Deuteronomy 33:1-2

Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes

1 This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced upon the Israelites before his death.

2 He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us ^[a] from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand. ^[b]

Deuteronomy 33:1-2 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.

Footnotes

• [a] LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew upon them
• [b] Or with myriads of holy ones from the south, from His mountain slopes