Deuteronomy 33:21

_AND HE PROVIDED THE FIRST PART FOR HIMSELF, BECAUSE THERE, IN A PORTION OF THE LAWGIVER, WAS HE SEATED; AND HE CAME WITH THE HEADS OF THE PEOPLE, HE EXECUTED THE JUSTICE OF THE LORD, AND HIS JUDGMENTS WITH ISRAEL._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

21._And he provided the first part for himself. _(322) Others translate it not badly, _the first-fruits. _Jerome’s rendering, _pre-eminence _(_principatum_,) however, is quite out of the question. The word _beginning _(_principium_, _) _however, is very suitable, for Moses thus signifies that the Gadites were beforehand in seeking a dwelling-place for themselves; for before possession of the land was accorded to the people, they asked for the kingdom of Sihon for themselves. It is afterwards added, in what way they were provident in choosing their abode, namely, because God suggested to them that Moses was at liberty to assign this portion to them. For it is called the “portion of the lawgiver,” as being that respecting which Moses might lawfully decide, since he appropriated it to the Gadites, not by hazard, nor otherwise than by God’s command. It is called the _hidden _por

6-23 The order in which the tribes are here blessed, is not the same as is observed elsewhere. The blessing of Judah may refer to the whole tribe in general, or to David as a type of Christ. Moses largely blesses the tribe of Levi. Acceptance with God is what we should all aim at, and desire, in all our devotions, whether men accept us or not, 2 Corinthians 5:9. This prayer is a prophecy, that God will keep up a ministry in his church to the end of time. The tribe of Benjamin had their inheritance close to mount Zion. To be situated near the ordinances, is a precious gift from the Lord, a privilege not to be exchanged for any worldly advantage, or indulgence. We should thankfully receive the earthly blessings sent to us, through the successive seasons. But those good gifts which come down from the Father of lights, through the rising of the Sun of righteousness, and the pouring out of h...

Verse Deuteronomy 33:21. _HE PROVIDED THE FIRST PART_] That is, he chose for himself a very excellent portion, viz., the land of _Sihon_ and _Og_, in which this tribe had requested to be settled by the _lawgiver_, viz., Moses, from whom they requested this portion, Numbers 32:1. _HE CAME WITH THE HEADS OF THE PEOPLE_] Notwithstanding this portion fell unto them on the east side of Jordan, yet they proceeded with the _heads of the people_, the chiefs of the other tribes. _TO EXECUTE THE JUSTICE OF THE LORD_] To extirpate the old inhabitants of the country, according to the decree and purpose of the Lord. See on Numbers 32....

The first fruits of the conquest made by Israel were assigned to Gad and Reuben by Moses, at their own request. BECAUSE ... SEATED - Render, because there was the leader’s portion reserved, i. e., there was reserved the fitting portion for Gad as a leader in war. AND HE CAME ... - i. e., he joined the other leaders to fulfill the commands of God respecting the conquest of Canaan (compare Numbers 32:17, Numbers 32:21, Numbers 32:32; Joshua 1:14). Moses regards the promise of the Gadites to do this as already redeemed....

EXPOSITION MOSES' BLESSING. Before ascending Mount Nebo, to take a view of the land he was not permitted to cuter and then to die, Moses took farewell of the people he had so long guided and ruled, by pronouncing on them a blessing in their several tribes. This blessing was probably spoken on the same day as the song recorded in the preceding chapter, and to the same assembly. The one may be regarded as the counterpart of the other. In the song, Moses dwells chiefly on the calamities that were to befall the people because of their apostasy; in the blessing, he depicts the benefits that were to be enjoyed by them through the Divine favor. The tone of the one is somber and minatory; the tone of the other is serene and cheering. The one presents the darker side, the other the brighter side, of Israel's fortunes. Both were fitting utterances for the occasion: the one the farewell warning, t...

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 THERE, [IN] A PORTION OF THE LAWGIVER, [WAS HE] SEATED; or in the portion and part of the inheritance of Israel was he placed by Moses the lawgiver, according to the will of God; or because there were in it palaces and towers of great personages, lawgivers, kings, and princes, well covered and strongly fortified; or here he was "hid", or "protected", i.e. their families, wives, and children, while they assisted their brethren in subduing Canaan: AND HE CAME WITH THE HEADS OF THE PEOPLE; either "to" them, to Moses, Eleazar, and the seventy elders, and the heads o

3. THE BLESSING OF MOSES Chapter S 32:44-33:29 _ 1. Introduction (Deuteronomy 32:44)_ 2. Jehovah's manifestation (Deuteronomy 33:1) 3. The blessing of Reuben, Judah and Levi (Deuteronomy 33:6) 4. The blessing of Benjamin and Joseph (Deuteronomy 33:12) 5. The blessing of Zebulon and Issachar (Deuteronomy 33:18) 6. The blessing of Gad, Dan, Nephtali and Asher ...

DEUTERONOMY 33. THE BLESSING OF MOSES. Of this poem (quite unconnected with the context) the following statements may be made: (_a)_ It was composed during the prosperous reign of Jeroboam II (786- 746 B.C.) A date after the disruption is required by Deuteronomy 33:7; a period of prosperity by Deuteronomy 33:13. Prior to 786 B.C. Israel had been ruled by petty kings, and after 746 B.C. the Northern Kingdom had a long and disastrous struggle with Damascus. (_b)_ The writer belonged to the Northern Kingdom, and therefore gives far more prominence to Israel (Joseph) than to Judah. (_c)_ He was a member of the priestly class (Deuteronomy 33:8). Accepting the above conclusions, it follo

IN. Omit. WAS HE SEATED. was reserved....