Deuteronomy 33
Introduction to the Blessing of Moses
33:1 This is the blessing Moses the man of God pronounced upon the Israelites before his death.
Before a father of a family dies, he would impart blessings upon his children. Moses was the Father of Israel. Therefore, he imparted blessings upon the nation of Israel.
33:2 He said: "The Lord came from Sinai and revealed himself to Israel from Seir. He appeared in splendor from Mount Paran, and came forth with ten thousand holy ones. With his right hand he gave a fiery law to them."
The Hebrew word for "Lord" is יְהוָ֞ה (Jehovah), meaning the covenant-keeping promise-keeping God. Jehovah came from the direction of Sinai, the mountain in the desert where the Law was given to Moses. God revealed himself at Mount Seir, the location of the Edomites, who were the descendants of Jacob's twin brother Esau. Esau exchanged his birthright for a bowl of soup, so his descendants were not interested in spiritual matters, such as the coming Messianic King to redeem men of their sins and establish an eternal kingdom of righteousness. Esau was more interested in the here and now of his earthly existence.
The Hebrew word for "splendor" is יָפַע (yapa), meaning to shine forth or to send out light beams. It is a Hiphil web, meaning that it is causative. God is causing the beams to shine forth. God appeared at Mount Sinai as the Shekinah Glory. He appeared with ten thousand angels.
With His right finger, God wrote the Law to Moses on two literal stone tablets. It was a fiery law, written by the hot hand of God Himself. It is interesting to note that fans will pay thousands of dollars for the autograph of a famous actor or sports figure who was made famous from the satanic world system, but these same people will not study God's book or support a strong Bible doctrine church.
33:3 "Surely he loves the people; all your holy ones are in your power. And they sit at your feet, each receiving your words."
God loved the people. All the holy angels serve God. These holy angels sit at the feet of God and receive His instructions.
33:4 "Moses delivered to us a law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob."
Moses was the mediator of the Law. The inheritance of Jacob was the prophecies which Jacob made on his death bed to his twelve sons in Genesis 49-50.
33:5 "The Lord was king over Jeshurun, when the leaders of the people assembled, the tribes of Israel together."
Jeshurun was the pet name of Israel, meaning righteous ones. Jehovah’s goal was to make all the nations righteous by the example of Israel.
Blessing on Reuben
33:6 "May Reuben live and not die, and may his people multiply."
Moses was the Father of Israel. He began to bless his children, who were the twelve tribes of Israel. Reuben had a defect in his character which would cause much of their population to be reduced. Moses prayed that the population of Reuben would multiply.
Blessing on Judah
33:7 And this is the blessing to Judah. He said, "Listen, O Lord, to Judah’s voice, and bring him to his people. May his power be great, and may you help him against his foes."
Moses prayed for Judah to become the leading tribe of Israel. Judah would produce King David, the king "after God's own heart." Despite King David's sins during his earthly life, all would be forgiven. King David will co-reign with Christ over Israel during the Millennial Kingdom.
King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband (Uriah) to cover his crime. David was proud to be king of the most powerful nation on earth, so he proudly ordered a census to count the population of his great kingdom. If God can forgive David's sins of adultery, murder, and pride, then He can forgive our sins as well. There is no sin too big for God to forgive. There is not one sin that is too big to keep God from using us in His divine and sovereign plan.
Blessing on Levi
33:8 Of Levi he said: "Your Thummim and Urim belong to your godly one, whose authority you challenged at Massah, and with whom you argued at the waters of Meribah. 33:9 He said to his father and mother, “I have not seen him,” and he did not acknowledge his own brothers or know his own children, for they kept your word, and guarded your covenant. 33:10 They will teach Jacob your ordinances and Israel your law; they will offer incense as a pleasant odor, and a whole offering on your altar. 33:11 Bless, O Lord, his goods, and be pleased with his efforts; undercut the legs of any who attack him, and of those who hate him, so that they cannot stand."
The Thummim and Urim were used by the Levites to receive direct divine revelation from God. The Levites were praised for standing up to the challenges against the authority of Moses. Moses asked God to bless the Levites supernaturally in their teaching of the Law and performing of the rituals for Israel. All the bloody sacrificial rituals of the Levites pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ who would become "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world".
Blessing on Benjamin
33:12 Of Benjamin he said: "The beloved of the Lord will live safely by him; he protects him all the time, and the Lord places him on his chest."
Moses knew prophetically of the exact location of the future Jewish Temple. At the time of this prayer, the future City of Jerusalem was inhabited by the Jebusites. The Jebusites were Canaanites who would later be exterminated. This Jebusite city was located in the Benjamite area. Moses prayed that Jehovah would dwell at this future temple in Jerusalem.
Blessing on Joseph
33:13 Of Joseph he said: "May the Lord bless his land with the harvest produced by the sky, by the dew, and by the depths crouching beneath; 33:14 with the harvest produced by the daylight and by the moonlight; 33:15 with the best of the ancient mountains and the harvest produced by the age-old hills; 33:16 with the harvest of the earth and its fullness and the pleasure of him who resided in the burning bush. May blessing rest on Joseph’s head, and on the top of the head of the one set apart from his brothers. 33:17 May the firstborn of his bull bring him honor, and may his horns be those of a wild ox; with them may he gore all peoples, all the far reaches of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh."
Moses prayed for material prosperity and military strength for Joseph. Joseph was divided into two tribes. Manasseh was the oldest, but Ephraim received the blessing of the double portion. This was why Ephraim was listed first. Also, Ephraim was to possess tens of thousands of soldiers while Manasseh would only produce thousands of soldiers. Ephraim was the largest tribe of Israel. Ephraim and Manasseh possessed the best land in Israel.
Blessing on Zebulun and Issachar
33:18 Of Zebulun he said: "Rejoice, Zebulun, when you go outside, and Issachar, when you are in your tents. 33:19 They will summon peoples to the mountain, there they will sacrifice proper sacrifices; for they will enjoy the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the shores."
Zebulun and Issachar were mentioned together in Jacob’s blessing. Zebulun and Issachar were never seaport cities, but they will be in the Millennial Kingdom.
Blessing on Gad
33:20 Of Gad he said: "Blessed be the one who enlarges Gad. Like a lioness he will dwell; he will tear at an arm – indeed, a scalp. 33:21 He has selected the best part for himself, for the portion of the ruler is set aside there; he came with the leaders of the people, he obeyed the righteous laws of the Lord and his ordinances with Israel."
Gad followed God’s will by becoming a lioness who enlarged other’s territory through conquest over the Canaanites.
Blessing on Dan
33:22 Of Dan he said: "Dan is a lion’s cub; he will leap forth from Bashan."
Dan was to be an aggressive lion’s cub who would take the land in Bashan.
Blessing on Naphtali
33:23 Of Naphtali he said: "O Naphtali, overflowing with favor, and full of the Lord’s blessing, possess the west and south."
Naphtali inhabited the fertile land around Galilee. Jesus would later establish His headquarters in Capernaum.
Blessing on Asher
33:24 Of Asher he said: "Asher is blessed with children, may he be favored by his brothers and may he dip his foot in olive oil. 33:25 The bars of your gates will be made of iron and bronze, and may you have lifelong strength."
Asher was famous for her olive oil. Asher would be the strength of Israel’s northern border.
General Praise and Blessing
33:26 There is no one like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the sky to help you, on the clouds in majesty.
Jeshurun was a pet name for Israel, meaning righteous one. God rides through the sky in majesty, so He can help Israel out at any time.
33:27 The everlasting God is a refuge, and underneath you are His eternal arms; He has driven out enemies before you, and has said, “Destroy!”
The arms of God protect Israel from her enemies. Israel will become the eternal arm, or the strength of God during the Millennial Kingdom.
33:28 Israel lives in safety, the fountain of Jacob is quite secure, in a land of grain and new wine; indeed, its heavens rain down dew.
Because God protects Israel, she will live in safety. God will prosper Israel with grain and wine. The heavens will give Israel plenty of rain.
33:29 You have joy, Israel! Who is like you? You are a people delivered by the Lord, your protective shield and your exalted sword. May your enemies cringe before you; may you trample on their backs.
God gives joy to Israel. There is no other nation like Israel. Israel was the only nation in the world who was delivered by supernatural miracles. God protects Israel with His shield and sword. The enemies of Jehovah will be scared to death of Israel. As the nations run away from Israel, Israel will chase after them and trample over their backs.