Why Did Satan and Michael Dispute On The Body of Moses? (Jude 1:9)

 Jude 1:9 says: "But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”"

While the verse is brief and the Bible doesn’t elaborate further, several interpretations have emerged from both biblical context and early tradition.

One widely held view is that Satan wanted to use Moses’ body to incite idolatry. The Israelites had a history of venerating physical objects (like the bronze serpent or the golden calf), so if Moses’ body had been accessible, it could have become a shrine—distracting the people from worshiping God. That may be why Deuteronomy 34:6 says God Himself buried Moses in a secret location.

Another interpretation is that Satan was making a legal accusation, perhaps claiming Moses was unworthy of honorable burial due to his sin (like striking the rock in Numbers 20). In this view, the dispute reflects Satan’s role as the accuser, while Michael, rather than rebuking Satan directly, appeals to God’s authority: “The Lord rebuke you!”