Why were Michael and Satan disputing over the body of Moses (Jude 9)?

Answer

Jude verse 9 refers to an event that is not found elsewhere in Scripture. Michael had to struggle or dispute with Satan about the body of Moses, but what that entailed is not described. Another angelic struggle is related by Daniel, who describes an angel coming to him in a vision. This angel, named Gabriel in Daniel 8:16 and 9:21, tells Daniel that he was “resisted” by a demon called “the prince of Persia” until the archangel Michael came to his assistance «But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. », (Daniel 10:13). So we learn from Daniel that angels and demons engage in spiritual battles over the souls of men and nations, and that demons resist angels and try to prevent them from carrying out God’s will. Jude tells us that Michael was sent by God to deal in some way with the body of Moses, which God Himself had buried after Moses’ death (Deuteronomy 34:5-6).

Various theories have been proposed regarding the nature of this struggle over Moses’ body. One theory suggests that Satan, who is known as the accuser of God’s people «And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. », (Revelation 12:10), may have opposed the resurrection of Moses to eternal life on t

On the grounds of Moses’ sin at Meribah, “because you trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you did not sanctify me in the midst of the children of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 32:51) and his murder of the Egyptian, “And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.” (Exodus 2:12).

Some have supposed that the reference in Jude is the same as the passage in Zechariah 3:1-2, “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, O Satan!’” But the objections to this being the same incident are obvious: (1) The only similarity between the two passages is the expression, “the Lord rebuke you.” (2) The name “Michael” does not occur at all in the passage in Zechariah. (3) There is no mention made of the “body of Moses” in Zechariah, and no allusion to it whatsoever.

It has also been supposed that Jude is quoting an apocryphal book that contained this account, and that Jude means to confirm that the account is true. Origen (c. 185–254), an early Christian scholar and theologian, mentions the book “The Assumption of Moses” as extant in his time, containing this very account of the contest between Michael and the devil about the body of Moses. That book, now lost, was a Jewish Greek book, and Origen supposed that this was the source of the account in Jude.

The only material question, then, is whether the story is “true.” Whatever the origin of the account, Jude does, in fact, seem to refer to the contest between Michael and the devil as true. He speaks of it in the same way in which he would have done if he had spoken of the death of Moses or of his smiting.

Regarding the rock, who can disprove its authenticity? What proof exists to the contrary? The Bible contains numerous references to angels. The existence of the archangel Michael is confirmed; the devil is frequently mentioned; and it is affirmed that both good and evil angels play significant roles on earth. Since the specifics of the dispute over Moses’ body are unknown, speculation is futile. It is unclear whether the argument pertained to ownership of the body, its burial, or another matter.

However, two things are certain: first, the Scriptures are infallible. The infallibility of the Scriptures is a fundamental belief of Christianity. As Christians, our aim is to approach the Scriptures with reverence and prayer, and when faced with incomprehension, we should pray fervently, study diligently, and if the answer remains elusive, humbly acknowledge our limitations in the presence of the flawless Word of God.

Secondly, Jude 9 provides a prime example of how Christians should handle Satan and demons. Michael’s refusal to rebuke Satan serves as a lesson for Christians on dealing with demonic entities. Believers are instructed not to engage with them directly, but to seek the Lord’s intervention against them. If a mighty being like Michael deferred to the Lord in confronting Satan, who are we to confront, expel, or command demons in our own strength?