Deuteronomy 33:1

Blessings of Moses on Israel

1 Now this [is] the blessing [with] which Moses, the man of God, blessed the {Israelites} {before} his death.

Deuteronomy 33:1 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 33:1

And this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God
blessed the children of Israel before his death.
] Namely, what is related in the following verses, this being the general title to the chapter: Moses is called "the man of God", being raised up of God, and eminently qualified by him with girls for the work he was called unto, and by whom he was inspired to say what is after expressed: it is a title given to prophets, ( 1 Samuel 9:6-8 ) ; and so Onkelos here paraphrases it,

``Moses the prophet of the Lord,''

and Aben Ezra observes, that this is said to show that he blessed Israel by a spirit of prophecy, and which he did a little before his death, when very near it; and, as the same writer says, on the very day of his death.

Deuteronomy 33:1 In-Context

1 Now this [is] the blessing [with] which Moses, the man of God, blessed the {Israelites} {before} his death.

2 Then he said, "Yahweh came from Sinai, and he dawned upon them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran, and he came with myriads of holy ones, at his right hand a fiery law for them.

3 Moreover, {he loves his people}, all the holy ones [were] in your hand, and they bowed down to your feet, {each one accepted directions from you}.

4 A law Moses instructed for us, [as a] possession [for] the assembly of Jacob.

5 And [then] a king arose in Jeshurun, at the gathering of the leaders of [the] people, {united were the tribes of Israel}.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "And"
• [b]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [c]. Literally "to the face of"