Deuteronomy 33

De 33:1-28.

THE

MAJESTY OF

GOD.

1. Moses the man of God--This was a common designation of a prophet

(1Sa 2:27; 9:6),

and it is here applied to Moses, when, like Jacob, he was about to

deliver ministerially before his death, a prophetic benediction to

Israel.

2-4. The Lord came--Under a beautiful metaphor, borrowed from the dawn

and progressive splendor of the sun, the Majesty of God is sublimely

described as a divine light which appeared in Sinai and scattered its

beams on all the adjoining region in directing Israel's march to

Canaan. In these descriptions of a theophania, God is represented as

coming from the south, and the allusion is in general to the

thunderings and lightnings of Sinai; but other mountains in the same

direction are mentioned with it. The location of Seir was on the east

of the Ghor; mount Paran was either the chain on the west of the Ghor,

or rather the mountains on the southern border of the desert towards

the peninsula [ROBINSON].

(Compare

Jud 5:4, 5;

Ps 68:7, 8;

Hab 3:3).

ten thousands of saints--rendered by some, "with the ten thousand

of Kadesh," or perhaps better still, "from Meribah"

[EWALD].

a fiery law--so called both because of the thunder and lightning which

accompanied its promulgation

(Ex 19:16-18;

De 4:11),

and the fierce, unrelenting curse denounced against the violation of

its precepts

(2Co 3:7-9).

Notwithstanding those awe-inspiring symbols of Majesty that were

displayed on Sinai, the law was really given in kindness and love

(De 33:3),

as a means of promoting both the temporal and eternal welfare of the

people. And it was "the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob," not

only from the hereditary obligation under which that people were laid

to observe it, but from its being the grand distinction, the peculiar

privilege of the nation.

6. Let Reuben live, and not die--Although deprived of the honor and

privileges of primogeniture, he was still to hold rank as one of the

tribes of Israel. He was more numerous than several other tribes

(Nu 1:21; 2:11).

Yet gradually he sank into a mere nomadic tribe, which had enough to do

merely "to live and not die." Many eminent biblical scholars, resting

on the most ancient and approved manuscripts of the Septuagint,

consider the latter clause as referring to Simeon; "and Simeon, let his

men be few," a reading of the text which is in harmony with other

statements of Scripture respecting this tribe

(Nu 25:6-14; 1:23; 26:14;

Jos 19:1).

7. this is the blessing of Judah--Its general purport points to the

great power and independence of Judah, as well as its taking the lead

in all military expeditions.

8-10. of Levi he said--The burden of this blessing is the appointment

of the Levites to the dignified and sacred office of the priesthood

(Le 10:11;

De 22:8; 17:8-11),

a reward for their zeal in supporting the cause of God, and their

unsparing severity in chastising even their nearest and dearest

relatives who had participated in the idolatry of the molten calf

(Ex 32:25-28;

compare

Mal 2:4-6).

12. of Benjamin he said--A distinguishing favor was conferred on this

tribe in having its portion assigned near the temple of God.

between his shoulders--that is, on his sides or borders. Mount Zion,

on which stood the city of Jerusalem, belonged to Judah; but Mount

Moriah, the site of the sacred edifice, lay in the confines of

Benjamin.

13-17. of Joseph he said--The territory of this tribe, diversified by

hill and dale, wood and water, would be rich in all the

productions--olives, grapes, figs, &c., which are reared in a

mountainous region, as well as in the grain and herbs that grow in the

level fields. "The firstling of the bullock and the horns of the

unicorn" (rhinoceros), indicate glory and strength, and it is supposed

that under these emblems were shadowed forth the triumphs of Joshua and

the new kingdom of Jeroboam, both of whom were of Ephraim (compare

Ge 48:20).

18, 19. Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out--on commercial enterprises

and voyages by sea.

and, Issachar in thy tents--preferring to reside in their maritime

towns.

19. shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in

the sand--Both tribes should traffic with the Phœnicians in

gold and silver, pearl and coral, especially in murex, the

shellfish that yielded the famous Tyrian dye, and in glass, which was

manufactured from the sand of the river Belus, in their immediate

neighborhood.

20, 21. of Gad he said--Its possessions were larger than they would

have been had they lain west of Jordan; and this tribe had the honor of

being settled by Moses himself in the first portion of land conquered.

In the forest region, south of the Jabbok, "he dwelt as a lion"

(compare

Ge 30:11; 49:19).

Notwithstanding, they faithfully kept their engagement to join the

"heads of the people"

[De 33:21]

in the invasion of Canaan.

22. Dan is a lion's whelp--His proper settlement in the south of Canaan

being too small, he by a sudden and successful irruption, established a

colony in the northern extremity of the land. This might well be

described as the leap of a young lion from the hills of Bashan.

23. of Naphtali he said--The pleasant and fertile territory of this

tribe lay to "the west," on the borders of lakes Merom and Chinnereth,

and to "the south" of the northern Danites.

24, 25. of Asher he said--The condition of this tribe is described as

combining all the elements of earthly felicity.

dip his foot in oil--These words allude either to the process of

extracting the oil by foot presses, or to his district as particularly

fertile and adapted to the culture of the olive.

25. shoes of iron and brass--These shoes suited his rocky coast from

Carmel to Sidon. Country people as well as ancient warriors had their

lower extremities protected by metallic greaves

(1Sa 17:6;

Eph 6:15)

and iron-soled shoes.

26-29. There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun--The chapter

concludes with a congratulatory address to Israel on their peculiar

happiness and privilege in having Jehovah for their God and protector.

who rideth upon the heaven in thy help--an evident allusion to the

pillar of cloud and fire, which was both the guide and shelter of

Israel.

28. the fountain of Jacob--The posterity of Israel shall dwell in a

blessed and favored land.