Deuteronomy 33:24

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:24

And of Asher he said ,.... The tribe of Asher, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: let Asher be blessed with children ; with large numbers, as it appears this tribe was, having in it 53,400 men of war, Numbers 26:47 . It was esteemed a great blessing to have many children, Psalm 128:3 ; or "above the children"; above or more than the rest of the children of Jacob; see Luke 2:36 ; Jarchi observes, that he had seen, in a book called Siphri, that there was none in all the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:24

Let Asher be blessed with children - Let him have a numerous posterity, continually increasing. Let him be acceptable to his brethren - May he be in perfect union and harmony with the other tribes. Let him dip his foot in oil - Let him have a fertile soil, and an abundance of all the conveniences and comforts of life. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:1-29

EXPOSITION The blessing consists of a series of benedictions on the several tribes ( Deuteronomy 33:6-25 ), preceded by an introduction ( Deuteronomy 33:1-5 ), and followed by a conclusion ( Deuteronomy 33:26-29 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:6-25

Blessings on the tribes individually . With these may be compared the blessing which Jacob pronounced on his sons as representing the tribes of which they were the heads. The two resemble each other in many points; the differences are such as naturally arose from the different relations of the speakers to the objects of their address, and the changes in the condition and prospects of the tribes which during the lapse of centuries had come to pass. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:6-25

Watchwords for the tribes. The blessings authoritatively pronounced by these old worthies amounted to watchwords for their future development. They were divinely suggested ideas regarding their future courses. We shall look at the ideals thus presented in their order. I. THE UNOSTENTATIOUS DEVELOPMENT OF REUBEN . Deposed from the primacy among the brethren, because of his self-indulgence, he is to content himself with pastoral progress amid the mountains of Moab. The blessing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:20-25

Gad, Dan, Naphtali, Asher. The blessings on these tribes are connected with— I. PROWESS . ( Deuteronomy 33:20 , Deuteronomy 33:21 .) The chivalrous heroic spirit, which, as well as in bloodier conflicts, finds scope for its exercise in the battles of the cross, has here its appropriate recognition. A first portion is reserved for it. II. ACTIVITY . Dan's characteristic was agility. In Genesis, the dart of the serpent ( Genesis 49:17 ); here, the leap of the lion's whelp... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:24-25

Asher, the prosperous one, as his name implies, was to be rich, and honored, and strong, and peaceful. Blessed with children; rather, blessed among the sons ; i . e . either blessed more than the rest of the sons, or blessed by the sons who were to reap benefit from him. From what follows, the latter explanation seems the one to be preferred. The preposition מִן is constantly used as indicating the source whence anything proceeds, or the agent by whom anything is done . Let him... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:24-25

Asher's blessing; strength as the day. There are several features in this blessing to Asher. He is to have a numerous seed: to enjoy above his brethren the favor of the Lord; to be surrounded with plenty; to be guarded with bars of iron and brass; and to have strength according to the days. (The Hebrew word translated "days" is so rendered or explained by the Targum, Boothroyd, and Parkhurst. The LXX . render it ἰσχυς : the French version has it to force ; Gesenius renders it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:24-25

The comprehensive benediction of Asher. No one can read this series of poetical benedictions without cherishing the conviction that Moses "spoke as moved by the Holy Ghost." The peculiar fitness of his aspirations for the future exigencies of the tribes, and his clear foresight of their distant fortunes, indicate unmistakably that a supernatural light suffused his understanding. This benediction of the dying prophet foretokens— I. NUMERICAL INCREASE . By a natural law of God's... read more

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