Jude 1:9

The *Old Testament does not refer to Michael’s argument with Satan. Deuteronomy 34:6 simply says that God buried his servant in the country called Moab. But nobody knows where. God did not want the *Israelites to put an *idol on that spot.

• In the *Hebrew language, ‘Satan’ is not a personal name. It is a legal word for an official in a court. His task was to set out the evidence against a prisoner. That is, he accuses the prisoner.

• In the *Greek language, Jude uses the words ‘the devil’ to describe Satan here. Satan is the great enemy of God. And Satan is the accuser of God’s people (Revelation 12:10).

Some of the first Christians thought that Satan was trying to claim the dead body of Moses. This was because Moses had once killed an *Egyptian (Exodus 2:12). Moses’ later life was good. But he was still a murderer so he did not deserve an honourable grave. In his role as accuser of God’s people, Satan was trying to prove that Moses was guilty. That was the opinion of those Christians.

• Although he was God’s chief *angel, Michael refused to issue any judgement himself. Only God has the right to be the judge. And God has given that authority to Jesus (John 5:22; Acts 17:31).

Cain, Balaam and Korah

v10 These teachers laugh at anything that they do not understand. They behave like animals. They do whatever their feelings urge them to do. To carry on like that will ruin their lives. v11 What a terrible fate is waiting for them! They have copied Cain’s behaviour. Like Balaam, they cannot control their great desire for money. Like Korah, they refuse to accept other authority.