John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 3:23

"And I besought Jehovah at that time, saying," — Deuteronomy 3:23 (ASV)

And I besought the Lord.²³⁹ Others have, “I besought;” but I have preferred using the pluperfect tense because, in my opinion, Moses interrupts himself to show why he had resigned his office to another, and did not instead declare that he would be their leader, as previously, and at the same time an example of courage to the people. He says, therefore, that when he had prayed to be permitted to enter the land, he received a refusal. For it is not probable that, after he had substituted Joshua for himself, he immediately conceived a desire that was in direct opposition to it.

The essence of the prayer is that God, by granting him permission to enter the land, would thereby completely fill the measure of His grace toward him. Moses enumerates the blessings already granted to him as the ground of his confidence in asking. He also appeals that God, who is not accustomed to forsake the work of His own hands, might continue to the end the mercies He had begun.

For this reason, he says that the might of God had been shown to him, modestly hinting that it was natural to expect that he should be a participant in the crowning blessing, so that the end might correspond with the beginning. He also praises the power of God proclaimed by the miracles, so that such a magnificent work might not be interrupted.

Furthermore, he speaks in praise of the goodness of the land and expressly shows that his desire to see it arises from earnest piety. I willingly subscribe to the opinion of those who understand Zion to be meant by “goodly mountain;” for, with the exception of Lebanon, there was no other mountain so delightful in the land, whereas Lebanon, as if next to it in rank, is mentioned in the second place.

²³⁹ “I had besought, besought, etc.” —.” — Lat.