CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Deuteronomy 33
Chapter 33 of 34
Chapter Overview
What happens in Deuteronomy 33
In his final act as leader, Moses blesses each tribe of Israel individually, speaking prosperity, protection, and strength over them. The chapter ends with glorious praise for the God of Israel, whose everlasting arms support his people.
Scripture
Deuteronomy 33
The Lord's Glorious Appearing
Study note
Before his death, Moses pronounces blessings on the tribes of Israel. He begins by describing God's glorious appearance at Sinai, surrounded by holy ones, bringing his fiery law. God loves his people and became their king.
1 Here is the blessing that Moses, God's servant, spoke over the Israelites shortly before he died. And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
2 He said: 'The Lord arrived from Sinai. He rose like the dawn over them from Seir and blazed forth from Mount Paran. He came with ten thousand of his holy ones, and a blazing law streamed from his right hand. And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
3 Indeed, he adores his people. All his holy ones rest safely in his hand. They gather close at his feet, each one soaking in his words. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.
4 Moses handed down the law to us -- the prized treasure of the assembly of Jacob. Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.
5 The Lord became king over Jeshurun when the nation's leaders came together. The tribes of Israel stood united. And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.
Blessings on Reuben, Judah, and Levi
Study note
Moses blesses the tribes individually. He asks that Reuben survive, that Judah be helped in battle, and that Levi be blessed in their priestly duties of teaching God's law and offering sacrifices. Levi's devotion to God above even family is praised.
6 'May Reuben live and never disappear, even though his numbers may be small.' Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.
7 About Judah, Moses said: 'Lord, hear Judah's cry and unite him with his people. He fights his own battles with his own hands. Help him stand against his enemies.' And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.
8 About Levi, he said: 'Your Thummim and Urim belong to the faithful one you tested at Massah. You tested him at the waters of Meribah. And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;
9 He put loyalty to you above loyalty to his own parents. He set aside his brothers and did not play favorites with his own children. The Levites guarded your word and protected your covenant. Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.
10 They teach your laws to Jacob and your instructions to Israel. They burn incense before you and place whole burnt offerings on your altar. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.
11 Lord, bless everything Levi does and be pleased with his work. Shatter the strength of anyone who attacks him, so his enemies can never get back up.' Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.
Blessings on Benjamin and Joseph
Study note
Benjamin is called the beloved of the Lord who rests safely in God's protection. Joseph receives the longest blessing, with abundant gifts from heaven and earth, and military strength. The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh will be powerful.
12 About Benjamin, he said: 'The one the Lord loves lives in safety right beside him. God wraps his arms around him all day long, and he rests securely between God's shoulders.' And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
13 About Joseph, he said: 'May the Lord fill his land with heaven's finest gifts -- the dew and the deep underground springs, And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,
14 the choicest fruit ripened by the sun and the premium crops that grow month by month, And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,
15 the best treasures from the ancient mountain peaks and the riches of the timeless hills, And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,
16 the finest gifts the earth can produce and everything it holds, along with the blessing of the one who appeared in the burning bush. May all these blessings rest on Joseph's head, crowning the prince among his brothers. And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.
17 He has the majesty of a firstborn bull, and his horns are like a wild ox's horns. With them he will gore nations and push them to the far corners of the earth. These are the vast armies of Ephraim and the mighty troops of Manasseh.' His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
Blessings on the Remaining Tribes
Study note
Zebulun and Issachar will prosper in trade and worship. Gad is strong like a lion. Dan leaps like a lion's cub. Naphtali overflows with favor. Asher is blessed with abundance and strength.
18 About Zebulun, he said: 'Be happy on your journeys, Zebulun! And you too, Issachar, be happy in your homes. And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.
19 They will invite peoples to the mountain, where they will offer proper sacrifices. They will draw riches from the sea and hidden treasures buried in the sand.' They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.
20 About Gad, he said: 'Blessed is the one who gives Gad plenty of room! Gad crouches like a lion, tearing off arms and heads. And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.
21 He picked the best piece of land for himself -- the portion set aside for a commander. When the people's leaders gathered, he carried out the Lord's righteous plans and his decisions for Israel.' And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel.
22 About Dan, he said: 'Dan is a young lion leaping out from Bashan.' And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.
23 About Naphtali, he said: 'Naphtali is drenched in blessings and overflowing with the Lord's goodness. Go claim the west and the south as your own.' And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.
24 About Asher, he said: 'Asher is the most blessed of all the sons. May his brothers treat him with special favor. May he wade through olive oil up to his ankles. And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
25 Your city gates will be reinforced with iron and bronze bars, and your strength will last every day of your life.' Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
The Incomparable God of Israel
Study note
Moses closes with praise for God, who is unlike any other. He rides the heavens to help his people, and his everlasting arms support them from beneath. Israel is uniquely blessed as a people saved by the Lord, protected by his shield and glorious sword.
26 'Nobody compares to the God of Jeshurun. He rides across the sky to come help you, soaring on the clouds in all his splendor. There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
27 The God who has always existed is your safe place, and his arms that never tire are holding you up from underneath. He chases your enemies away, commanding, "Wipe them out!" The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
28 So Israel dwells in safety. Jacob's spring flows freely in a land of grain and new wine, under skies that drip with dew. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
29 How fortunate you are, Israel! Who else is like you -- a nation rescued by the Lord? He is your shield of protection, your glorious sword of victory. Your enemies will grovel before you, and you will march over their highest places.' Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Key Themes
Themes in Deuteronomy 33
A father's final blessing on his childrenGod's unique provision for each tribeThe eternal God as refugeBlessing that prepares for the future
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Deuteronomy 33:27 Jude 1:24
The image of God's everlasting arms supporting his people anticipates the New Testament assurance that God is able to keep believers from stumbling and present them blameless before his glory.
Apply This Today
Living Deuteronomy 33
Moses' final blessing over the tribes is a love letter from a father figure to his spiritual children. Each tribe receives a specific, tailored blessing. The closing declaration, 'The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms,' is one of Scripture's most comforting promises. No matter what Israel would face, God himself would be beneath them, holding them up.
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Study Deuteronomy in Covenant Path
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