Deuteronomy 33:6-16

6 "1May Reuben live and not die, Nor his men be few."
7 2And 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 3Thummim and Your Urim belong to Your 4godly man, 5Whom You proved at Massah, With whom You contended at the waters of Meribah;
9 6Who 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 7they observed Your word, And kept Your covenant.
10 "8They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob, And Your law to Israel. 9They shall put incense before You, And 10whole 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."
12 Of Benjamin he said, "11May the beloved of the LORD dwell in security by Him, 12Who shields him all the day, 13And he dwells between His shoulders."
13 Of Joseph he said, "14Blessed of the LORD be his land, With the choice things of heaven, with the dew, And from the deep lying beneath,
14 And with the choice yield of the sun, And with the choice produce of the months.
15 "And with the best things of 15the ancient mountains, And with the choice things of the everlasting hills,
16 And with the choice things of the earth and its fullness, And the favor 16of Him who dwelt in the bush. Let it come to the head of Joseph, And to the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.

Deuteronomy 33:6-16 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.

Cross References 16

  • 1. Genesis 49:3, 4
  • 2. Genesis 49:8-12
  • 3. Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8
  • 4. Psalms 106:16
  • 5. Exodus 17:7; Numbers 20:13, 24; Deuteronomy 6:16
  • 6. Exodus 32:27-29
  • 7. Malachi 2:5
  • 8. Leviticus 10:11; Deuteronomy 31:9-13
  • 9. Leviticus 16:12, 13
  • 10. Psalms 51:19
  • 11. Deuteronomy 4:37; Deuteronomy 12:10
  • 12. Deuteronomy 32:11
  • 13. Exodus 28:12
  • 14. Genesis 27:27, 28; Genesis 49:22-26
  • 15. Habakkuk 3:6
  • 16. Exodus 2:2-6; Exodus 3:2, 4

Footnotes 4

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