Deuteronomy 33

CHAPTER 33

Moses Blesses the Tribes (33:1–29)

1 It was the custom in ancient times for the father of a family to give a blessing to each of his sons (see Genesis 27:22–29; 49:1–28). Moses was not the biological father of the Israelites, but he certainly was their “spiritual father.” He well deserved to be called the man of God, and hence it was appropriate that he bless the tribes as they were about to enter the promised land.

2–5 In this introduction to the blessings, Moses praises God for the way He came from Sinai . . . Seir . . . Mount Paran (verse 2)—three areas associated with the Israelites’ journey through the desert (Numbers 10:12; Deuteronomy 2:1)—and brought His people to the very border of the promised land. God came with myriads of holy ones—that is, ANGELS. God came because of His love for His people (verse 3). In verse 3, the repeated term holy ones refers to the Israelites themselves, who were God’s holy people (Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 7:6).

He (God) was king over Jeshurun⁹² (verse 5). God was Israel’s King. All of the leaders of the Israelites up until their first king were directly selected by God to serve under His divine kingship.

6 The blessing for the tribe of Reuben was minimal—simply that the tribe would survive! Reuben had been Jacob’s firstborn son; but because of his sin with his father’s concubine he lost his birthright, which was given instead to Joseph (Genesis 35:22; 49:3–4).

7 The blessing for the tribe of Judah was mainly a prayer for success in warfare; Moses asked the Lord to bring him (Judah) to his people, a request that the tribe might return safely from battle. When Jacob originally blessed Judah, he predicted that Judah would be preeminent among his brothers (Genesis 49:8–12). It was from Judah that Israel’s greatest kings would come, including the greatest of all—the King of kings, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1–16).

Notice that the tribe of Simeon was not mentioned by Moses. Simeon was gradually absorbed into the tribe of Judah, and lost its independent identity.

8–11 The tribe of Levi received a much better blessing from Moses than Levi himself had received from his father Jacob (see Genesis 49:5–7). The reason was that after the Israelites’ departure from Egypt the Levites had been chosen by God to take responsibility for the religious affairs of Israel. The Levites had demonstrated great faithfulness to God at the time when the rest of the tribes were worshiping the golden calf; at Moses’ command, the Levites killed three thousand of their idolatrous fellow Israelites (see Exodus 32:25–29 and comment). So great was their zeal for God’s honor that they even killed their own sons, brothers, mothers and fathers in order to purge the idolatry from Israel; they put God’s covenant before their own families (verse 9).

Because of that, God took the Levites for Himself; from the Levites God selected the priestly line (Aaron and his descendants). He gave the Thummim and Urim to the man [He] favored (verse 8)—that is, the high priest (Exodus 28:30). The faithfulness of the Levites was tested at Massah and Meribah (see Exodus 17:7). The priests among the Levites were appointed to teach from the law, which had already been entrusted to them (Deuteronomy 31:9), and also to present the offerings to the Lord (verse 10). The rest of the Levites who were not priests were assigned to care for the tabernacle and its furnishings (Numbers 3:5–8).

12 The tribe of Benjamin was called beloved of the LORD, possibly because Benjamin was much loved by his father Jacob. The tribe of Benjamin could rest secure in the heavenly Father’s love.

13–17 The blessing Moses gave Joseph and the two tribes that were descended from him, Ephraim and Manasseh (verse 17), emphasized the fruitfulness of the land allotted to Joseph (verses 13–16) and also the military prowess of Joseph and his sons (verse 17). Joseph would have the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush (verse 16)—that is, God Himself (Exodus 3:1–6); Joseph would be the prince among his brothers (see Genesis 49:22–26). Indeed, both Jacob’s original blessing to Joseph and now Moses’ blessing were fulfilled: the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh received some of the best land in Canaan, and Ephraim, together with Judah, became one of the two dominant tribes of Israel.

Joshua was an Ephraimite; it is thought that when Moses said, “Joseph will gore the nations” (verse 17), he was referring to Joshua. But later too, the Ephraimites with their ten thousands were very powerful in battle.

18–19 Zebulun and Issachar shared a blessing. The word mountain in Hebrew poetry⁹³ often referred to a place of worship rather than to a specific peak; there the two tribes would offer sacrifices of righteousness—that is, sacrifices acceptable to God. They would also benefit from the produce of the seas (see Genesis 49:13); though initially their land did not border on the sea, it’s possible that later on it did as the result of changes in tribal boundaries.

20–21 God enlarged Gad’s domain by giving that tribe land to the east of Canaan (Numbers 32:31–33). The tribe of Gad had chosen that land, but they had also agreed to carry out the LORD’S righteous will (verse 21)—namely, that before settling in their land they fight alongside the other tribes in the conquest of Canaan (see Numbers 32:20–22,25–27). Both Jacob and Moses predicted that Gad would be an aggressive fighter (Genesis 49:19).

22 The lions of Bashan were well known. Dan would be like a lion’s cub.

23 The tribe of Naphtali would be abundantly blessed, and their land would extend southward to the lake, that is, to the Sea of Galilee.

24–25 Asher also received a great blessing from Moses. Asher’s people would be defended by strong gates, and they would produce so much olive oil they’d be able to bathe their feet in it!

26–29 In these final verses, Moses again praises God. These blessing were given as an encouragement to the Israelites as they entered Canaan. They needed to remember that the God who rides on the heavens would also extend His everlasting arms down to earth to lift up and carry His people and fight for them (verses 26–27). Jacob’s spring, that is, the descendants who “flowed” from Jacob, would be secure and prosperous in their new land. Blessed are you, O Israel (verse 29).

But while the Lord would fight for them and prosper them, the Israelites also had to do their part: to obey the Lord’s commands (see Exodus 17:10–13 and comment). All blessings come from God; we humans cannot bring about the victory, the prosperity, by ourselves. But we can forfeit those blessings by failing to cooperate with God, by failing to obey Him. If we will but work together with God, the final outcome will be assured (see Philippians 2:12–13).

Let us remember too that all the blessings described in this chapter are marvelous gifts of God; God desires to give His children the best possible gifts (Matthew 7:9–11; Luke 11:11–13). But the greatest gift of God by far is the gift of Himself—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If He is with us, our future is indeed secure.

Who is like you,a people saved by the LORD? (verse 29). What a privilege it is to be saved by the Lord, to be a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ!