Deuteronomy 33:1-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:1-5

The Deut. 33:1 is the title of the chapter: it is a blessing. In the foregoing chapter he had thundered out the terrors of the Lord against Israel for their sin; it was a chapter like Ezekiel's roll, full of lamentation, and mourning, and woe. Now to soften that, and that he might not seem to part in anger, he here subjoins a blessing, and leaves his peace, which should descend and rest upon all those among them that were the sons of peace. Thus Christ's last work on earth was to bless his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:6-7

Here is, I. The blessing of Reuben. Though Reuben had lost the honour of his birthright, yet Moses begins with him; for we should not insult over those that are disgraced, nor desire to perpetuate marks of infamy upon any, though ever so justly fastened at first, Deut. 33:6. Moses desires and foretels, 1. The preserving of this tribe. Though a frontier tribe on the other side Jordan, yet, ?Let it live, and not be either ruined by its neighbours or lost among them.? And perhaps he refers to... read more

Matthew Henry

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 33:1

And this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. Namely, what is related in the following verses, this being the general title to the chapter: Moses is called "the man of God", being raised up of God, and eminently qualified by him with girls for the work he was called unto, and by whom he was inspired to say what is after expressed: it is a title given to prophets, 1 Samuel 9:6 ; and so Onkelos here paraphrases it,"Moses the prophet... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:2

And he said ,.... What follows, of which, in some things, he was an eye and ear witness, and in others was inspired by the Spirit of God, to deliver his mind and will concerning the future case and state of the several tribes, after he had observed the common benefit and blessing they all enjoyed, by having such a law given them in the manner it was: the Lord came from Sinai ; there he first appeared to Moses, and sent him to Egypt, and wrought miracles by him, and delivered his people... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:3

Yea, he loved the people ,.... The people of Israel, of which his giving the law to them in such a glorious manner was an instance, and was a distinguishing blessing which other nations were not favoured with, see Deuteronomy 4:6 ; how much more is the love of God shown to his spiritual Israel and special people, by giving them his Gospel, the precious truths, promises, and ordinances of it, and, above all, in giving them his Son to be the Redeemer and Saviour of them, as revealed therein!... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:4

Moses commanded us a law ,.... The law was of God, it came forth from his right hand, Deuteronomy 33:2 ; it is of his enacting, a declaration of his will, and has his authority stamped upon it, who is the lawgiver, and which lays under obligation to regard it; but it was delivered to Moses, and by him to the children of Israel, on whom he urged obedience to it; and so it is said to come by him, and sometimes is called the law of Moses, see John 1:17 , even the inheritance of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:5

And he was king in Jeshurun ,.... That is, in Israel, or over the people of Israel, of which name of theirs; see Gill on Deuteronomy 32:15 ; either God, as Jarchi; for the government of the Israelites was a theocracy, and their laws were immediately from God, and by him they were guided and directed in all things; wherefore, when they were so importunate for a change in their government, and to have a king over them, they are said to reject the Lord, that he should not reign over them, 1... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:6

Let Reuben live, and not die ,.... As a tribe, continue and not be extinct, though they should not excel, because of the sin of their progenitor; and it may have a special regard to the preservation of them, of their families on the other side Jordan, while they passed over it with their brethren into Canaan, and of them in that expedition to help the other tribes in the conquest of the country and the settlement of them in it; which Jacob by a spirit of prophecy foresaw, and in a prayer of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:7

And this is the blessing of Judah ,.... Which follows; the same supplement of the words is made in the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem; but Aben Ezra thinks it refers to what goes before, that this, the same thing prayed for or prophesied of Reuben, belongs also to Judah, that he should live and not die; it may be in the wars in which that tribe would be and was engaged: and he said, hear, Lord, the voice of Judah ; in prayer, as all the Targums paraphrase it, which was eminently... read more

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