Deuteronomy 33:13-17

13 Of Joseph he said, "1Blessed 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 2the 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 3of 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.
17 "As the firstborn of his ox, majesty is his, And his horns are the horns of 4the wild ox; With them he will 5push the peoples, All at once, to the ends of the earth. And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And those are the thousands of Manasseh."

Deuteronomy 33:13-17 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 5

  • 1. Genesis 27:27, 28; Genesis 49:22-26
  • 2. Habakkuk 3:6
  • 3. Exodus 2:2-6; Exodus 3:2, 4
  • 4. Numbers 23:22
  • 5. 1 Kings 22:11; Psalms 44:5

Footnotes 2

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