Deuteronomy 33:19-29

19 "¹They will call peoples to the mountain; There they will offer ²righteous sacrifices; For they will draw out ³the abundance of the seas, And the hidden treasures of the sand."

20 ⁴Of Gad he said, "Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad; He lies down ⁵as a lion, And tears the arm, also the crown of the head.

21 "⁶Then he provided the first part for himself, ⁷For there the ruler's portion was reserved; ⁸And he came with the leaders of the people; ⁹He executed the justice of the LORD, And His ordinances with Israel."

22 ¹⁰Of Dan he said, "Dan is ¹¹a lion's whelp, That leaps forth from Bashan."

23 Of Naphtali he said, "¹²O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full of the blessing of the LORD, Take possession of the sea and the south."

24 ¹³Of Asher he said, "More blessed than sons is Asher; May he be favored by his brothers, ¹⁴And may he dip his foot in oil.

25 "¹⁵Your locks will be iron and bronze, ¹⁶And according to your days, so will your leisurely walk be.

26 "¹⁷There is none like the God of Jeshurun, ¹⁸Who rides the heavens to your help, And through the skies in His majesty.

27 "¹⁹The eternal God is a dwelling place, ²⁰And underneath are the everlasting arms; ²¹And He drove out the enemy from before * you, ²²And said, 'Destroy!'

28 "²³So Israel dwells in security, ²⁴The fountain of Jacob secluded, ²⁵In a land of grain and new wine; ²⁶His heavens also drop down dew.

29 "²⁷Blessed are you, O Israel; ²⁸Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, ²⁹Who is the shield of your help ³⁰And the sword of your majesty! ³¹So your enemies will cringe before you, ³²And you will tread upon their high places."

Deuteronomy 33:19-29 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

• 1. Exodus 15:17; Psalms 2:6; Isaiah 2:3
• 2. Psalms 4:5; Psalms 51:19
• 3. Isaiah 60:5
• 4. Genesis 49:19
• 5. Genesis 49:9
• 6. Numbers 32:1-5
• 7. Numbers 34:14
• 8. Joshua 4:12
• 9. Joshua 22:1-3
• 10. Genesis 49:16
• 11. Ezekiel 19:2, 3
• 12. Genesis 49:21
• 13. Genesis 49:20
• 14. Job 29:6
• 15. Psalms 147:13
• 16. Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 32:47
• 17. Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 4:35; Psalms 86:8; Jeremiah 10:6
• 18. Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalms 68:33, 34; Psalms 104:3; Habakkuk 3:8
• 19. Psalms 90:1, 2
• 20. Genesis 49:24
• 21. Exodus 34:11; Joshua 24:18
• 22. Deuteronomy 7:2
• 23. Deuteronomy 33:12; Jeremiah 23:6
• 24. Numbers 23:9; Deuteronomy 32:8
• 25. Genesis 27:28, 37
• 26. Deuteronomy 33:13
• 27. Psalms 1:1; Psalms 32:1, 2
• 28. Deuteronomy 4:32; 2 Samuel 7:23
• 29. Genesis 15:1; Psalms 33:20; Psalms 115:9-11
• 30. Psalms 68:34
• 31. Psalms 66:3
• 32. Numbers 33:52

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "suck"
• [b] Or "lioness"
• [c] Lit "saw"
• [d] Or "covered up"
• [e] I.e. Israel
• [f] Lit "in"
• [g] Or "refuge"