Deuteronomy 33:5

5 He was king over Jeshurun^[a] when the leaders of the people assembled, along with the tribes of Israel.

Deuteronomy 33:5 in Other Translations

5 And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

5 Thus the LORD became king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.

5 The LORD became king in Israel — when the leaders of the people assembled, when the tribes of Israel gathered as one.”

5 Thus God became king in Jeshurun as the leaders and tribes of Israel gathered.

5 So He became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered with the tribes of Israel.

Deuteronomy 33:5 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 33:5

And he was king in Jeshurun
That is, in Israel, or over the people of Israel, of which name of theirs, (See Gill on Deuteronomy 32:15); either God, as Jarchi; for the government of the Israelites was a theocracy, and their laws were immediately from God, and by him they were guided and directed in all things; wherefore, when they were so importunate for a change in their government, and to have a king over them, they are said to reject the Lord, that he should not reign over them, ( 1 Samuel 8:7 ) ; or Moses, as Aben Ezra on the place, Maimonides ^F6, and others ^F7; who, under God, had the civil government of the Hebrews; both may be received, God was the supreme Governor, and Moses the chief magistrate under him:

when the heads of Israel [and] the tribes of the people were gathered
together;
at Mount Sinai, to hear the law there and then given, or to hear it repeated by Moses, as in this book of Deuteronomy, who were at different times convened together for that purpose, see ( Deuteronomy 1:1 ) ( 5:1 ) ; next follow the particular blessings of the several tribes, beginning with Reuben the firstborn.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F6 In Misn. Shebuot, c. 2. sect. 2.
F7 Philo de Vita Mosis, l. 3. p. 681.

Deuteronomy 33:5 In-Context

3 Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction,

4 the law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob.

5 He was king over Jeshurun when the leaders of the people assembled, along with the tribes of Israel.

6 “Let Reuben live and not die, nor his people be few.”

7 And this he said about Judah: “Hear, LORD, the cry of Judah; bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes!”

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 16:8; 1 Samuel 10:19; Psalms 10:16; Psalms 149:2
• 2. S Numbers 23:21; S Deuteronomy 32:15

Footnotes

• [a]. "Jeshurun" means "the upright one," that is, Israel; also in verse 26.