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Deuteronomy 33:4-14

Listen to Deuteronomy 33:4-14
4 Moses gave the Instruction to us— it's the prized possession of Jacob's assembly.
5 A king came to rule in Jeshurun, when the people's leaders gathered together, when Israel's tribes were one.
6 "I pray that Reuben lives, doesn't die, though his numbers are so few."
7 Moses said this to Judah: "LORD, listen to Judah's voice! Bring him back to his own people, strengthen his hands; be his help against every enemy."
8 Then he told Levi: "Give your Thummim to Levi, your Urim to your faithful one— the one you tested at Massah, the one you challenged by Meribah's waters;
9 the one who said of his own mother and father: ‘I don't consider them as such'; of their siblings: ‘I don't recognize them'; of their own children, ‘I don't know them'— but who obeyed your words and who guarded your covenant!
10 They teach your case laws to Jacob, your Instruction to Israel. They hold sweet incense to your nose; put the entirely burned offering on your altar.
11 I pray that the LORD blesses Levi's strength, favors his hard work, and crushes the insides of his enemies so that those who hate him can't fight anymore."
12 He said to Benjamin: "The LORD's dearest one rests safely on him. The Lord always shields him; he rests on God's chest."
13 Then he told Joseph: "I pray that his land is blessed by God: with heaven's gifts from above, with the deep waters stretching out underneath;
14 with the gifts produced by the sun, with the gifts generated by the moon;

Deuteronomy 33:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

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, De 33:1-5; then, in particular, each of the tribes distinctly is blessed, Reuben, De 33:6; Judah, De 33:7; Levi, De 33:8-11; Benjamin, De 33:12; Joseph, De 33:13-17; Zebulun and Issachar, De 33:18,19; Gad, De 33:20,21; Dan, De 33:22; Naphtali, De 33:23; Asher, De 33:24,25; and the chapter is concluded with some strong intimations of what God was unto the people of Israel in general, and of what he had done and would do for them; all which are expressive of their great happiness, De 33:26-29.

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Footnotes 4

  • [a] Or with his hands he contended
  • [b] DSS (4QDeuth, 4QTest) and LXX; MT lacks Give to Levi.
  • [c] Or from the dew
  • [d] Or moons or months
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible

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