Deuteronomy 33:29

29_Happy art thou, O Israel. _He again exclaims that happy is the people, whose salvation is in God; and surely this is the only true happiness; for unless we ascend to the first cause of Salvation, all salvations, so to speak, are but transitory. And, since God had honored the Israelites alone with this privilege, their condition is here distinguished from the common lot of the whole human race. By the words _shield _and _sword _is meant a perfect defense, as much as to say, that no part of their armor was to be sought elsewhere....

26-29 None had such a God as Israel. There is no people like the Israel of God. What is here said of the church of Israel is to be applied to the spiritual church. Never were people so well seated and sheltered. Those who make God their habitation, shall have all the comforts and benefits of a habitation in him, Psalms 91:1. Never were people so well supported and borne up. How low soever the people of God are at any time brought, everlasting arms are underneath them, to keep the spirit from sinking, from fainting, and their faith from failing. Divine grace is sufficient for them, 2 Corinthians 12:9. Never were people so well commanded. Thus believers are more than conquerors over their spiritual enemies, through Christ that loved them. Never were people so well secured and protected. Israel shall dwell i...

Verse Deuteronomy 33:29. _HAPPY_ ART _THOU, C._] אשרי _ashrey_. O the happiness of Israel! it is ineffable, inconceivable, because they are _a people saved by the Lord _- have such a salvation as it becomes the infinite perfections of God to bestow he is their _help _- their never-failing strength, and the _shield of that help _- he _defends_ their _defence, saves_ them and _preserves_ them in the _state_ of salvation. _SWORD OF THY EXCELLENCY_] Or _whose sword _- his all-conquering WORD, _is thine excellency_, in its promises, threatenings, precepts, c., c. St. Paul, in his exhortation to the Christians at Ephesus, uses the same metaphor, _Take unto you the_ SWORD _of the_ SPIRIT, _which is_ _the_ WORD _of_ GOD. Thine enemies sha

BE FOUND LIARS UNTO THEE - Perhaps rather, “cringe before thee.” The verb means to show a feigned or forced obedience: see the marginal references. TREAD UPON THEIR HIGH PLACES - i. e., occupy the commanding positions in their land, and so have it in subjection....

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...

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 must be happy, whose covenant God is the Lord; since they must be beloved of him, chosen by him, and blessed with all spiritual blessings; and in the faith, hope, and view of eternal happiness: WHO [IS] LIKE UNTO THEE? for an interest in the favour of God, for a share in the blessings of goodness, for a good God, a good land, and good laws; for wisdom and knowledge, for riches and honour, for holiness and happiness: O PEOPLE SAVED BY THE LORD; redeemed by him out of Egypt, preserved in the wilderness, saved from many dangers and enemies, and now brought near to the land of Canaan. The Targu...

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

O ISRAEL. The ideal nation, viewed as Jeshurun the upright. See note on Deuteronomy 32:15. SAVED BY THE LORD. This their greatest glory. SHALL BE FOUND LIARS. shall submit themselves. Compare 2 Samuel 22:45.Psalms 66:3. HIGH PLACES. The end of Moses' tenth (and last) address. See note on Deuteronomy 1:1. This chapter is editorial and historical. Always part of the Pentateuch. Probably by Joshua, Samuel, o R School of the Prophets. See App-47....

The Epilogue 26  None like the God of Y e shurun! Riding the heavens to thy help, And the skies in His loftiness. 27  The Eternal God is thy refuge, And beneath are the arms everlasting. He drove out before thee the foe, And He said, Destroy! 28  So Israel dwelt securely, Secluded the fount of Jacob, On a land of corn and wine, His heavens too dropped with dew. 29  Happy thou Israel! Who is like thee? A people saved by the Lord. [He is] the shield of thy help, And the sword that exalts thee; Till thy foes come to thee fawning, But thou on their heights dost march. This section follows closely on to Deuteronomy 33:2, with which it may have been originally one poem....