Moses knows that he, like Zelophehad, will not enter Canaan because of the debacle at the waters of Meribah, meaning “strife” (Num. 20:12–13). Now God reminds him of this and tells him to ascend a mountain belonging to the Abarim range on the western side of the Moabite plateau, which includes Mount Nebo. From there he will see the promised land and then die, as Aaron has (27:12–14; cf. 20:23–29; Deut. 32:49).

Since Moses’s end is near, he petitions God to appoint his successor so there will …