Deuteronomy 33:8-10 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:8-11

In blessing the tribe of Levi, Moses expresses himself more at large, not so much because it was his own tribe (for he takes no notice of his relation to it) as because it was God's tribe. The blessing of Levi has reference. I. To the high priest, here called God's holy one (Deut. 33:8), because his office was holy, in token of which, Holiness to the Lord was written upon his forehead. 1. He seems to acknowledge that God might justly have displaced Aaron and his seed, for his sin at Meribah,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:8

And of Levi he said ,.... That is, Moses said of the tribe of Levi, as both the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy Holy One ; with Aaron, as the same Targums interpret it, who was of the tribe of Levi, and was a holy good man, a saint of the Lord, as he is called, Psalm 106:16 ; of the Urim and Thummim, which were with him and with every high priest; see Gill on Exodus 28:30 ; and though they were not in use under the second temple, yet... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:9

Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him ,.... Which some understand of the high priests who were of this tribe, and according to the law were not to defile themselves, or mourn for a father or mother, Leviticus 21:11 ; or rather, as others, of their having no respect to them in judgment, but determining all causes that came before them according to the law of God, and the rules of justice and equity, in the most impartial manner, without having any regard to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:10

They shall teach Jacob thy statutes, and Israel thy law ,.... The priests and Levites, being dispersed among each of the tribes, having cities in them allotted to them, taught the people the laws, statutes, and ordinances of the Lord, moral, civil, and ceremonial, see Malachi 2:6 , they shall put incense before thee ; upon the altar of incense, which none but a priest might do, as the case of Uzziah shows; and which, the Jews say F11 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 26. 1. , he might do but... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:8

Of Levi he said - Concerning the Urim and Thummim, see Exodus 28:30 ; (note). Thy holy one - Aaron primarily, who was anointed the high priest of God, and whose office was the most holy that man could be invested with. Therefore Aaron was called God's holy one, and the more especially so as he was the type of the Most Holy and blessed Jesus, from whom the Urim - all light and wisdom, and Thummim - all excellence, completion, and perfection, are derived. Whom thou didst prove, etc.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:9

Who said unto his father, etc. - There are several difficulties in this and the following verses. Some think they are spoken of the tribe of Levi; others, of all the tribes; others, of the Messiah, etc.; but several of the interpretations founded on these suppositions are too recondite, and should not be resorted to till a plain literal sense is made out. I suppose the whole to be primarily spoken of Aaron and the tribe of Levi. Let us examine the words in this way, Who said unto his father,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:10

They shall teach Jacob, etc. - This was the office of the Levites, to teach, by their significant service and typical ceremonies, the way of righteousness and truth to the children of Israel. And of their faithfulness in this respect God bears testimony by the prophet, "My covenant was with him of life and peace," Malachi 2:5 ; and, "The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity;" ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:8

Verse 8 8And of Levi he said. This qualification, or modification of the harsher sentence of Jacob was introduced not only for the sake of the tribe of Levi, but rather of the whole people. Jacob had said, “Simeon and Levi are brethren: instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, my tongue, (313) be not thou united,” (Genesis 49:5.) Assuredly their descendants might have been discouraged, or at least might have been... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:9

Verse 9 9.Who said unto his father and his mother. In the person of Aaron an example is set before all the Levites for their imitation. And, first, he is said to have renounced his own flesh and blood, in order that he might be more disencumbered for obeying God; and in fact it is necessary that all the pastors of the Church should put off their earthly affections, which would otherwise often keep them back from devoting themselves entirely to God. Aaron, then, is said to have bid farewell to... 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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:8-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:1-29

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