Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and spent the next forty years wandering in the desert with them. He knew he was leading a messed up group who, despite being God's chosen people, truly did not understand the significance of this journey. They complained and whined and worried about the future. They reverted to the old ways whenever things got tough. In other words, they were a lot like us.
Moses knew he would not enter the promised land, but his people would.
So he gave them a point by point history of the journey. Moses reminded the Israelites of everything that had happened over the last forty years. He reminded them of how and why they left Egypt. He reminded them of God's law and promises. He reiterated, many times, not to make idols to God. He recapped the commandments several times. He reminded them they were not chosen because of their righteousness, but because of the wickedness of others. He repeated, over and over, the most important commandment; love God with all your heart, soul, and strength. He reminded the people they are commanded to defend the fatherless, the widows and the foreigners living among them. (Jesus said basically said the same thing when he spoke of the greatest commandment: Love God with all your heart and soul and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.) I like that.
Moses was not happy he had to stay behind.
He complained, several times, that he would not be allowed to enter the promised land because of the Israelites. How quickly he forgot. He would not cross the Jordan because he angered God. It was Moses and Aaron who messed up at the water rock, not the complaining Israelites. Moses was supposed to just speak to the rock and know God would produce water. Instead Moses pounded his staff on the rock and said, Must WE bring you water? Not God, but Moses and Aaron. That was why the two of them would never see the promised land. We see Moses was clearly not perfect.
Moses was worried about the Israelites.
He continually warns them to obey God. He reminds them that they saw all this personally, but their children did not. That they must teach their children this history and make sure they understand the law. He repeats this over and over again. Why? Because Moses will not be there to intervene and he is worried with a capital W. The Israelite's do not have a great track record of obeying - remember the golden calf after only forty days on their own? Moses even has the people recite the curses of not following God's law, tell them the blessings of obedience and again the curses for disobedience. He is afraid for them.
Sadly, God tells Moses the Israelites will fail to follow his warnings.
Moses again reads the laws and gives the warnings, even though he knows it is vain. He knows the Israelites will worship other gods, despite all the consequences Moses laid out in detail, numerous times. Yet, he still has hope. Maybe they will remember, he must think. He finds a small comfort knowing God will redeem the Israelites in the future despite their wicked behavior, but only after being punished over and over again and only after they have lost everything. This he cannot change.
It is time for Moses to say goodbye.
Joshua is to be his replacement. Moses will never cross the Jordan into the promised land. Despite this, he takes time to bless all the tribes of Israel, talking about their strengths and duties. He blesses them as a group, reminding them they were saved by the Lord and that great things lie ahead. Then Moses goes onto the mountain where he looks over all the lands promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God has let him see the land, even though he cannot cross over into it. Moses dies on that mountain.
Moses dies and Joshua is left to lead the Israelites into the next chapter of their story.
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