Deuteronomy 33:20 NIV

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:20

Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad - As deliverance out of distress is termed enlarging, (see Psalm 4:1 ;), this may refer to God's deliverance of the tribe of Gad out of that distress mentioned Genesis 49:19 , and to the enlargement obtained through means of Jephthah, Judges 11:33 , and probably also to the victories obtained by Gad and Reuben over the Hagarites, 1 Chronicles 5:18-20 . He dwelleth as a lion - Probably the epithet of lion or lion-like was applied to this tribe from... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:20

Verse 20 20.And of Gad he said. In the blessing of the tribe of Gad, mention is only made of the hereditary portion, which it had obtained without casting of lots. He therefore celebrates the blessing of God, because He had accorded to the Gadites an ample dwelling-place; for the word “enlargeth” refers to the extent of their possession. But inasmuch as in that extremity of the land beyond Jordan, they were on a hostile border, he declares that they would be warlike, and hence compares them 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

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 33:20-21

As in the blessing of Shem by Noah, God is praised for Shem's prosperity ( Genesis 9:26 ), so here God is praised for the enlargement of the warlike tribe of Gad (cf. Genesis 49:19 ). He dwelleth as a lion ; rather, as a lioness . Though the noun לָבִיא has a masc. termination, usage shows that it was the female and not the male that was thereby designated (see e . g . Genesis 49:9 ; Numbers 24:9 , where it can hardly, be a mere synonym; and Job 4:11 ; Job 38:1-41 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:20-21

Gad; or, a place in the Church and the world for lionlike strength. "The territory of Gad lay in the east of the Jordan … it included several cities remarkable in the history of the patriarchs and of the judges, as Mahanaim, Ramoth, Mizpeh, Succoth, and Peniel; but it was pre-eminently remarkable because it contained the grave of the great general and lawgiver, Moses—a fact which so decidedly invested the province with a character of holiness that, though situated on the east of the river,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:20-21

Gad's valor and chivalry commended. Gad had been prematurely hasty in seeking an allotment in Canaan. When the heads of this tribe perceived how suitable were the hills of Gilead for pasturing their extensive flocks, they clamored at once for this possession, ere yet an inch of land had been gained on the west of Jordan. Moses yielded to their request, on condition only that they should go over Jordan armed with their brethren, and should fight in the front of battle. This they nobly did,... read more

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 33:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:1-29

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:6-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:6-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:20-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:20-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:20-21

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