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 , 14 And with the choice yield of the sun , And with the choice produce of the months . 15 "And with the best things of the ancient mountains , And with the choice things of the everlasting hills , 16 And with the choice things of the earth and its fullness , And the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush . Let it come to the head of Joseph , And to the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers . 17 "As the firstborn of his ox , majesty is his, And his horns are the horns of the wild ox ; With them he will push the peoples , All at once , to the ends of the earth . And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim , And those are the thousands of Manasseh ."
18 Of Zebulun he said , "Rejoice , Zebulun , in your going forth , And, Issachar , in your tents . 19 " They will call peoples to the mountain ; There they will offer righteous sacrifices ; For they will draw out the abundance of the seas , And the hidden treasures of the sand ." 20 Of Gad he said , "Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad ; He lies down as a lion , And tears the arm , also the crown of the head . 21 " Then he provided the first part for himself, For there the ruler's portion was reserved ; And he came with the leaders of the people ; He executed the justice of the Lord , And His ordinances with Israel ."
22 Of Dan he said , "Dan is a lion's whelp , That leaps forth from Bashan ." 23 Of Naphtali he said , " O Naphtali , satisfied with favor , And full of the blessing of the Lord , Take possession of the sea and the south ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 33:6-23
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.