1Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is opposite Jericho. Yahweh showed him all the land of Gilead to Dan, 2and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, to the Western Sea, 3and the south, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, to Zoar. 4Yahweh said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.”
5So Moses the servant of Yahweh died there in the land of Moab, according to Yahweh’s word. 6He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor, but no man knows where his tomb is to this day. 7Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor his strength gone. 8The children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended. 9Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. The children of Israel listened to him, and did as Yahweh commanded Moses. 10Since then, there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face, 11in all the signs and the wonders which Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, 12and in all the mighty hand, and in all the awesome deeds, which Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
In verse 1 we are immediately introduced to an interesting self-description of the half-brother of James. Jude first describes himself as a “bondservant” or “slave.” The word “slave” or “servant” (Greek word, “doulos”) is used literally and figuratively in Scripture. Literally, “slave” refers to a person of servile condition. Metaphorically, “slave” describes a person who has surrendered himself to another’s will. Why use this title if he is James’ brother and the half-brother of Jesus Christ? For one, there is no spiritual benefit for being physically related to Jesus’ family. Some may contend Jude used this title as “self-punishment” for his earlier rejection of Jesus as the Messiah (cf. Acts 1:12-14). With the subsequent revelation that Jesus is the Messiah, Jude describes himself as a “slave” or “servant” of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, if one considers what it means to be a “slave” to God from a Hebrew mindset, then Jude was not describing himself as one filled with remorse. Great men of the Hebrew Scriptures are described as God’s “servants”: Moses (Deut 34:5; Joshua 14:7), Elijah (2 Kings 10:10), David (Psalms 89:3 cf. 2 Samuel 7:5-8), and the prophets (Jer 44:4; Amos 3:7). This concept extends beyond Israel’s leaders to the nation itself. Isaiah 41:8-9 and 44:1-5 record that Israel, the nation, received the privilege from God to be His “servant,” called to testify to God’s greatness before all the nations of the earth. Lastly, in Isaiah 42:1-4, even the Messiah is described as the “Servant of the Lord” (cf. Matthew 12:17-21). Therefore, being God’s “servant” is an honor and a responsibility (cf. Mark 8:34). For the Christian, slavery is best expressed by means of inward conformity and outward obedience to God as beautifully expressed in the phrase, “Not I, but Christ.”