Deuteronomy 33:19

19 You will call for all of the other Israelites to go to the mountain. There you will offer proper sacrifices. You will enjoy the many good things your ships bring you. You will enjoy treasures that are hidden in the sand."

Deuteronomy 33:19 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 33:19

They shall call the people unto the mountain
To the mountain of the house of the sanctuary, as all the three Targums; to the temple built on a mountain, which Moses by a spirit of prophecy foresaw would be, to which the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar would not only come up themselves, though at the more distant parts of the land; but call and urge others, both Israelites and Gentiles, to do the same, partly by their example, and partly by persuasions and arguments; not the tribes of Israel that lay nearest them only, but the Heathens, the Tyrians and Sidonians, on whom they bordered, and the Gentiles in Galilee of the Gentiles, which were neighbours to them; a like instance see in ( Isaiah 2:2 Isaiah 2:3 ) ; and perhaps this may have respect to the times of Christ and his apostles, and to their being in those parts where the Gospel was preached, and many people were called, ( Matthew 4:13-16 ) ;

there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness;
or true sacrifices, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, in opposition to illegitimate ones, which were not according to the law, that had blemishes and defects in them, and to such as were gotten by robbery, or in an unlawful way; and may signify all righteous actions and good works done in faith, and from right principles, though not to be depended upon for a justifying righteousness before God; and all spiritual sacrifices, especially the sacrifices of praise for all blessings, and particularly for the righteousness of Christ; and these are to be offered in the church of God, and upon the altar, which sanctifies every gift, and from whence they come up with acceptance to God:

for they shall suck [of] the abundance of the sea;
get a great deal of riches by trading at sea, and therefore under great obligations to offer sacrifices to the Lord, by whom they were prospered:

and [of] the treasure hid in the sand;
as gold and silver, pearls and corals, and the like, extracted from thence; or riches buried there through shipwrecks; or it may design the great wealth and riches they got by glass made of sand, taken out of the river Belus, which washed the coast of the tribe of Zebulun, as many historians relate F26.


FOOTNOTES:

F26 Strabo. Geograph. l. 16. p. 521. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 19. Tacit. Hist. l. 5. c. 7.

Deuteronomy 33:19 In-Context

17 His glory is like the glory of a bull that was born first to its mother. His horns are like the horns of a wild ox. He will destroy the nations with them. He'll wipe out the nations that are very far away. The ten thousands of men in Ephraim's army are like the bull and the ox. So are the thousands in the army of Manasseh."
18 Here's what Moses said about Zebulun and Issachar. "Zebulun, be filled with joy when you go out. Issachar, be joyful in your tents.
19 You will call for all of the other Israelites to go to the mountain. There you will offer proper sacrifices. You will enjoy the many good things your ships bring you. You will enjoy treasures that are hidden in the sand."
20 Here's what Moses said about Gad. "May the One who gives Gad more land be praised! Gad lives there like a lion that tears off arms and heads.
21 He chose the best land for his livestock. The leader's share was kept for him. The leaders of the people came together. Then Gad carried out the LORD's holy plan. He carried out the LORD's decisions for Israel."
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