Deuteronomy 33

Deuteronomy 33:1-5

This chapter contains Moses’ final benediction: 1. He pronounces them all helpful to what God had done for them already, especially in giving them his laws, vers. 2—5. 2. He pronounces it a blessing upon each tribe, which is both a prayer for, and a prophecy of, their fallings, vers. 6—24. 3. He pronounces them all in general helpful, upon the account of what God would be to them, and do for them, if they were obedient, vers. 20—24.

1. AND this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. 2. And he said, ‘The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousand of saints: from his right hand were; a fiery law to them. 3. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand; and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words. 4. Moses commanded us a law: ’even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. 5. And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people, and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

Moses being now to leave them, in token of his warm affection towards them, notwithstanding their impatience, pronounces over them his parting689. As a man of God, a good man, he prays for their felicity; as a prophet, he conceals the blessings God had in those for them. 1. He reminds them of the glorious appearance of God on Sinai, whence the brightness of his precious shone so powerfully, that the distant mounts of Seir and Paran were illuminated thereby; or perhaps it may refer to the several glorious appearances which God made to them near each of these mountains. Ten thousand holy angels, an innumerable multitude surrounded the King of Glory, when through their flaming ranks the law went forth from the throne of the Divine Majesty. 2. He mentions the fiery law which was given them from his right hand; a fiery, because not only given from amidst the fire of Sinai, but also because, like the powerful operations of this element, it burns the confusion, and torments it with a sense of guilt. Nate, The future who breaks God’s law, will still find it consuming fire. 3. The regard and love of God towards them. No nation so distinguished, separated to be a peculiar people, covered and protected by the hand of Omnipotence, drawn to his feet to hear and learn the way to life and happiness, and sweetly inclined to receive the words which make wise unto salvation. Happy art thou, O Israel. Nate, (1.) God’s people are a peculiar and chosen generation. (2.) They are safe in the hand of their Lord, and none can pluck them thence. (3.) They are all taught of God, and sweetly drawn to his feet, to learn his will and to obey it. 4. The people acknowledge their obligation to God and to Moses. To God, for giving them such a holy law, which was their best inheritance, and whilst they observed it, would insure the land to their posterity unto the latest ages. To Moses, who had been their mediator in the delivery of the law, and as the chief magistrate for God, had seen it observed by the people. Nate, (1.) To have God’s law written in our hearts, is our best treasure. (2.) We can never enough be thankful to God, nor the instruments whom he makes use of in bringing our hearts in subjection to his will.

6. ¶ Let Reuben live, and not die: and let not his men be few. 7. ¶ And this is the blessing of Judah; and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people; let his hands be sufficient for him, and be thou an help to him from his enemies.

v. 6, 7. Reuben was a frontier tribe, and much exposed; and whilst a part of this tribe went over Jordan to battle before their brethren, they would be in danger both at home and abroad, but God’s protection will keep them from being diminished. Though because of his sin he may not extort, yet shall he not for his sin be destroyed, or his name be extinct. Nate, (1.) Kkk Though

Before Christ (4.15.)

Though God visits for sin, it will be in measure. (2.) They who are now returned to the path of duty, may confidently respect the return of God’s blessing.

Judah comes next in order. Simeon, whose lot lay in the mists of Judah, is omitted, probably because, as thus united, they would share in the same blessing. Moses begs that his prayers might be heard, his warfare prosperous, his labours successful, and peace be in his borders. This was fulfilled in David, Afa, Hezekiah’s prayers and victories, and in the abundance of all good things which this tribe enjoyed. Nate, (1.) With Judah’s prayers we may expect Judah’s blessing. (2.) Christ, the lion of the tribe of Judah, hath prayed and fought, and conquered for us, and having made peace through the blood of his souls, will keep us safe from the fear of evil, in time and in eternity.

1. 2. And, 3. 4. And of Levi he said ‘Let thy Thummin and thy Urim be with thy holy one’ whom thou disill prove at Maffah, and with whom thou disill strive at the waters of Mehthab; 9. Who laid unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him, ’neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children; for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant. 10. 7. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: 1 they shall put incense before thee, and whose-borne sacrifice upon thine altar. 11. Blet, LOHET, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: Smitt through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.

v. 8—11, Levi was distinguished by the priesthood. Moses therefore, 1. prays that the Urim and Thummin, lights and perfections, might be continually with the high-prich, as they had been with Aaron, whose fidelity God approved of at Mehthab, Ewd. xvii. 7. The Urim and Thummin continued till the captivity, and were never afterwards refused. But Christ being come, the true high-prich whom Aaron prefigured, in him all fulness of light, and all perfection of purity dwell, and his faithful ministers partake, in a measure, of his light and purity in their ministrations before him. 2. Their fidelity is commanded, whether in the exemplary impunity they shewed in their decisions, or in the death of their nearest friends, whom they shew when denied with idolatry, Ewd. xxxii. 26. Nate, God’s ministers seal and uprightness shall be remembered in their everlasting honour and comfort. 3. The work assigned them. To be chief judges in all controversies, to preach the law of God to the people, and to minister in holy things at his altar. Preaching God’s word is an honourable work, and his ministry a distinguished employment: we to them who count it despicable, and much more to those who by their negligence and ill examples make it so. 4. He prays for them, that their substance, which consisted chiefly in the tythes and offerings, might be blessed, that they might have enough, and the comfortable enjoyment of it; that their ministrations might be acceptable to God, and successful among the people, and that their enemies might be commanded and destroyed. Nate, (1.) The greatest desire of a faithful minister, is, that God would accept and prosper his labours. (2.) They who are most active and faithful for God, will find most opposition from the world and the devil; but God is their helper, and he will disappoint and over-ride all the designs of their enemies.

1. 2. 9. And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders. 13. 9. And of Joseph he said, ‘Bleffed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, 14. And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, 15. And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, 16. And for the precious things of the earth, and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. 17. His glory is like the firfting of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of 1 unicorns: with them he shall push the people together, to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manaffeh.

Deuteronomy 33:12-17

The temple lying in the borders of Benjamin, or at least close to it, he may follow Levi in order. He is called the beloved of the Lord: as he was his father’s darling, he had also God’s regard towards him: dwelling so near God’s temple,

he was kept in safety, and did not apostatize from God’s worship when the other tribes revoked, and joining with Judah, he had the same Divine protection and care over him. Nate, They who keep close to God’s church and worship, will have no cause ever to repent it. They will share in the felicity of his chosen, and partake of his everlasting love.

Joseph’s blessing includes his two sons. 1. He had been once separated from his brethren, and sold as a slave into Egypt, but God was with him, and separated him to honour; therefore he hath a double portion among them. 2. Moses prays for, and prophesies the plenty and glory of Joseph’s sons. 1. Their plenty: a fruitful land should the lot of Ephraim and Manaffeh be, watered with the dew of heaven, and with streams that burth from the bowels of the deep beneath; quickned by the benign influences of the heavenly bodies, the earth would give her plentious increase, and the hills laden with vines and olives fill their houses with their produce; or disclosing their precious stores within, enrich them with mines of brass and iron: but these temporal blessings are the least part of their happiness; the good will of God, as their covenant God, who appeared to Moses in the bush, is better to them than all the rest. This he prays for, and promises them, and then they could want nothing to complete their felicity. Nate, (1.) God has blessings in abundance to believe on his repented own, not only of the basket and the river, but the unspokably more valuable ones of the gifts, graces, and confidances of his blessed Spirit. (2.) The true enjoyment of all earthly good things is to have the blessing of him who dwelt in the bush upon them; and even in the want of these, this will alone satisfy the soul abundantly. 2. Their power. Strong and majestic as the bulls of Bafsan, irrefutable as the unicorn or rhinoceros, pushing the Canaanites to their utmost borders, and filling the land with a numerous and warlike off-spring, wherein the youngest, according to the prophecy, fall hath the pre-eminence: it is said the ten thousands of Ephraim, and the thousands of Manaffeh; Ephraim being most numerous, and after the division of the tribes, Samaria in his lot became the metropolis of Israel. Nate, This is still the case with our divine Joseph and his spiritual sons, before whom all their spiritual enemies must fall, subdued by the horn of his power.

18. 9. And of Zebulun he said, ‘Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and Iflachar, in thy tents. 19. They shall call the people unto the mountain, there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall fuck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.

Deuteronomy 33:18-19

The blessings of Zebulun and Iflachar are joined together. Both should have a pleasant lot, and each succeeds in their labours. Zebulun must rejoice in his going out in war, or rather his prosperous voyages. This tribe dwelling near the sea, and Iflachar in his tent, God giving him plenty from the fruit of his labours in agriculture. Both of them seabour for God, shall call the people to the mountain, to the worship of God: the gentiles around them, with whom they trafficked, or their brethren, which bears might be backward. Their offerings should be accepted of God, as sacrifices of righteousness; and well should they be able to afford them, being enriched by their traffick and merchandize, and with the treasures hid in the land, such as gold-dust, pearl, coral, or the riches which from shipwreck might be cast on their coast. Nate, (1.) The labor and husbandman have their several occupations pointed out to them by the providence of God, and each their difficulties and their advantages. God wills that each should be content with his lot, and rejoice in his labours. (2.) In all our traffick and business, we should seek to make the interests of God’s kingdom our capital aim, and improve our connections with others, in such a way, as if possible, to bring them to the worship and service of our God. (3.) They who are blessed with greatest abundance, are especially called upon to honour God with more abundant sacrifices of good works.

20. 9. And of Gad he said, Bleffed be he that enlargeeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and scarceth the arm with the crown of the head. 21. And he provided the first part for himself, because there, is a portion of the law-giver near he is seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel.

v. 20, 21. Gad was a warlike tribe, and Moses prophesies his enlargement. As a lion thong, and when moved up furious and devouring, his prudence is remarked in pretending the first part for himself, having his lot on that side of Jordan already conquered, appointed by Moses himself the law-giver. Yet seabour for his brethren’s settlement, he passes over before them, to execute the justice of the Lord upon the devout Canaanites. Nate, (1.) To do well for ourselves, and provide for our own house, when it can be done without injuring our neighbours, in

22. ¶ And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s whirp; he shall leap from Bathan. 23. ¶ And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, ¶ satisfied with favour, and full with the bleffing of the LORD: ¶ possess thou the well and the South. 24. ¶ And of After he said, ¶ Let After he bleffed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him ¶ dip his foot in oil. 25. ¶ Thy thorn shall be iron and brash; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

23. 23-25. 1. The bleffing on Dan is, that he should be bold and strong as a lion’s whirp, which was fulfilled in Sampson; and shall oup as a lion from Bathan, when they fell upon the people of Laith, and frized their country, and dwelt there. 2. The birding of Naphtali is rich indeed! Janish with favour, happy in the regards of his brethren, and more happy still in the love and favour of God, which is the fountain of all blef-fishers; full of the birding of the Lord, not only enriched with a temporal provision, but bleffed with the richer mercies of the constant of grace. Possessed of the angel, or rather as the word fignishes, the foe of Gennesaret, which was its border, and the foe, from the tribe of Dan. The favour of God’s people is a singular mercy, but the favour of God himself is that which can alone fully satisfy the foul. 3. After is happy in his name, and happy in his inheritance; bleffed with a numerous pothercy; acceptable to his brethren, by a carriage which conciliates their regard; flowery with such plenty that his very flips were bathed in oil; rich in mines of brash and iron, and his strength as his deep, either to old age polleffing the vigour of youth, or in every trial finding suitable and sufficient supports. Note. (1.) A kind and humble carriage will engage the affection of our neighbours. (2.) Whatever sufferings or services God calls us to, he will enable us for. Let us trust him.

Chap. 10.

16. ¶ There is none like unto the God of ‘Jefhurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. 27. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee, and shall say, Deftroy them. 28. ¶ Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine, also his heaven shall drop down dew. 29. Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and I thine enemies shall be a found liars unto thee, and I thou shalt tread upon their high places.

17. 28-30. He concludes his long wish a high character of Israel’s God, and a glorious account of God’s Israel. 1. Israel’s God is glorious above all gods; the heavens are his chariot, flowing his majesty and honour, under his government, and armed to execute his orders. Eternal in his self-ewitness, almighty in power and universal dominion. Note. We can never sufficiently exalt and extol the God of Glory; when we have raised our conceptions and praises to the highest pitch, he is still in above all bleffing and praise. 2. The Israel of God is glorious too, in the love, care, protection and bleffing of such a God. He is their refuge or dwelling-place; a refuge to fly to, as the manflayer did for deliverance from sin, death, and hell. If weeden, where the foul may reft, comfortable and secure, under the shadow of a covenant God. And andowards are the everlasting arms, arms of everlasting love, to embrace and comfort them, of everlasting power to protect and preserve them. Note. Not all the powers of darkness can pluck Christ’s reformed ones from him; no not the weakest believer that hangs upon him. In the forest trials, and deepest difreeves, they cannot fail, whom God upholdeth with his hand: bleffed and happy they who trust on him. He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; strongly entrenched, and powerful as their armies may be, the commotion is figned for their destruction, he shall say, Deftroy them. In judgment, the Cananites must perish, and Israel be the executioner of divine vengeance. Note. Christ Jesus hath, by once dying, destroyed the devil and his works, and all his redeemed people go forth under his banner, conquering and to conquer. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone, for what can disturb their repses, who have God for their refuge! With his presence they never can be solitary, and whilst detached from the debatery around them, are thus secure from fear of evil. Note. The more separate we are from the world, wholly the false; little compliances bring on often great and dangerous consequences. The fountain of Jacob, the people derived from him their source, and flowing downward still to future generations, shall be upon a land of corn and wine, with which Canaan their happy lot abounded: also his heavens shall drop down the dew, refreshing and timely flowers shall impregnate

the earth with fertility: thus Jesus causes the dew of his heavenly influences to descend on his people’s hearts, which makes them revive as the corn, and grow as the vine. Well may it be said after such an assemblage of bleffings, Happy art thou, O Israel, Who is like unto thee? whom no foes can approach, because a people saved of the Lord, covered from every assault by him, who is the shield of thy help, and armed with their offensive weapons, whose piercing edge no tempered armour can refill, even the sword of his servicery. Note. Every spiritual Israelite is clad in the divine panoply: the shield of faith, the sword of the spirit, and the helmet of salvation, secure him from danger, enable him to fight and hidude every enemy of his foul. Thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee, their proud vauntings shall be confiscated, and their threatened sign disloyalized; or they shall lie unto thee, as the Gheonites, through fear of their arms, contriving a lie to secure themselves from destruction: and thou shalt tread upon their high places, triumphantly reign over them, calling down their stronghold, and treading under foot their idols, whode groves and tramples were shuffle on the high places; and thou shalt God do for his believing people, bruising faran under their feet, calling down imaginations, and every high thought which exalteth itself within them, and bringing the whole man into the obedience of Christ, who shall reign in the believer’s heart as their king on earth, before they are brought to reign with him, as kings in glory everlasting.