Deuteronomio 33

Moisés bendice a las tribus

1 Antes de su muerte, Moisés, hombre de Dios, bendijo así a los israelitas:

2 «Vino el SEÑOR desde el Sinaí:vino sobre su pueblo, como aurora, desde Seír;resplandeció desde el monte Parán,y llegó desde Meribá Cadescon rayos de luz en su diestra.^[a]

3 Tú eres quien ama a su pueblo;todos los santos están en tu mano.Por eso siguen tus pasosy de ti reciben instrucción.

4 Es la ley que nos dio Moisés,el tesoro de la asamblea de Jacob.

5 El SEÑOR era rey sobre Jesurún^[b]cuando los líderes del pueblo se reunieron,junto con las tribus de Israel.

6 »Que Rubén viva, y que no muera;¡sean innumerables sus hombres!»

7 Y esto dijo acerca de Judá:«Oye, SEÑOR, el clamor de Judá;hazlo volver a su pueblo.Judá defiende su causa con sus propias fuerzas.¡Ayúdalo contra sus enemigos!»

8 Acerca de Leví dijo:«El urim y el tumim, que son tuyos,los has dado al hombre que favoreces.Lo pusiste a prueba en Masá;en las aguas de Meribá contendiste con él.

9 Dijo de su padre y de su madre:“No los tomo en cuenta”.No reconoció a sus hermanos,y hasta desconoció a sus hijos,pero tuvo en cuenta tu palabray obedeció tu pacto.

10 Le enseñó tus preceptos a Jacoby tu ley a Israel.Presentó ante ti, sobre tu altar,el incienso y las ofrendas del todo quemadas.

11 Bendice, SEÑOR, sus logrosy acepta la obra de sus manos.Destruye el poder de sus adversarios;¡que nunca más se levanten sus enemigos!»

12 Acerca de Benjamín dijo:«Que el amado del SEÑOR repose seguro en él,porque lo protege todo el díay descansa tranquilo entre sus hombros».

13 Acerca de José dijo:«El SEÑOR bendiga su tierracon el rocío precioso del cieloy con las aguas que brotan de la tierra;

14 con las mejores cosechas del añoy los mejores frutos del mes;

15 con lo más selecto de las montañas de siemprey la fertilidad de las colinas eternas;

16 con lo mejor de lo que llena la tierray el favor del que mora en la zarza ardiente.Repose todo esto sobre la cabeza de José,sobre la corona del elegido entre sus hermanos.

17 José es majestuoso como primogénito de toro;¡poderoso como un búfalo!Con sus cuernos atacará a las naciones,hasta arrinconarlas en los confines del mundo.¡Tales son los millares de Manasés,las decenas de millares de Efraín!»

18 Acerca de Zabulón dijo:«Tú, Zabulón, eres feliz emprendiendo viajes,y tú, Isacar, quedándote en tu carpa.

19 Invitarán a los pueblos a subir a la montaña,para ofrecer allí sacrificios de justicia.Disfrutarán de la abundancia del mary de los tesoros escondidos en la arena».

20 Acerca de Gad dijo:«¡Bendito el que ensanche los dominios de Gad!Ahí habita Gad como león,desgarrando brazos y cabezas.

21 Escogió la mejor tierra para sí;se guardó la porción del líder.Cuando los jefes del pueblo se reunieron,cumplió la justa voluntad del SEÑOR,los decretos que había dado a su pueblo».

22 Acerca de Dan dijo:«Dan es un cachorro de león,que salta desde Basán».

23 Acerca de Neftalí dijo:«Neftalí rebosa del favor del SEÑOR,y está lleno de sus bendiciones;sus dominios se extiendendesde el mar hasta el desierto».

24 Acerca de Aser dijo:«Aser es el más bendito de los hijos;que sea el favorito de sus hermanos,y se empape en aceite los pies.

25 Tus cerrojos serán de hierro y bronce;¡que dure tu fuerza tanto como tus días!

26 »No hay nadie como el Dios de Jesurún,que para ayudarte cabalga en los cielos,entre las nubes, con toda su majestad.

27 El Dios eterno es tu refugio;por siempre te sostiene entre sus brazos.Expulsará de tu presencia al enemigoy te ordenará que lo destruyas.

28 ¡Vive seguro, Israel!¡Habita sin enemigos, fuente de Jacob!Tu tierra está llena de trigo y de mosto;tus cielos destilan rocío.

29 ¡Sonríele a la vida, Israel!¿Quién como tú,pueblo rescatado por el SEÑOR?Él es tu escudo y tu ayuda;él es tu espada victoriosa.Tus enemigos se doblegarán ante ti;sus espaldas te servirán de tapete».^[c]

Deuteronomio 33 Commentary

Chapter 33

The glorious majesty of God. (1-5) The blessings of the twelve tribes. (6-23) Strength to believers. (24,25) The excellency of Israel. (26-29)

Verses 1-5 To all his precepts, warnings, and prophecies, Moses added a solemn blessing. He begins with a description of the glorious appearances of God, in giving the law. His law works like fire. If received, it is melting, warming, purifying, and burns up the dross of corruption; if rejected, it hardens, sears, pains, and destroys. The Holy Spirit came down in cloven tongues, as of fire; for the gospel also is a fiery law. The law of God written in the heart, is a certain proof of the love of God shed abroad there: we must reckon His law one of the gifts of his grace.

Verses 6-23 The order in which the tribes are here blessed, is not the same as is observed elsewhere. The blessing of Judah may refer to the whole tribe in general, or to David as a type of Christ. Moses largely blesses the tribe of Levi. Acceptance with God is what we should all aim at, and desire, in all our devotions, ( 2 Corinthians. 5:9 ) prophecy, that God will keep up a ministry in his church to the end of time. The tribe of Benjamin had their inheritance close to mount Zion. To be situated near the ordinances, is a precious gift from the Lord, a privilege not to be exchanged for any worldly advantage, or indulgence. We should thankfully receive the earthly blessings sent to us, through the successive seasons. But those good gifts which come down from the Father of lights, through the rising of the Sun of righteousness, and the pouring out of his Spirit like the rain which makes fruitful, are infinitely more precious, as the tokens of his special love. The precious things here prayed for, are figures of spiritual blessing in heavenly things by Christ, the gifts, graces, and comforts of the Spirit. When Moses prays for the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush, he refers to the covenant, on which all our hopes of God's favour must be founded. The providence of God appoints men's habitations, and wisely disposes men to different employments for the public good. Whatever our place and business are, it is our wisdom and duty to apply thereto; and it is happiness to be well pleased therewith. We should not only invite others to the service of God, but abound in it. The blessing of Naphtali. The favour of God is the only favour satisfying to the soul. Those are happy indeed, who have the favour of God; and those shall have it, who reckon that in having it they have enough, and desire no more.

Verses 24-25 All shall be sanctified to true believers; if their way be rough, their feet shall be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. As thy days, so shall thy strength be. The "day" is often in Scripture put for the events of the day; it is a promise that God would graciously and constantly support under trials and troubles, whatever they were. It is a promise sure to all the spiritual seed of Abraham. Have they work allotted? They shall have strength to do it. Have they burdens appointed? They shall have strength, and never be tempted above what they are able to bear.

Verses 26-29 None had such a God as Israel. There is no people like the Israel of God. What is here said of the church of Israel is to be applied to the spiritual church. Never were people so well seated and sheltered. Those who make God their habitation, shall have all the comforts and benefits of a habitation in him, Ps. 91:1 . Never were people so well supported and borne up. How low soever the people of God are at any time brought, everlasting arms are underneath them, to keep the spirit from sinking, from fainting, and their faith from failing. Divine grace is ( 2 Corinthians. 12:9 ) commanded. Thus believers are more than conquerors over their spiritual enemies, through Christ that loved them. Never were people so well secured and protected. Israel shall dwell in safety alone. All who keep close to God, shall be kept safe by him. Never were people so well provided for. Every true Israelite looks with faith to the better country, the heavenly Canaan, which is filled with better things than corn and wine. Never were people so well helped. If in danger of any harm, or in want of any good, they had an eternal God to go to. Nothing could hurt those whom God helped, nor was it possible the people should perish who were saved by the Lord. Never were people so well armed. Those in whose hearts is the excellency of holiness, are defended by the whole armour of God, ( Ephesians 6 ) . Never were people so well assured of victory over their enemies. Thus shall the God of peace tread Satan under the feet of all believers, and shall do it shortly, ( Romans 16:20 ) . May God help us to seek and to set our affections on the things above; and to turn our souls from earthly perishing objects; that we may not have our lot with Israel's foes in the regions of darkness and despair, but with the Israel of God, in the realms of love and eternal happiness.

Footnotes

• [a]. "con rayos de luz en su diestra" . Frase de difícil traducción.
• [b]. En hebreo, "Jesurún " significa "el justo" , es decir, Israel; también en v. 26.
• [c]. "sus espaldas te servirán de tapete" . Alt. "hollarás sus santuarios paganos" .

Chapter Summary

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.