Deuteronomy 33
DortMoseh blesseth the twelve tribes of Israel before his death and foretelleth what shall befalleth every tribe.
1. Now this is the blessing [see Genesis 27 on verse 4] wherewith Moseh the man of God [that is the prophet speaking by the motion or instinct of the holy Ghost 2Peter 1.21 see further of this title Judges 13 on verse 6] blessed the children of Israel before his death.
2. He said then the Lord came from Sinai then rose up from Seir unto them he appeared shining from mount Paran [or seir and Paran see Genesis 14 on verse 6 and above chapter 1.1] and came with ten thousand of saints [Heb. Of holiness of sanctity meaning millions of holy angels whose head the son of God is see Acts 7:53 Galatians 3:19 and compare Psalms 68:18 Daniel 7:10 &c.] as his right-hand was a fiery law [Heb. A fire of the law meaning that great fire out of the midst whereof was uttered to the people see above chapter 4.11,12,33,36and 5.2,3,4,25,26 and Exodus 19:16,18 they to wit the holy angels had a fire of the law] for them [to wit the Israelites Moseh seemeth here to compare the apparitions and manifestations of God made to Israel in his time to the Suns race which he breaketh forth by little and little and riseth higher and higher by degree and giveth more and more light untilat last it bringeth forth a bright and clean non day light even so the Lord first gave his law on mount Sinai Exodus 19 and 20 then he gave water out of the rock and at mount Seir or the mount of the Edomites the brazen serpent which together with the manna were types of Christ to be set up Numbers 20 and 28 1corinthians 10.4 John 3:14 Lastly he published his law more gloriously by Moseh in the land of the Moabites and revealed that prophetical song and this blessing before his people as appeareth in the whole book compare chapter 3.3,4 &c.]
3. Yea he loveth the people [meaning the tribes of Israel as Judges 5:14 and below verse 19 &c.] all his saints are in thine hand [that is thou lookest upon them providest for them Moseh here speaketh unto God]they shall be set in the midst between thy feet [others let them be set &c. to wit a disciple or scholars at the feet of their masters see 2kings 2 on verse 3 and 4 on verse 38 Acts 22:3] everyone shall receive of thine words [that which may tend to his instructions and salvation.]
4. Moseh commanded us the law an inheritance [which must be as dear and precious unto the people of God as an inheritance to a man] of Jacobs congregation [the congregation that descended from Jacob .]
5. And he was king [giving laws and governing the people as a king the word king is also taken for a prince or ruler Jeremiah 19:3 and 46.25 see the annotate there] in Jeschurun [see above chapter 32 on verse 15] where the head of the people together with the tribes of Israel are gathered together.
6. Let Reuben live and not die and let his men be in number [or let them not be few in number that is great in number others although his people few in number.]
7. And this is of Judah [that is this is the blessing of Judah under whom Simeon is likewise comprehended as having his land dispersed among Judah and going forth to war with him see Joshua 19:1 Judges 1:3 1 Chronicles 14.24] which he [namely Moseh and so in the sequel] said dear Lord the voice of Judah [when they pray unto thee for victory]and bring them again into his people [cause him to have the victory and to return home safe unto those that be his] let his hands be sufficient for him strength to stand against his enemies ] and be thou an help to him against [Heb. From] his enemies [that is t assist him and deliver him from his enemies.]
8. And of Levi he said Thummim an d Urim be with the man [Moseh speaketh here as also in the following verse unto God of Urim and Thummim see Exodus 28:30] thy favorite [to wit the high priest who was a man of God and in favor of God others thy well beloved thy bountiful courteous gracious one] whom thou didst tempt in Massa with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meriba [seethe history Numbers 20.]
9. Who [namely Levi] said unto his father and to his mother I see him not [that is I pity or spare them not when God commanded me to do it this relateth to the history mentioned Exodus 32:26&c.] and who knew not his brethren and regarded [Heb. Knew] not his sons for they observed thy word and kept thy covenant.
10. they shall teach Jacob thy judgments and Israel thy law they shall lay incense before thy nose [spoken of God after the manner of man that is before thee who art in a special manner present with the ark of the covenant which was in the most holy places behind whose vail the altar of incense stood] and that which shall be consumed [with fire as burning offerings and some other offerings] upon thine altar[of burnt offerings.]
11. Bless Lord his power [or his host that is hosts the Levites being distinguished in their ranks for several offices see numbers chapter 4] and let the works of his hands be well pleasing unto thee smite through the loins [or wound thrust through &c. that is break their power in pieces compare Psalms 18:39] of those that rise up against him that they rise not up again [others as soon as they rise up.]
12. And of Benjamin he said the beloved of the Lord [this hath respect to the tender love of Jacob towards Benjamin where unto without doubt Jacob was moved by God see thereof Genesis 42:36,38 and 43.6,14 and 44.20,22,29 &c.] he shall dwell in the safety by him [that is by the Lord as Benjamin dwelt formerly by his father Jacob] he shall cover [or protect defend] him all the day long and he shall dwell Benjamin’s shoulder that is Jerusalem the chief city of his possession thus Jerusalem is compared to the head standing between the shoulders and Benjamin’s land to the body.]
13. And of Joseph he said blessed of the Lord be his land from the most excellent things of heaven [meaning the most excellent fruits which by reason of the heaven that is of the air do spring forth and grow see Genesis 49:25] from the dew and from the deep [that is the deep waters see Genesis 49 verse 25] that lieth beneath.
14. And from the most excellent revenues of the sun [Heb. From the most excellent of the revenues of the sun and so in the sequel this is the fairest fruit which by the heat and warmth of the sun come forth and ripen] and from the most excellent putting forth of the moon [which the moon in divers months putteth forth or thrusteth forth in that the moistened the earth.]
15. And from the most excellent things of ancient mountains [Heb. Mountains of antiquate] and from the most excellent things of the everlasting hills [Heb. Of the eternity that is which hath been from the beginning of the world see Genesis 49:26 Heb. From the head of the hills &c. that is the principalest chiefest as Exodus 30:23 understand the fair wholesome Herbs of the fruits of trees vines the fair olives and fig trees that grow most pleasantly on the mountains and hills.]
16. And from the most excellent things of the earth and fullness thereof and from the good will of him [or and this by the good will of God being the fountain of this blessing] that dwelt in the bush [that appeared to Moseh in the bush Exodus 3:2] let the blessing come upon from the head of Joseph [that is Joseph posterity] and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren [see Genesis 48:22 and 49 on verse 26.]
17. He hath the glory of the first born of the first born of his ox [that is he is fair strong and nimble as the first born of one of his oxen] and his horns are the horns of the unicorn [see Numbers 23:22 and 24.8 the similitude of the horns is often used in the scripture to signify power strength and defense glory honor dignity pride exaltation also firmness and continuance for a thing see 1Samuel 2.1 2 Samuel 22:3 Job 16:15 Psalms 22:21 and 75.4,5,11 and 89.17,24 and 92.10 and 112.9 and 132.7 and 148.14 Jeremiah 48:25 Lamentations 2:3,17 Ezechiah 29.21 and 34.21 Michah 4.13 Luke 1:69 &c.] with them he shall push the people together to the end of the land [or of the earth] now these are the ten thousand of Manasseh [Ephraim is counted greater than Manasseh because of the birth right was translated upon him by Jacob see Genesis 48:14,18,19.]
18. And of Zebulon he said he said ye rejoice Zebulon in thy going out [that is because of thy navigation and traffic whereby thou shalt get riches see Genesis 49:13 Joshua 19:11 Matthew 4:15.] and Issachar in thy cottages [that is about thy trading cattle for which the huts and tents served see Genesis 4:20 and compare 49.14,15.]
19. They shall call the people unto the mountain [that is they shall being moved by the blessing of God being zealous to invite and stir up their example the other tribe as dwelling far from thence to go along with them at mount Zion to the service of God some do also understand that by the means of navigation they should invite the heathen to the true religion] there they shall offer offerings of righteousness [that is the lawful offerings or thank offerings which they do owe according to right] for they shall suck the abundance of the seas [that is those wares and riches which are brought from beyond sea] and the covered hidden things [meaning all manner of costly things as gold precious stones &c. which are wont to be locked up and hid these are carried and transported by sea and land as we say] of the sand [that is of the sea whose shores and bottom are full of sand or the costly things which by reason of ship wreck are commonly hid in great abundance in the bottom of the sea and are sometimes cast out upon the shore or else fished and taken up.]
20. And of Gad he said blessed [that is thanked praise see Genesis 14 on verse 20.] be he that maketh room for Gad [namely God who gave the Gadites room by Jephy the Gileadite when they were also straightened by the Amorites see Judges 11 compare Genesis 49:19 Psalms 4:2 &c.] he dwelled as an old lion [bold and undaunted marching forth out of his troop like a lion to subdue his enemies see the accomplishment 1 Chronicles 5:19,20,21,22] and teareth the arm yea also the crown of the head.
21. and he provided the first for himself [he looked out in the beginning for a fit dwelling place for himself or of the first that is of the first place that he met with to wit Gilead Numbers 32:1 &c. which also was granted them by Moseh the law giver Numbers 3,33 &c. and there the Gadites according to their offer and Moseh content or yielding left their wives children and cattle under Gods judgment against the Canaanites see Numbers 32:16,17&c. and above chapter 4.16,18,19,20] because he was there covered in the portions of law giver therefore he came with the heads of people he executed the justice of the Lord and his judgments with Israel.
22. And of Dan he said Dan is a young lion [nimble and courageous against the enemy] he shall leap forth as from Basan [hence is gathered that there were many and strong lions there compare Judges 14:5 of Basan see above chapter 32 on verse 14.]
23. And of Naphtali he said O Naphtali be satisfied with the good will and full with the blessing of the Lord [with gifts which come from the favor and blessing of God] possess hereditarily the west [Heb. The sea because the midland sea lay on the west side of Canaan see Genesis 12 on verse 8] and the south.
24. And the Aser he said let Aser be blessed with sons [others above the other sons that is his brethren or blessed that is thanked and praised of the other sons as those that shall partake for the fruitfulness of his land] let him be acceptable to his brethren and let him dip his feet in oil [compare Genesis 49.20and Job 29:6.]
25. Iron and copper shall be under thy shoe [others be thy shutting up meaning the mountain wherein these metals should be found Hebrews let iron and copper be thy shoe the meaning is iron and copper shall under thy feet compare above chapter 8.9 shall be shut in and kept as with iron and copper bars] and thy strength [others fame] as thy days [the meaning is as long as thou shalt be a nation thou salt be strong mighty or famous by reason of strength or power thine old age shall be thine youth.]
26. There is none like unto God O Jeschurun [others there is none like unto the God of Jeschurun of Jeschurun see above chapter 32.15] who rideth upon the heaven of thy help [upon the heaven that is upon the air from whence he sendeth help unto his people against their enemies whom he from thence smiteth and destroyeth with terrible tempest of hail lightning and thunder see an excellent exposition hereof Psalms 18 on verse 7 to verse 20] and with his highness [that is with his high and glorious working] upon the uppermost [or thinnest] clouds which are angered in the uppermost part of the air.]
27. The everlasting God [the Hebrew word rendered here everlasting being used of creatures signifieth what which was in the former times of old or from the beginning of the world as above verse 15 but being used of God its like signifieth eternity]be an habitation unto thee [that is an high place wherein thou mayest live quietly and in safety] and underneath everlasting almightiness of God shall help and protect them on the earth beneath ] and let him drive away the enemy before thy face and let him say destroy them.
28. Israel then shall dwell in the safety alone and Jacobs eye shall be upon a land of corn and new wine [that is Jacobs posterity shall dwell in peace behold the fruitfulness of their land with their eyes and take delight in it others the fountain of Jacob that is a lasting spring that stood of all kinds of blessings be among the people of Israel that is sprung from Jacob &c.] yea his heaven shall drop with dew.
29. Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee? Thou art a people redeemed by the Lord the shield of thy help [or thy shield of help that is thy helping shield as Psalms 2:6 the mountain of my holiness that is my holy mountain] who is is a sword of thy highness who fighteth for thee to lift thee up on high] therefore thine enemies shall feignedly subject themselves unto thee [shall be forced to submit unto thee though they have no real intention in it or do it not from the heart see 2 Samuel 25 on verse45 Psalms 18:45 and compare Psalms 66:3 and81.16] and thou salt tread upon their high places [see above chapter 32on verse 13.]