Parashat Ha'azinu

Almost the whole portion is a single poem, written in the Torah scroll in two columns. Moses calls heaven and earth as witnesses and sings of God's care for Israel in the wilderness, of the people's future ingratitude when they grow fat and turn to other gods, of the punishment that will follow, and of God's final vindication of the people against their enemies. After the song Moses tells the people to take these words to heart, because "it is not an empty thing for you; it is your life." That same day God tells him to climb Mount Nebo, look at the land, and die there as Aaron died on Mount Hor.