Deuteronomy 33:1-8

Moses' Blessings

1 This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave the Israelites before his death.^[a]

2 He said: The Lord came from Sinai and appeared to them from Seir; He shone [on them] from Mount Paran and came with ten thousand holy ones,^[b] with lightning^[c] from His right hand^[d] for them.^[e]

3 Indeed He loves the people.^[f] All Your^[g] holy ones^[h] are in Your hand, and they assemble^[i] at Your feet. Each receives Your words.

4 Moses gave us instruction, a possession for the assembly of Jacob.

5 So He became King in Jeshurun^[j] when the leaders of the people gathered with the tribes of Israel.

6 Let Reuben live and not die though his people become few.^[k]

7 He said this about Judah: Lord, hear Judah's cry and bring him to his people. He fights for his cause^[l] with his own hands, but may You be a help against his foes.

8 He said about Levi: Your Thummim and Urim^[m] belong to Your faithful one;^[n] You tested him at Massah and contended with him at the waters of Meribah.^[o]

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Deuteronomy 33:1-8 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 15

[a]. Gn 49:1-33
[b]. LXX reads Mount Paran with ten thousands from Kadesh
[c]. Or fiery law; Hb obscure
[d]. Or ones, from His southland to the mountain slopes
[e]. Jdg 5:4-5; Ps 68:7-8; Hab 3:3
[f]. Or peoples
[g]. Lit His, or its
[h]. Either the saints of Israel or angels
[i]. Hb obscure
[j]. Upright One, referring to Israel
[k]. Gn 49:3-4; Jdg 5:15-16
[l]. Or He contends for them
[m]. Two objects used to determine God's will
[n]. DSS, LXX read Give to Levi Your Thummim, Your Urim to Your favored one
[o]. Ex 17:1-7; Nm 20:2-13