Martin Luther King
Inspired by this week's portion
In his final speech
Deuteronomy 32:48-52
That very day God spoke to Moses: Ascend these heights of Abarim to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab facing Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving the Israelites as their holding. You shall die on the mountain that you are about to ascend, and shall be gathered to your kin ... You may view the land from a distance, but you shall not enter it—the land that I am giving to the Israelite people.
As this portion ends, and Moses is finishing his last speech to the people, God reminds Moses he will die on Mt. Nebo and not enter the land promised to his ancestors.
In 1968, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. used the imagery of Moses on the mountain to create a memorable conclusion to what turned out to be his final speech.