Taking about crossing the Jordan to conquer the land, Moses reminds GB of the command he had then given to Joshua, who would lead the campaign into Canaan. The very thought of crossing the Jordan, however, raises for Moses the painful fact of his own exclusion from it, a fact made the pivot of this passage:
A. Moses Commands Joshua Not to Fear, vv21-22 :
". . . I commanded Joshua, 'You have seen (ra'a) . . . over there where you are crossing over ('abar) to'"
B. Moses' Plea to Yahweh, vv23-25 :
". . . Let me cross ('abar) and see (ra'a) the good land . . . beyond the Jordan"
C. Yahweh's Anger ('abar) with Moses, v26
B'. Moses' Plea is Denied, vv26-27: "See (ra'a) . . . for you are not going across ('abar) this Jordan"
A'. Moses' Commission to Joshua, vv28-29:
". . . command Joshua . . . for he will cross over ('abar) ahead of this people . . . he will cause them to inherit the land that you will see (ra'a)"
Low Chai Hok
©Alberith, rev., 2021