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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:12-17

Here is, I. The blessing of Benjamin, Deut. 33:12. Benjamin is put next to Levi, because the temple, where the priests? work lay, was just upon the edge of the lot of this tribe; and it is put before Joseph because of the dignity of Jerusalem (part of which was in this tribe) above Samaria, which was in the tribe of Ephraim, and because Benjamin adhered to the house of David, and to the temple of the Lord, when the rest of the tribes deserted both with Jeroboam. 1. Benjamin is here called the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:18-21

Here we have, I. The blessings of Zebulun and Issachar put together, for they were both the sons of Jacob by Leah, and by their lot in Canaan they were neighbours; it is foretold, 1. That they should both have a comfortable settlement and employment, Deut. 33:18. Zebulun must rejoice, for he shall have cause to rejoice; and Moses prays that he may have cause in his going out, either to war (for Zebulun jeoparded their lives in the high places of the field, Jdg. 5:18), or rather to sea, for... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:22-25

Here is, I. The blessing of Dan, Deut. 33:22. Jacob in his blessing had compared him to a serpent for subtlety; Moses compares him to a lion for courage and resolution: and what could stand before those that had the head of a serpent and the heart of a lion? He is compared to the lions that leaped from Bashan, a mountain noted for fierce lions, whence they came down to leap upon their prey in the plains. This may refer either, 1. To the particular victories obtained by Samson (who was of this... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:26-29

These are the last words of all that ever Moses, that great writer, that great dictator, either wrote himself or had written from his dictation; they are therefore very remarkable, and no doubt we shall find them very improving. Moses, the man of God (who had as much reason as ever any mere man had to know both), with his last breath magnifies both the God of Israel and the Israel of God. They are both incomparable in his eye; and we are sure that in this his judgment of both his eye did not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:15

And for the chief things of the ancient mountains ,.... Which were from the beginning of the world, and for which the land, possessed by the children of Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim, were famous; as the mountains of Gilead and Bashan, inherited by the former, and Mount Ephraim, and the mountains of Samaria, by the latter; which produced, besides great quantities of grass and corn, also vines, figs, olives, &c.; and for the precious things of the lasting hills ; which will endure as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:16

And for the precious things of the earth, and fulness thereof ,.... Corn of all sorts produced out of the earth, and grass that grows out of it, and cattle that feed upon it; for all which some part of the land of Joseph, particularly Bashan, was famous; as for the oaks that grew on it, so for the pasturage of it, and the cattle it bred, Deuteronomy 32:14 ; see Psalm 22:12 , and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush ; the angel of the Lord, the Word and Son of God, who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:17

His glory is like the firstling of his bullock ,.... Such as were in Bashan, a country possessed by the posterity of Joseph, see Psalm 22:12 ; and so might be called "his" bullock, or a young bull, was reckoned both comely and majestic; so Menis or Mnevis, king of Egypt, preferred a bull above all animals to be worshipped, because the most beautiful of all, as Aelianus F23 Hist. Animal. l. 11. c. 10. relates; and Astarte, according to Sanchoniatho F24 Apud Euseb. Evangel.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:18

And of Zebulun he said ,.... The tribe of Zebulun, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, with whom Issachar is joined, they being brethren, and of the same mother as well as father; though Zebulun the youngest is set before Issachar the older, as in Jacob's blessing, Genesis 49:13 , rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out ; in their going out to sea, to merchandise, to traffic in foreign parts, it being a maritime tribe, see Genesis 49:13 ; and so are called upon to rejoice and be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:19

They shall call the people unto the mountain ,.... To the mountain of the house of the sanctuary, as all the three Targums; to the temple built on a mountain, which Moses by a spirit of prophecy foresaw would be, to which the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar would not only come up themselves, though at the more distant parts of the land; but call and urge others, both Israelites and Gentiles, to do the same, partly by their example, and partly by persuasions and arguments; not the tribes of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:20

And of Gad he said ,.... The tribe of Gad, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: blessed be he that enlargeth Gad ; that is, the Lord, to whom the praise and glory were to be given, who had appointed to Gad a large inheritance on the other side Jordan, and had settled him in it, and which became larger by the conquest of the Hagarites, and others, 1 Chronicles 5:18 , he dwelleth as a lion ; bold and courageous, secure, and without fear of any of his enemies, though near him,... read more

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