Why was Moses told to climb Mount Nebo before he died?
God told Moses to go up Mount Nebo in Moab, opposite Jericho, so he could look over the land of Canaan that God was giving to Israel as a possession. There he was to die and be gathered to his people, just as Aaron died on Mount Hor.
Les explains that after Moses finished giving his song for Israel to remember, God spoke to him that same day. God commanded Moses to get up into Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab, over against Jericho. From that mountain Moses could look at the land of Canaan, which God was giving to the children of Israel for a possession. But God also told him to die in the mount and be gathered unto his people, just as Aaron his brother died in Mount Hor. Les notes that Aaron's death was back in the book of Numbers.
Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: