At what age did Moses die in the Bible?
This passage from the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 34, verses 5 to 7, is the most frequently quoted when it comes to Moses' age at his death.
According to the Bible, Moses lived to be 120 years old. It is estimated that he was born in 1560 BC and died in 1440 AD.
The first five books of the Bible, known as the "Law of Moses", recount his life and how he led the Hebrew people out of Egypt, after the country had been struck by the ten plagues.
Circumstances of Moses' death
On several occasions, Moses went to the top of Mount Sinai for the Lord to speak to him. There, he received God's 10 Commandments and the Tablets of the Law.
When the Lord had finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant, the stone tablets inscribed by God’s own finger.
Unfortunately, the Jewish people, during these seven days, grew weary of waiting and so asked Aaron to create idols:
When the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for that man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.” Aaron replied, “Take off the golden earrings that your wives, your sons, and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He received their offering, and fashioning it with a tool, made a molten calf. Then they cried out, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”
The Lord then becomes angry with Moses and the people:
Fortunately, Moses manages to appease God's wrath, but he realizes the folly of men and breaks the Tables of the Law and overturns the golden calf.
As punishment, the Hebrew people are condemned to wander in the desert for forty years, until a new, more law-abiding generation grows up.
The Lord shows Moses the Promised Land, but calls him back before the Hebrew people enter. Joshua is given the task of leading them.
Then he said, “If I find favor with you, Lord, please, Lord, come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and claim us as your own.”
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