Deuteronomy 33:1-11

The Blessing of Moses

1 Now this is the blessing with which Moses ¹the man of God blessed the sons of Israel before his death.

2 He said, "²The LORD came from Sinai, ³And dawned on them from Seir; ⁴He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came from ⁵the midst of ten thousand holy ones; ⁶At His right hand there was flashing lightning for them.

3 "⁷Indeed, He loves the people; ⁸All Your holy ones are in Your hand, ⁹And they followed in Your steps; Everyone receives of Your words.

4 "¹⁰Moses charged us with a law, ¹¹A possession for the assembly of Jacob.

5 "¹²And He was king in Jeshurun, When the heads of the people were gathered, The tribes of Israel together.

6 "¹³May Reuben live and not die, Nor his men be few."

7 ¹⁴And this regarding Judah; so he said, "Hear, O LORD, the voice of Judah, And bring him to his people. With his hands he contended for them, And may You be a help against his adversaries."

8 Of Levi he said, "Let Your ¹⁵Thummim and Your Urim belong to Your ¹⁶godly man, ¹⁷Whom You proved at Massah, With whom You contended at the waters of Meribah;

9 ¹⁸Who said of his father and his mother, 'I did not consider them'; And he did not acknowledge his brothers, Nor did he regard his own sons, For ¹⁹they observed Your word, And kept Your covenant.

10 "²⁰They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob, And Your law to Israel. ²¹They shall put incense before You, And ²²whole burnt offerings on Your altar.

11 "O LORD, bless his substance, And accept the work of his hands; Shatter the loins of those who rise up against him, And those who hate him, so that they will not rise again."

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Deuteronomy 33:1-11 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

Cross References 22

1. Joshua 14:6
2. Exodus 19:18, 20; Psalms 68:8, 17
3. Judges 5:4
4. Numbers 10:12; Habakkuk 3:3
5. Daniel 7:10; Acts 7:53
6. Exodus 23:20-22
7. Deuteronomy 4:37; Malachi 1:2
8. Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2
9. Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Luke 10:39
10. Deuteronomy 4:2; John 7:19
11. Psalms 119:111
12. Numbers 23:21
13. Genesis 49:3, 4
14. Genesis 49:8-12
15. Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8
16. Psalms 106:16
17. Exodus 17:7; Numbers 20:13, 24; Deuteronomy 6:16
18. Exodus 32:27-29
19. Malachi 2:5
20. Leviticus 10:11; Deuteronomy 31:9-13
21. Leviticus 16:12, 13
22. Psalms 51:19

Footnotes 9

[a]. Lit "rose to"
[b]. Lit "myriads of holiness"
[c]. Or "a fiery law"
[d]. Lit "peoples"
[e]. Lit "His"
[f]. Or "lie down at Your feet"
[g]. Lit "him"
[h]. Lit "him"
[i]. Lit "in Your nostrils"