331 Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the sons of Israel before his death . 2 He said , " The Lord came from Sinai , And dawned on them from Seir ; He shone forth from Mount Paran , And He came from the midst of ten thousand holy ones ; At His right hand there was flashing lightning for them. 3 " Indeed , He loves the people ; All Your holy ones are in Your hand , And they followed in Your steps ; Everyone receives of Your words . 4 " Moses charged us with a law , A possession for the assembly of Jacob . 5 " And He was king in Jeshurun , When the heads of the people were gathered , The tribes of Israel together .
6 " May Reuben live and not die , Nor his men be few ." 7 And this regarding Judah ; so he said , "Hear , O Lord , the voice of Judah , And bring him to his people . With his hands he contended for them, And may You be a help against his adversaries ."
8 Of Levi he said , "Let Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to Your godly man , Whom You proved at Massah , With whom You contended at the waters of Meribah ; 9 Who said of his father and his mother , 'I did not consider them'; And he did not acknowledge his brothers , Nor did he regard his own sons , For they observed Your word , And kept Your covenant . 10 " They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob , And Your law to Israel . They shall put incense before You, And whole burnt offerings on Your altar . 11 "O Lord , bless his substance , And accept the work of his hands ; Shatter the loins of those who rise up against him, And those who hate him, so that they will not rise again."
12 Of Benjamin he said , " May the beloved of the Lord dwell in security by Him, Who shields him all the day , And he dwells between His shoulders ." 13 Of Joseph he said , " Blessed of the Lord be his land , With the choice things of heaven , with the dew , And from the deep lying beneath ,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 33:1-13
Commentary on Deuteronomy 33:1-5
(Read Deuteronomy 33:1-5)
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.
Commentary on Deuteronomy 33:6-23
(Read Deuteronomy 33:6-23)
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, whether men accept us or not, 2 Corinthians 5:9. This prayer is a 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.