V.14-15 What an experience for these two men to meet the Lord in the tabernacle, even though He hid Himself in a cloud! Do you speak to the Lord as intimately? He is just as close, and longs for us to be conscious of His Presence. “The Lord” (mentioned 19 times in this chapter) spoke directly to Moses and told him he would soon die. There was to be an official change over in leadership of the Lord’s people in His Presence in the Tabernacle (only verses where tabernacle is mentioned in this book).
V.16-18 Moses represented the law, and it could not bring Israel into the land of promise and rest. So Moses is to pass away. The future is told to Moses that the people would turn away from the Lord to other gods! After all the Lord had done for them from Egypt to the gates of this land. Notice “God” (not “Lord”) is used when the punishment is foretold.
V.19-29 Moses is told to write two things — a song to help the people remember what the Lord was saying to them. The other was to write in a book the words God was telling him (verse 26 tells where Moses was to put this book).