typically signifies a peaceful demise and being reunited with one's forefathers, distinct from a violent or premature end. It can also hint at a belief in an afterlife or a continued existence in the realm of the dead.
• to your people: The Hebrew phrase is 'el 'ammeka (אֶל־עַמֶּיךָ), meaning "to your people" or "to your kin." This phrase reinforces the idiom of 'being gathered.' It speaks to a communal destiny after death, joining the assembly of the departed ancestors, especially within a covenantal lineage. It implies continuity beyond physical life, a belonging to a collective body even in death, suggesting an implicit concept of the afterlife as a shared existence with one's forebears. It highlights a spiritual connection beyond the grave for those within God's covenant.
• as Aaron your brother was gathered: The comparison uses ka'asher (כַּאֲשֶׁר), "just as," linking Moses' fate directly to Aaron's (Num 20:23-29). This specific comparison underscores several points:
  • Shared Disobedience: Both Moses and Aaron committed the same act of faithlessness at Meribah, striking the rock instead of speaking to it. Their shared punishment reflects the consistency of God's judgment for disobedience, especially among leaders.
  • Leadership Accountability: It shows that leaders, though highly favored and used by God, are held to a strict account. Their exalted position does not grant them impunity.
  • Divine Sovereignty: God determines the lifespan and manner of death for His servants. Aaron's death on Mount Hor was a divinely ordained event, and Moses' death on Nebo will be likewise.
  • Eschatological Outlook: For ancient Israelites, this implied a continuation of relationship or community in the realm of the dead, reinforcing their collective identity beyond individual mortality.

Numbers 27 13 Bonus section

The scene on Mount Nebo where Moses views the land but cannot enter it is a powerful metaphor throughout biblical theology. Moses, representing the Law, can only lead Israel to the boundary of the Promised Land (a symbol of God's promises and rest) but cannot bring them in. This inability highlights the insufficiency of the Law to perfect or bring ultimate salvation. It required a new leader, Joshua (who is a type of Christ, meaning "Savior"), to cross the Jordan and lead the people into their inheritance. This provides a deep theological parallel between the Old and New Testaments: Just as the Law defines righteousness but cannot grant it fully, it pointed to Christ, who fulfilled the Law and graciously grants entrance into spiritual rest and the true heavenly promises. Thus, Moses' death outside the land is not merely a consequence of sin but also a profound typological event, setting the stage for the redemptive work of Christ. It underscores the transition from a covenant based on detailed laws to one fulfilled through a perfect High Priest and King.

Numbers 27 13 Commentary

Numbers 27:13 is a pivotal declaration, marking the end of Moses's active leadership in preparation for the Israelites' entry into Canaan. It's not a punitive curse, but a solemn statement of divine justice and the natural conclusion of Moses's role within the Old Covenant framework. The phrase "gathered to your people" emphasizes a peaceful, natural death, reuniting him with his ancestors in the collective spiritual community. The specific comparison to Aaron's gathering highlights God's unyielding consistency in His justice, especially for leaders who fail to uphold His word perfectly. It powerfully illustrates that the Law, though holy and just, could not bring one into the promised rest because of the weakness of the flesh, even in a man as faithful as Moses. Joshua, whose name means "Yahweh saves," must lead them in, foreshadowing Christ, who alone truly leads His people into their promised spiritual inheritance and eternal rest (Hebrews 4). The verse implicitly contrasts the limitation of the Old Covenant's mediator (Moses sees but does not enter) with the boundless access provided by the ultimate mediator (Christ brings full salvation).