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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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 33:6-25

The arrangement of the tribes in this blessing is unusual. Kalland provided a chart of six lists of the tribes that appear in Genesis, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua, each of which contains a different order. [Note: Kalland, p. 222.] Evidently God based this list on a combination of the past and future histories of each tribe.Reuben (Deuteronomy 33:6) was the first-born but did not enjoy greatness among the tribes because of his sin. He lost his father’s birthright and blessing.Judah... 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

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Deuteronomy 33:1-29

The Law of Antagonism Deuteronomy 33:2-3 At first sight the text might seem to involve a contradiction, but closer consideration will show that it expresses a great truth, viz. that the severity of human life is an expression of the Divine goodness. I. Consider the truth of the text as it finds expression in Nature. Nature is imperative, uncompromising, terrible. A lofty and unyielding commandment is written over all things, and behind the fiery law is a right hand capable of enforcing it to... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:1-29

MOSES’ CHARACTER AND DEATHIT has been often said, and it has even become a principle of the critical school, that the historical notices in the earlier documents of the Old Testament represent nothing but the ideas current at the time when they were written. Whether they depict an Abraham, a Jacob, or a Moses, all they really tell us is the kind of character which at such times was held to be heroic. In this way the value of the historic parts of Deuteronomy has been called in question, and we... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Deuteronomy 33:1-29

3. The Blessing of Moses CHAPTERS 32:44-33:29 1. Introduction (Deuteronomy 32:44-52 ) 2. Jehovah’s manifestation (Deuteronomy 33:1-5 ) 3. The blessing of Reuben, Judah and Levi (Deuteronomy 33:6-11 ) 4. The blessing of Benjamin and Joseph (Deuteronomy 33:12-17 ) 5. The blessing of Zebulon and Issachar (Deuteronomy 33:18-19 ) 6. The blessing of Gad, Dan, Nephtali and Asher (Deuteronomy 33:20-25 ) 7. Happy art thou, O Israel! (Deuteronomy 33:26-29 ) Moses and Joshua (same as... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Deuteronomy 33:9

33:9 Who said unto his father and to his mother, {h} 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.(h) He preferred God’s glory to all natural affection, Exodus 28:30. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:1-29

THE BLESSING OF THE TRIBES (vs.1-29) Though Deuteronomy is a book largely of admonition, yet all admonition is finished by the end of Chapter 32:47, and Chapter 33 beautifully closes God's message for Israel by pronouncing blessing that is high above all the demands of law. This blessing is prophetic of the millennial blessing of Israel still future. It is introduced, however, with the Lord coming from Sinai, leaving behind the covenant of law and dawning on Israel from Seir, but shining... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:1-29

THE BLESSING AND THE END After Moses ended his song (Deuteronomy 32:44 ) he exhorted the people in language familiar to us (Deuteronomy 32:45-47 ), and then the voice of the Lord was heard to what purport (Deuteronomy 32:49-50 )? And why (Deuteronomy 32:51 )? Can you recall the details referred to in that verse? If not, look up the story again as indicated in the margin of your Bible. What grace does God show Moses, in spite of his disobedience (Deuteronomy 32:52 )? Does Moses complain at... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Deuteronomy 33:1-29

The Distribution of Blessings Deuteronomy 33:0 Moses cannot die. We have been told about his approaching death again and again; but he cannot yet be released. He has just been singing his great song, and now he is about to utter a blessing worthy of its doctrine and music; and whether he will yet die, who can tell? He does not die hard, in any severe and arbitrary sense of that term; instead of dying, he seems to live more, to double his vitality, and to cause his energy to express itself in... read more

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