1 The majesty of God. 6 The blessings of the twelve tribes. 26 The excellency of Israel.
Deu 33:1 This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death.
The blessing. Compare Gen. 49:1. Before his death. See Deut. 32:49; compare Isaac (Gen. 27:7), Jacob (Gen. 50:16), David (1 Chron. 22:5).
Deu 33:2 He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes.
From Sinai. The divine glory manifested on the promulgation of the law (Ex. 19, 20) is pictured here as being reflected brilliantly from the peaks and slopes of the neighboring hills.
Myriads of holy ones. Literally, “from myriads of holy ones,” that is, from His dwelling place in heaven with its countless holy beings, where He sits enthroned in glory (see 1 Kings 22:19; Job 1:6; Ps. 89:7; Dan. 7:10).
The preposition “with” is not an accurate rendition of the Hebrew. The picture is one of the celestial regions, where heavenly creatures await God’s pleasure (see Gen. 28:12; 32:2, 3; Ps. 103:21).
A fiery law. Compare Ex. 19:16, 18. Perhaps a clearer translation would be, “at his right was a burning fire for them,” suggesting the presence of the heavenly creatures (see Gal. 3:19).
Deu 33:3 Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction,
Love the people. The people were His children (see Ex. 4:22; 19:4). All his saints. That is, the people of Israel, the holy nation (see Ex. 19:6; Deut. 7:6; 14:2, 21; 26:19).
All bow down. In a state of expectancy, awaiting the proclamation of God’s will.
Receive instruction. The reference here would be to all that God revealed to them through Moses.
Deu 33:4 the law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob.
Deu 33:5 He was king over Jeshurun when the leaders of the people assembled, along with the tribes of Israel.
King in Jeshurun.
By the authority of, and under the hand of, God. During his lifetime Moses was prophet, priest, king, judge, and lawgiver to Israel. To be sure, in a strict sense, none but God was their King (see Ex. 15:18; Ps. 47:6, 7). Jeshurun is a poetic name for Israel.
Deu 33:6 “Let Reuben live and not die, nor his people be few.”
An implied reference to his sin with Bilhah (Gen. 35:22). Reuben was the first-born (Gen. 49:3) but never attained to great national importance. Rather, this tribe dwindled constantly in numbers.
Jacob had declared prophetically that he would not excel; Moses here assures the Reubenites that they will not entirely disappear from among Israel.
Deu 33:7 And this he said about Judah: “Hear, LORD, the cry of Judah; bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes!”
The meaning of the name is, perhaps, “praised” or “object of praise.” He was the son of Jacob and Leah; the meaning of his name is based on the words of his mother at the time of his birth (see Gen. 29:35).
His father predicted his brethren would praise him (see Gen. 49:8). On the tribe of Judah, see Joshua 14:6; 1 Kings 12:20; 2 Kings 17:18; Ps. 78:68.
Deu 33:8 About Levi he said: “Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful servant. You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
Levi.
Next to Joseph, this tribe is mentioned most often in the books of Moses. In Jacob’s blessing, Simeon and Levi are joined together. Here Moses does not mention Simeon, since Jacob had foretold that he would be scattered among his brethren (see Gen. 49:7).
Thummim. The tribe of Levi was to retain the high honor of spiritual leadership.
Deu 33:9 He said of his father and mother, ‘I have no regard for them.’ He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant.
Deu 33:10 He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
Incense.
To offer incense was the special privilege of the priests (see Num. 16:6 10, 40; 1 Sam. 2:28).
Deu 33:11 Bless all his skills, LORD, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Strike down those who rise against him, his foes till they rise no more.”
Skills. The same Hebrew word is translated “wealth” in ch. 8:17, 18
Be pleased. Recognize and appreciate his ministry.
Strike down. The Levites were vested with civil as well as religious duties (see ch. 17:8 12). To revolt against them was to become an enemy of the state.
Deu 33:12 About Benjamin he said: “Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.”
Benjamin. The child of his father’s old age, whom he loved.
Dwell between his shoulders. That is, to be carried on His back, or protected. God would protect Benjamin. Some commentators refer these words to the ridges of the territory of Benjamin (see Joshua 15:8; 18:13) and speak of Jerusalem as being in his territory.
Deu 33:13 About Joseph he said: “May the LORD bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below;
Here are reference to the blessing pronounced on Joseph (see Gen. 49:22–26). A rich soil is predicted, which would in turn ensure a high standard of living.
The land allotted his descendants was well watered. Various crops of choice grains and fruit thrived there. His cattle were to be vigorous and healthy. His military strength was to be great.
Deu 33:14 with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield;
Deu 33:15 with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;
Deu 33:16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
God has filled this earth with seemingly inexhaustible riches, indications of His love for man. But in a special sense, however, God’s love is over His chosen representatives on earth (see Gal. 3:26).
In the bush.
These words refer to the presence of God at the burning bush (see Ex. 3:2, 4).
Deu 33:17 In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.”
Ephraim. Jacob raised Ephraim to the position and rank of the firstborn (see Gen. 48:18, 19); therefore “ten thousand” are predicted for him, but only “thousands” for Manasseh.
Deu 33:18 About Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents.
Zebulun is here pictured as a maritime people. This is also reflected in the prophecy of Jacob (see Gen. 49:13). Many distinguished warriors arose from this tribe (see Judges 5:18; 1 Chron. 12:33).
Zebulun and Issachar were associated with Judah in the leading division in the wilderness (see Num. 2:5–7). As the last two sons of Leah, Moses here treats them together.
Zebulun was the younger of the two, but is placed first, in harmony with Gen. 49:13.
19. Deu 33:19 They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand.”
Sacrifices. Their conduct and worship would be in harmony with God’s directives and therefore pleasing to Him (see Ps. 4).
Deu 33:20 About Gad he said: “Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head.
Gad. A warlike tribe that grew in numbers and in strength (see 1 Chron. 5:18–20; 12:8; cf. Gen. 49:19).
Lion. See 1 Chron. 12:8 for 11 Gadites “whose faces were like the faces of lions.”
Deu 33:21 He chose the best land for himself; the leader’s portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the LORD’s righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel.”
Chose the best land. The first territory conquered was divided by Moses between Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh (see Num. 32:1, 2, 33).
His judgments. The Gadites fulfilled their promise to cross over the Jordan and do their part in the conquest of Canaan, until the whole country was subdued (Num. 32:21, 22, 29). Deu 33:22 About Dan he said: “Dan is a lion’s cub, springing out of Bashan.”
Dan. Jacob compared him to a serpent, or an adder (see Gen. 49:17). He is here spoken of as a “lion’s whelp,” as was Judah (see Gen. 49:9; cf. Judges 18:25–31).
Deu 33:23 About Naphtali he said: “Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the LORD and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake.”
Naphtali. For the territory of Naphtali, see Joshua 19:32–39.
Abounding with the favour of God. Compare Ps. 145:16, for the blessings of God for His children.
Southward to the lake, that is, the Sea of Galilee.
Deu 33:24 About Asher he said: “Most blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil.
Deu 33:25 The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.
Deu 33:26 “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty.
Rides across the heavens.
A figure of speech to describe universal supremacy (see Ps. 18:8, 9; 68:33-35).
Deu 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’
Your refuge. See Ps. 90:1. A better translation would be “dwelling place.” See Deut. 26:15 for the same Hebrew word.
Deu 33:28 So Israel will live in safety; Jacob will dwell secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew.
Live in safety. Jewish commentators apply these words to the reign of Solomon (see 1 Kings 4:25; cf. Jer. 23:6). The fountain of Jacob. Generally taken to be a reference to the unfailing stream of descendants of the patriarch Jacob (see Isa. 48:1; cf. Ps. 68:26).
Deu 33:29 Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.”
Tread on their heights. Be triumphant over their enemies (Amos 4:13; Micah 1:3). None would be able to stand before them.
The final verses of this chapter are an encouragement to have faith in God. He is supreme. He greatly blesses His faithful children, giving them security, peace, and an abundance of the good things of life. Finally, He will give them an eternal inheritance. God’s children should ever be of good courage.