INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 33 This chapter relates the blessings Moses pronounced upon the people of Israel a little before his death; first, in general, on account of their having a law given them in so glorious a manner, Deuteronomy 33:1; then, in particular, each of the tribes distinctly is ble... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS IS THE BLESSING WHEREWITH MOSES THE MAN OF GOD BLESSED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BEFORE HIS DEATH. Namely, what is related in the following verses, this being the general title to the chapter: Moses is called "the man of God", being raised up of God, and eminently qualified by him with girls f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID,.... What follows, of which, in some things, he was an eye and ear witness, and in others was inspired by the Spirit of God, to deliver his mind and will concerning the future case and state of the several tribes, after he had observed the common benefit and blessing they all enjoyed, by... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, HE LOVED THE PEOPLE,.... The people of Israel, of which his giving the law to them in such a glorious manner was an instance, and was a distinguishing blessing which other nations were not favoured with, see Deuteronomy 4:6; how much more is the love of God shown to his spiritual Israel and spe... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES COMMANDED US A LAW,.... The law was of God, it came forth from his right hand, Deuteronomy 33:2; it is of his enacting, a declaration of his will, and has his authority stamped upon it, who is the lawgiver, and which lays under obligation to regard it; but it was delivered to Moses, and by him... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WAS KING IN JESHURUN,.... That is, in Israel, or over the people of Israel, of which name of theirs, Deuteronomy 32:15; either God, as Jarchi; for the government of the Israelites was a theocracy, and their laws were immediately from God, and by him they were guided and directed in all things... [ Continue Reading ]
LET REUBEN LIVE, AND NOT DIE,.... As a tribe, continue and not be extinct, though they should not excel, because of the sin of their progenitor; and it may have a special regard to the preservation of them, of their families on the other side Jordan, while they passed over it with their brethren int... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS [IS THE BLESSING] OF JUDAH,.... Which follows; the same supplement of the words is made in the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem; but Aben Ezra thinks it refers to what goes before, that this, the same thing prayed for or prophesied of Reuben, belongs also to Judah, that he should live and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF LEVI HE SAID,.... That is, Moses said of the tribe of Levi, as both the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: [LET] THY THUMMIM AND THY URIM [BE] WITH THY HOLY ONE; with Aaron, as the same Targums interpret it, who was of the tribe of Levi, and was a holy good man, a saint of the Lord, as he is... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SAID UNTO HIS FATHER AND TO HIS MOTHER, I HAVE NOT SEEN HIM,.... Which some understand of the high priests who were of this tribe, and according to the law were not to defile themselves, or mourn for a father or mother, Leviticus 21:11; or rather, as others, of their having no respect to them in... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL TEACH JACOB THY STATUTES, AND ISRAEL THY LAW,.... The priests and Levites, being dispersed among each of the tribes, having cities in them allotted to them, taught the people the laws, statutes, and ordinances of the Lord, moral, civil, and ceremonial, see Malachi 2:6; THEY SHALL PUT INC... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS, LORD, HIS SUBSTANCE,.... Which lay in tithes, firstfruits, c. for the priests and Levites had no share in the division of the land unless this can be understood of the cities and suburbs which were given them, or of houses and fields devoted, which fell unto them, or rather of their cattle, f... [ Continue Reading ]
[AND] OF BENJAMIN HE SAID,.... The tribe of Benjamin, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem; which is taken notice of next to Levi, because, as the priesthood was in the tribe of Levi, the temple in which the priests officiated was in the tribe of Benjamin, or near it; and is observed next but on... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF JOSEPH HE SAID,.... The tribe of Joseph, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: BLESSED OF THE LORD [BE] HIS LAND; as the lands inherited by his sons were extremely fruitful, the countries of lead and Bashan by Manasseh, and the fields of Samaria by Ephraim: Jarchi says, "there was not i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOR THE PRECIOUS FRUITS [BROUGHT FORTH] BY THE SUN,.... Which has a wonderful influence upon many and most of the fruits of the earth, to produce them out of their seeds in it, to bring them forward, to ripen and perfect them, and to make them rich and excellent. Jarchi says, "the land of Josep... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOR THE CHIEF THINGS OF THE ANCIENT MOUNTAINS,.... Which were from the beginning of the world, and for which the land, possessed by the children of Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim, were famous; as the mountains of Gilead and Bashan, inherited by the former, and Mount Ephraim, and the mountains of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOR THE PRECIOUS THINGS OF THE EARTH, AND FULNESS THEREOF,.... Corn of all sorts produced out of the earth, and grass that grows out of it, and cattle that feed upon it; for all which some part of the land of Joseph, particularly Bashan, was famous; as for the oaks that grew on it, so for the pa... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS GLORY [IS LIKE] THE FIRSTLING OF HIS BULLOCK,.... Such as were in Bashan, a country possessed by the posterity of Joseph, see Psalms 22:12; and so might be called "his" bullock, or a young bull, was reckoned both comely and majestic; so Menis or Mnevis, king of Egypt, preferred a bull above all... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF ZEBULUN HE SAID,.... The tribe of Zebulun, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, with whom Issachar is joined, they being brethren, and of the same mother as well as father; though Zebulun the youngest is set before Issachar the older, as in Jacob's blessing, Genesis 49:13; REJOICE, ZEBU... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL CALL THE PEOPLE UNTO THE MOUNTAIN,.... To the mountain of the house of the sanctuary, as all the three Targums; to the temple built on a mountain, which Moses by a spirit of prophecy foresaw would be, to which the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar would not only come up themselves, though at... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF GAD HE SAID,.... The tribe of Gad, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: BLESSED [BE] HE THAT ENLARGETH GAD; that is, the Lord, to whom the praise and glory were to be given, who had appointed to Gad a large inheritance on the other side Jordan, and had settled him in it, and which becam... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE PROVIDED A FIRST PART FOR HIMSELF,.... That is, the portion of the land of Sihon and Og, as Jarchi rightly interprets it; which was the beginning or firstfruits of the subduing of the land that was promised; this he looked at, chose, and desired it as his inheritance, Numbers 32:1; BECAUSE T... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF DAN HE SAID,.... Of the tribe of Dan, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: DAN [IS] A LION'S WHELP; or like one for boldness, strength, and courage; and was verified in Samson, who was of this tribe; who, when a young lion roared against him, the Spirit of the Lord came on him, and he t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF NAPHTALI HE SAID,.... The tribe of Naphtali, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: O NAPHTALI, SATISFIED WITH FAVOUR; with the favour of men, which to have is a great blessing; and as he gave goodly words to others, he had the good word of others, Genesis 49:21; and with the favour of Go... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF ASHER HE SAID,.... The tribe of Asher, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: [LET] ASHER [BE] BLESSED WITH CHILDREN; with large numbers, as it appears this tribe was, having in it 53,400 men of war, Numbers 26:47. It was esteemed a great blessing to have many children, Psalms 128:3; or ... [ Continue Reading ]
THY SHOES [SHALL BE] IRON AND BRASS,.... Either they should have such an abundance of these metals, that they could if they would have made their shoes of them; but that is not usual; though it is said of Empedocles g the philosopher, that he wore shoes of brass, which was very singular; and some th... [ Continue Reading ]
[THERE IS] NONE LIKE UNTO THE GOD OF JESHURUN,.... Or Israel, as all the three Targums; for this is one of the names of the people of Israel; Deuteronomy 32:15; and the Lord was their God in a special sense, having chosen, redeemed them, and made a covenant with them; and there is no God like him fo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ETERNAL GOD [IS THY] REFUGE,.... God is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting; the Ancient of days, before all things, and all time; which is, and was, and is to come: the same is true of Christ, who is the everlasting Father, or Father of eternity, the true God, and eternal life; as appears... [ Continue Reading ]
ISRAEL THEN SHALL DWELL IN SAFETY ALONE,.... The Canaanites being thrust out of their land, and Israel put into the possession of it, should dwell in safety, or "confidently" l; without fear of enemies, though surrounded with them on all hands; and though alone, a separate people, distinct from all... [ Continue Reading ]
HAPPY [ART] THOU, O ISRAEL,.... This is the conclusion of the blessing on Israel summed up in a few words; they having God to be their God, and having so many good things promised them, and in sight of them; being now got through, the wilderness, and on the borders of the land of Canaan; as all such... [ Continue Reading ]