Deuteronomy 33:2 ASV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 33:2

By “Seir” is to be understood the mountain-land of the Edomites, and by “mount Paran” the range which forms the northern boundary of the desert of Sinai (compare Genesis 14:6 note). Thus the verse forms a poetical description of the vast arena upon which the glorious manifestation of the Lord in the giving of the covenant took place.With ten thousands of saints - Render, from amidst ten thousands of holy ones: literally from myriads of holiness, i. e., holy Angels (compare Zechariah 14:5). God... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 33:2

Deuteronomy 33:2. The Lord came Namely, to the Israelites; manifested himself graciously and gloriously among them. He begins with this, that he may, in the first place, make them sensible of that most signal blessing which God had bestowed upon them, in choosing them to be his peculiar people. From Sinai Beginning at Sinai, where the first appearance of God was. And rose up from Seir unto them, &c. The plain meaning of the word is, that the same divine presence which was manifested... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:1-29

The blessing of Moses (32:48-33:29)As God had announced earlier, the time for Moses to die had come (48-52; see Numbers 27:12-14). The prophetic blessings that he gave Israel before he died foresaw the favours that God would give the various tribes. But first Moses recalled the giving of the law at Sinai. God appeared in flaming majesty, bursting forth in glory brighter than the rising sun. Accompanying him were multitudes of heavenly servants who carry out God’s purposes in the lives of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Deuteronomy 33:2

The LORD = Jehovah. App-4 . came. Hebrew. bo ', to come, or enter on business. Compare Habakkuk 3:3 . rose up. Hebrew zarah, to break forth as light. shined forth. Hebrew. yaph'a, to shine forth in glory. came. Hebrew. 'athah, to come with speed. Compare maran-athah = the LORD cometh, 1 Corinthians 16:22 . saints = holy ones, i.e. angels. Compare Psalms 68:17 . Acts 7:53 .Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:19 . Habakkuk 2:2 .Jude 1:14; Jude 1:14 And see note on Exodus 3:5 . law. Hebrew. ... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Deuteronomy 33:2

Ver. 2. The Lord came from Sinai— Moses endeavours, in the first place, to make the Israelites sensible of that most signal benefit which God had bestowed upon them, in assuming them to be his peculiar people: as if he had said, "Israel is the favourite nation to whom God was pleased, with most awful solemnity, to declare his laws, and take them into special covenant with himself at mount Sinai;" which mountain, as it was celebrated for the most awful display of the Divine Majesty, and for the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 33:2

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... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 33:1-5

After a brief introduction to the blessing (Deuteronomy 33:1), Moses began by presenting God. He pictured Him as the source of all blessing in the figure of the sun rising on His people gathered at Sinai. The sun is the source of physical blessing. Seir (Deuteronomy 33:2) refers to the mountain range in Edom over which the sun would apparently rise as seen from Sinai. Paran (Deuteronomy 33:2) refers to the mountains near Kadesh Barnea that separated the Sinai wilderness from Canaan."The... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 33:1-29

D. Moses’ blessing of the tribes ch. 33After receiving this announcement of his death, and as one of his final official acts as Israel’s leader, Moses pronounced a prophetic blessing on the tribes of Israel (cf. Jacob’s blessing of the tribes in Genesis 49)."In the ancient Near East, a dying father’s final blessings spoken to his sons were an irrevocable legal testament, accepted as decisive evidence in court disputes. In the case of the Biblical patriarchs, the authority and potency of their... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:1-29

The Blessing of MosesThis chapter contains the last words or ’swan-song’ of Moses. Immediately before his death he takes farewell of the people, and blesses each of the tribes in turn, as Jacob had done on his deathbed: see Genesis 49. The two blessings should be compared; see also on Deuteronomy 33:4.2-5. Introduction, describing the majestic appearance of Jehovah to His chosen people.2. Cp. Judges 5:4; Habakkuk 3:3. Seir] Edom (see on Numbers 20:22-29). Mount Paran] the S. boundary of Canaan.... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Deuteronomy 33:2

(2)“And he said, Jehovah came from Sinai,And dawned upon them from Seir;He shone forth from mount Paran.And there came from the ten thousands of holiness,From His right hand, a fire of law [10] for them.”[10] On this expression see an additional note at the end of the book.The appearance of God on Sinai is described as a sunrise. His light rose from Sinai, and the tops of the hills of Seir caught its rays. The full blaze of light shone on Paran. (Comp. Psalms 1:2 : “Out of Zion, the perfection... read more