_A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451._ The blessing of Moses. He pronounces them all blessed, in what God had done for them already, Deuteronomy 33:1. He pronounces a blessing upon each tribe, Deuteronomy 33:6. He pronounces them all in general blessed, on account of what God would be to them, and do for them if... [ Continue Reading ]
_He loved the people_ The tribes of Israel. The sense is, this law, though delivered with fire, and smoke, and thunder, which might seem to portend nothing but hatred and terror, yet in truth was given to Israel in great love, as being the great mean of their temporal and eternal salvation. Yea, he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses commanded us a law_ Moses has been thought by some to speak this of himself, in the third person, because he intended the contents of this chapter, like the preceding song, to be learned by the Israelites, and repealed in their own persons. They are therefore supposed to say, _Moses commanded... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ Or, _for, he was king_ Not indeed in title, but, in reality, being under God their supreme governor and lawgiver; and therefore, by his authority, required them to observe these laws. _When the tribes were gathered together_ When the princes and people met together, for the management of publi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let Reuben live, and not die_ Though Reuben deserve to be cut off, or greatly diminished and obscured, according to Jacob's prediction, (Genesis 49:4,) yet God will spare them, and give them a name and portion among the tribes of Israel. All the ancient paraphrasts refer this to the other world, so... [ Continue Reading ]
_And this is the blessing of Judah_ As these words are used of none of the rest, so they seem to denote that Judah's blessing was more remarkable than the rest. Judah is here put before Levi, because it was to be the royal tribe. This benediction, as Bishop Sherlock argues, cannot relate to the time... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of Levi he said_ Said to God in prayer. _Let thy Thummim_, &c. That is, the Thummim and Urim which are thine, O Lord, by special institution and consecration, (understanding thereby the ephod, in which they were put, the high-priesthood to which they were appropriated, and withal the gifts and grac... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who said to his father, &c., I have not seen him_ That is, I have no respect unto them in comparison of God and my duty. The meaning is, Who followed God and his command fully, and executed the judgment enjoined without any respect of persons. It appears to refer to the whole tribe of Levi, who, fi... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law_ And that both as preachers in their religious assemblies, reading and expounding the law, (Nehemiah 7:7,) and as judges determining doubtful and difficult cases that should be brought before them, 2 Chronicles 17:8. The priests' lips were to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bless, Lord, his substance_ Because he hath no inheritance of his own, and therefore wholly depends upon thy blessing. _The work of his hands_ All his holy administrations, which he fitly calls _the work of his hands_, because a great part of the service of the Levites and priests was done by the l... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of Benjamin_ Benjamin is put next to Levi, because the temple, where the work of the Levites lay, was upon the edge of the lot of this tribe. And it is put before Joseph, because of the dignity of Jerusalem (part of which was in this lot) above Samaria, which was in the tribe of Ephraim; likewise b... [ Continue Reading ]
_And of Joseph_ Including both Ephraim and Manasseh. In Jacob's blessing, that of Joseph is the largest; and so it is here. _His land_ His portion, shall be endowed with choice blessings from God. _Of heaven _ That is, the precious fruits of the earth brought forth by the influences of heaven, the w... [ Continue Reading ]
_And for the precious things of the earth_ And in general for all the choice fruits which the land produceth in all parts of it, whether hills or valleys. _Fulness thereof_ That is, the plants, and cattle, and all creatures that grow, increase, and flourish in it. _The good-will_ For all other effec... [ Continue Reading ]
_His glory is like the firstling of his bullock_ Or the prime and fairest bullock of the herd. For things that excel in their kind are called _firstborn_ in Scripture. The beauty and strength of this tribe are compared to this stately creature, and a bullock being the best emblem of power among the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rejoice, Zebulun_ Thou shalt prosper, and have cause of rejoicing. _In thy going out_ 1st, To war, as this phrase is often used. 2d, To sea, in the way of traffic, because their portion lay near the sea. And in both respects his course is opposite to that of Issachar, who was a lover of peace and p... [ Continue Reading ]
_They_ Zebulun, of whom Moses takes more special notice. And so having despatched Issachar in two words, he returns to Zebulun. _Shall call the people_ The Gentiles, either those of Galilee, which was called Galilee of the Gentiles, who were their neighbours; or people of other nations with whom the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad_ That bringeth him out of his straits and troubles, which he was often engaged in, because he was encompassed with potent enemies. _As a lion_ Safe and secure from his enemies, and terrible to them when they rouse and molest him. _Teareth the arm_ Utterly destroys h... [ Continue Reading ]
_He provideth the first part for himself_ The first-fruits of the land of promise, the country of Sion, which was first conquered, and which he is said to _provide for himself_, because he asked and obtained it of Moses, and was the first who viewed his portion in the promised land. _There, in a por... [ Continue Reading ]
_A lion's whelp_ Courageous, and generous, and strong, and successful against his enemies. Which _leapeth from Bashan_ Because there were many and fierce lions in those parts, whence they used to come forth and leap upon the prey. Or this may refer either to the particular victories obtained by Sams... [ Continue Reading ]
_Satisfied with favour_ With the favour of God. That only is the favour that satisfies the soul. They are happy indeed that have the favour of God; and they shall have it that place their satisfaction in it. _And full with the blessing of the Lord_ Not only with corn, wine, and oil, the fruit of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let Asher_ Who carries blessedness in his very name; _be blessed with children_ He shall have numerous, strong, and healthful children. _Acceptable to his brethren_ By his sweet disposition and winning carriage. _In oil_ He shall have such plenty of oil that he may not only wash his face, but his f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy shoes shall be iron and brass_ They must have had great plenty of both these metals before they could make, or rather adorn their shoes with them, as was the custom among some nations. But we may render the words, _Under thy feet shall be iron and brass_, namely, mines of those metals; or, thy... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun_ These are the last words that ever Moses wrote, perhaps the greatest writer that ever lived upon the earth. And this man of God, who had as much reason to know both as ever any mere man had, with his last breath magnifies both the God of Israel, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The eternal God_ He who was before all worlds, and will be when time shall be no more; _is thy refuge_ Or, thy habitation, or mansion-house, (so the word signifies,) in whom thou art safe, and easy, and at rest, as a man in his own house. Every true Israelite is at home in God: the soul returns to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel shall dwell in safety alone_ Either, 1st, In safety, although they be alone, and have no confederates to defend them, but have all the world against them, yet my single protection shall be sufficient for them. Or, 2d, Distinct and separated from all other nations, with whom I will not have t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Happy art thou, O Israel_ Wanting words sufficiently to express their happiness, he breaks out into admiration of it. _Who is like unto thee?_ So highly favoured as thou art? _O_ people, _saved of the Lord _ Preserved, protected, and provided for by Omnipotence. Surely this is a privilege of which... [ Continue Reading ]