Deuteronomy 33:21

21 He chose the best part for himself because there, where the commander's portion was, the leaders of the people gathered together. Gad executed the LORD's justice and the Lord's judgments for Israel."

Deuteronomy 33:21 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 33:21

And he provided a first part for himself
That is, the portion of the land of Sihon and Og, as Jarchi rightly interprets it; which was the beginning or firstfruits of the subduing of the land that was promised; this he looked at, chose, and desired it as his inheritance, ( Numbers 32:1 Numbers 32:2 ) ;

because there, [in] a portion of the lawgiver, [was he] seated;
or in the portion and part of the inheritance of Israel was he placed by Moses the lawgiver, according to the will of God; or because there were in it palaces and towers of great personages, lawgivers, kings, and princes, well covered and strongly fortified; or here he was "hid", or "protected", i.e. their families, wives, and children, while they assisted their brethren in subduing Canaan:

and he came with the heads of the people;
either "to" them, to Moses, Eleazar, and the seventy elders, and the heads of the tribes of Israel, to ask leave to have his part and portion on the other side Jordan, or "with" them, as we supply it; came with them over Jordan armed, to assist in the conquest and subduing of the land of Canaan:

he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgments with Israel;
that is, either he justly and truly fulfilled all his promises and engagements, on condition of which he was placed on the other side; or he, together with the rest of the Israelites, executed the righteous judgment of God upon the Canaanites, in the expulsion and destruction of them.

Deuteronomy 33:21 In-Context

19 They call all sorts of people to the mountain, where they offer right sacrifices. It's true: They're nourished on the sea's abundance; they are nourished on buried treasures in the sand."
20 Then he told Gad: "May Gad's broad lands be blessed! He lives like a lion: he rips an arm, even a head!
21 He chose the best part for himself because there, where the commander's portion was, the leaders of the people gathered together. Gad executed the LORD's justice and the Lord's judgments for Israel."
22 Then he told Dan: "Dan is a lion cub. He jumps up from Bashan."
23 Then he told Naphtali: "Naphtali—you are full of favor, overflowing with the LORD's blessing— go possess the west and the south!"

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Cf LXX; MT there the commander’s portion was reserved; he came at the front of the people or there was the portion of the respected commander; the people’s leaders came.
  • [b]. Heb uncertain
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