Life of Moses

On this page you'll find a selection of drawings of the later Life of Moses. With the last, the fortieth, year of Israel's wanderings, the biblical record becomes much more complete.  Knowing that the long penenace was almost over, Moses led the nation northward toward Palestine.  Again they found the march hard, the desert hot and terrible.  Miriam, the prophet's aged sister, died.  There was no water, and at their pangs of thirst, the people murmured once more, crying out that they would die.  Again Moses appealed to God, and was bidden to speak to a rock, which would give forth the needed water in abundance.  It was here that even Moses himself broke down and sinned. Perhaps it was that he did not exactly obey.  Instead of merely speaking to the rock, he struck it twice.  Perhaps there had been a moment's wavering even in Moses' perfect faith.  For this sin, God declared that Moses himself should not enter the promised land, that he too should perish in the wilderness.

The direct way to Palestine by way of Kadesh and Hebron was closed against Moses; therefore, he was compelled to lead his people eastward around the foot of the Dead Sea and so up to the Jordan valley.  On the way Aaron was warned that his death was near.  It was well known to both brothers that he could not enter the promised land.  He had sinned in building the brazen calf, and he had joined in Moses' sin in the time of his lack of faith, so Aaron must die. The long companionship of the brothers was at its end.

Together "in the sight of all the congregation," they ascended a huge mountain, Mount Hor, and they took with them Eleazar, Aaron's eldest surviving son.  Eleazar hd been but a boy at the time of leaving Egypt, so against him the general doom of death in the wilderness did not hold.  He was to be Aaron's successor as high priest, a stronger one in some ways than his father.  Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and placed them on Eleazer.  Then Aaron died there in the top of the mount and Moses and Eleazar descended.

These drawings of the Life of Moses are taken from my collection of antique Bibles and story books. You're welcomed to use these pictures of the Life of Moses in your artistic creations. Click on the Life of Moses illustrations below to see more details about saving a free Life of Moses image or about purchasing the images of the Life of Moses at a higher resolution.