What is the meaning of the scripture in Jude concerningthe body of Moses?
Here is the scripture:
Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
—Jude 1:9, NKJV
Bible commentators do not have a satisfying explanation for this scripture. Some feel the reference to the devil desiring to possess Moses’s body is one passed down verbally in Jewish tradition. Regardless, in the book of Daniel, Michael was the great prince or chief angel who stood watch over the Israelite people.(1) It makes sense that he would be the one to stand guard over the body of Moses.
We know from the transfiguration of Christ that the soul of Moses was safe from the devil’s grasp because God allowed him to appear on the mountain with Jesus. Why, then, would the devil want Moses’s body? Quite possibly, if he could make its whereabouts known to humans, they would turn his tomb into a sacred site.(2) Much like the golden calf, this would help turn the focus of the people’s worship away from God and cause them to violate God’s commands to not honor other gods or bow down to any images. Certainly, Moses, who fought so hard against idolatry, would never want his tomb to be revered in such a way either.
The greater lesson in this scripture is how Michael responded to the devil. The archangel fully understood the tremendous power Satan wields over this world. He also understood that Satan is no match for our God. Yahweh reigns supreme; He has the power to fully withstand Satan. Wisely, Michael put the dispute into God’s hands. What a great lesson for us today—allow God to handle evil as only He can do.
Footnotes:
(1) See Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1 for references concerning the angel Michael.
(2) The body of the prophet Daniel provides an excellent example of why God may not have wanted Moses’s burial site known. Bitter quarrels arose over Daniel’s remains, and at one point, his bier was transferred each year across the Choaspes River, residing one year on one side and the next year on the opposite side. His body was thought to bring prosperity to those living nearby. A Persian shah finally stopped the practice, declaring it disrespectful to the prophet. He had the bier fastened with chains to a bridge and erected a chapel. Many other incidents have been reported concerning Daniel’s remains, and it’s unknown whether any of the sites named as his tomb actually contain his bones. For more information, see the article: “Daniel, Tomb of” in The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia.