46 MOSES' FINAL BLESSINGS

DEUTERONOMY 33

Moses gave Israel his song which had both affirming and negative sections, all of it truthful and helpful. In parts of that song he had thundered out the terrors of the Lord against Israel for their sin, like Ezekiel’s roll, full of lamentation, mourning and woe. But now to soften that, and that he might not seem to depart from them in anger, he next pronounces a blessing and leaves his peace. He wants good things for them and says so. In the same way, Jesus’ last work on earth was to bless His disciples as Luke 24:50 says, “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.” To assure them he parted as a friend, Moses blessed them (1) as a prophet; a man of God. It is a very desirable thing to be favored with the prayers of those that have regular communication with God. In this blessing Moses not only expresses his good wishes to this people, but by the spirit of prophecy foretells things to come. (2) As a parent to Israel. Moses followed Jacob’s example who on his death-bed blessed his sons as Genesis 49:1 and 2 say, “Then Jacob called for his sons and said: ‘Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come. Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.’” Surely part of his motivation was to show that though they had been very provoking yet the desired blessing would not be cut off. Also, doing this immediately before his death would be the more likely to leave a lasting impression on them, and would be an indication of the great good-will of Moses towards them, that he desired their happiness though he must die and not share in it. He gave them God’s law, which is called a fiery law, because it was given them out of the midst of the fire as Deuteronomy 4:33 says,“Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived?” And because it works like fire; if it be received, it is warming, melting, purifying, and burns up the dross of corruption. If it is rejected, it hardens, sears, torments, and destroys. Years later the Holy Spirit descended in cloven tongues as of fire. The gospel also is a fiery law. He disposed them to receive the law which he gave them. They sat down at God’s feet, as scholars at the feet of their master, symbolic of reverence, in attendance and humble submission to what is taught. So Israel sat at the foot of Mount Sinai, and promised to hear and do whatever God would say. They are taught to speak with great respect of the law, and to call it the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. They looked on it as peculiar to them, something that distinguished them from other nations. They are taught to speak with great respect of Moses and were the more obligated to keep up his name because he had not provided for it to be kept up in his own family. His posterity were never called the sons of Moses, as the priests were the sons of Aaron. 33:15 “This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. 2 He said: “The Lord came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes. 3 Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction, 4 the law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob. 5 He was king over Jeshurun  when the leaders of the people assembled, along with the tribes of Israel.” 


Though Reuben had lost the honor of his birthright, yet Moses begins with him; for we should not insult those that are disgraced, nor desire to perpetuate bad impressions about them even though their sin was real and justly identified at first. Moses desires and foretells the preserving of this tribe. Though a livestock-oriented tribe on the other side of Jordan, yet, “Let it live, and not be either ruined by its neighbors or lost among them.” Perhaps Moses refers to those chosen men of that tribe who, 1 having had their lot assigned them already, left their families in it, and were now ready to go over the Jordan armed along with their brothers. 6 “Let Reuben live and not die, nor his people be few.”


The blessing of Judah, which is put before Levi because our Lord sprang out of Judah, and because of the dignity of the kingdom above the priesthood. The blessing may refer to the whole tribe in general. Moses prays for, and prophesies, the great prosperity of that tribe. Or it may refer in particular to David, as a type of Christ, that God would hear his prayers. 7 “And this he said about Judah: ‘Hear, Lord, the cry of Judah; bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes!’” It surely is a great blessing to have the hope of answers to prayers. Moses hoped that Judah would receive answers.

In blessing the tribe of Levi, Moses expresses himself more fully, not so much because it was his own tribe as because it was God’s tribe. The blessing of Levi refers specifically to the high priest, here called God’s holy one, because his office was holy and to symbolize this, Holiness to the Lord was written on his forehead. Moses seems to acknowledge that God might justly have displaced Aaron and his descendants, for Aaron’s sin at Meribah, his anger at the people along with Moses when he dishonored God in the matter of obtaining water from the rock. God may have had this in mind as He confers the priesthood on him in spite of that former failure. And to the inferior priests and Levites in the tribe of Levi, Moses commends the zeal of this tribe for God when Levi impartially sided with Moses and God against the worshippers of the golden calf and were willing to cut off the ring-leaders in that wickedness even though the evil-doers were the best friends they had in the world. Though the evil-doers were as dear to them as their next relations, the Levites did not spare them if they were idolaters. Moses confirms the commission granted to this tribe to minister in holy things, which was the reward for their zeal and fidelity. Additional responsibility and opportunity are rewards for faithfulness in lesser tasks. Moses prays for them, that God would prosper them in their estates, and make what was allotted them for their maintenance a blessing to them. Bless, Lord, his substance. The provision easily made for them was very plentiful, and yet they could have no joy in it unless God blessed it to them; and, since God himself was their portion, a particular blessing might be expected to accompany this unique portion. From this Christian leaders may be reminded that the real treasure of the calling of God on their lives is that God is our special, unique and distinguished portion. He is our Reward. 8-11 “About Levi he said: ‘Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful servant. You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah. 9 He said of his father and mother, “I have no regard for them.’” He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant. 10 He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar. 11 Bless all his skills, Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Strike down those who rise against him, his foes till they rise no more.’” 

Benjamin is honored next after Levi. In the time of Rehoboam Benjamin stayed loyal to the house of David and the temple of the Lord, when the rest of the tribes with Jeroboam deserted them. Benjamin is here called the beloved of the Lord, and the father of this tribe was Jacob’s beloved son, the son of his right hand. Anyone is blessed indeed who is beloved of the Lord. Saul the first king and Paul the great apostle, were both of this tribe. 12 “About Benjamin he said: ‘Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.’” 2 The blessing of Joseph, includes Manasseh and Ephraim. In Jacob’s blessing, that of Joseph is the largest, and so it is here. His brothers separated him from themselves by making him a slave, but God distinguished him from them by making him a prince. The blessings Moses prayed for and prophesied for this tribe are great plenty and great power. In general: Blessed of the Lord be his land. Those were very fruitful areas that fell in the lot of Ephraim and Manasseh, yet Moses prays they might be watered with the blessing of God, which makes rich, and on which all fruitfulness depends. He enumerates many particulars which he prays may contribute to the wealth and abundance of those two tribes, looking up to the Creator for these benefits: For seasonable rains and dews, plentiful springs, the good influences of the heavenly bodies, that is the quickening heat of the sun, and the cooling moisture of the moon. For fruitfulness even of their hills and mountains and the productions of many good crops. He crowns all with the good-will, or favorable relationship with the God who “dwelled in the burning bush,” that is, of God, that God who appeared to Moses in the bush that burned and was not consumed. Moses blesses Joseph with great power with considerable specificity added: (1.) His authority among his brethren: “In majesty he is a like a firstborn bull,” or young bull, which is a stately creature, and therefore was formerly used as an emblem of royal majesty. Joshua, who was to succeed Moses, was of the tribe of Ephraim the son of Joseph, and his glory was surely illustrious; he was an honor to his tribe. In Ephraim was the royal city of the ten tribes afterwards. And of Manasseh were Gideon, Jephthah, and Jair, who were all ornaments and blessings to their country. Joseph’s offspring included many who were a blessing to all of Israel. 13-17 “About Joseph he said: ‘May the Lord bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; 14 with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield; 15 with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; 16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers. 17 In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.” 

The two tribes of Zebulun and Issachar, both sons of Leah, are now combined. Their allotments in Canaan were next to each other; they were neighbors. It is foretold, that they would both have a comfortable settlement and employment. Zebulun must rejoice, for he will have cause to rejoice. Moses prays that he may have success in his going out, either to war or to sea, In Judges 5:18 we see that Zebulun went out to fight. “The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields.” And also Zebulun was a haven of ships as Jacob had predicted in Genesis 49:13.“Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon.”  And now in Moses’ blessing recorded here in Deuteronomy Issachar must rejoice in his tents, that is, in his business at home, his farm work in which the men of that tribe generally were occupied. They saw that the land was good and pleasant while the sea was rough. 18 “About Zebulun he said: ‘Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents.’” They would both be useful in their places to the honor of God and the interests of worship of God in the nation They will call the people to the mountain, that is, to the temple, which Moses foresaw would be built on a mountain. They will not only invite others to the service of God, but they will abound in it themselves: There they will offer sacrifices of righteousness. They will not send others to the temple and stay at home themselves under pretense that they cannot leave their business. When they stir up others to go speedily to pray before the Lord, they will say, We will go also. The good we exhort others to do we should ourselves exemplify. 19 “They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand.” The blessing of the tribe of Gad comes next. This was one of the tribes that already possessed their allotted territory on that side Jordan where Moses was at the time. He foretells that this tribe would be, be enlarged, as at present it had a spacious allotment. Moses gives God the glory both of its present and of its future extent. 20 “About Gad he said: ‘Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head.’” Moses commends this tribe for what they had done and were now doing. The Gadites were the first and most active movers for an allotment on that side Jordan. They had done very wisely for themselves, when they chose their lot in a country already conquered and volunteered to help the remaining tribes obtain their inheritances. 21 “He chose the best land for himself; the leader’s portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord’s righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel.” 


Jacob in his blessing had compared Dan to a serpent for subtlety but Moses compares him to a lion for courage and resolution. What could stand before those that had the head of a serpent and the heart of a lion? He is compared to the lions that leaped from Bashan, a mountain noted for fierce lions that would come down to leap on their prey in the plains. This may refer to the particular victories obtained by Samson who was of this tribe over the Philistines. You may remember that the Spirit of the Lord began to move him in the camp of Dan when he was very young, as a young lion so that in his attacks on the Philistines he surprised them, and overpowered them by main strength. Or it could refer to a more general achievement of that tribe. 22 “About Dan he said: ‘Dan is a lion’s cub, springing out of Bashan.’” 


Moses looks on Naphtali with wonder, and applauds it: We can see three things in this verse that make up the happiness of this tribe. The lake to which this blessing refers would be the Sea of Galilee which was to the south of Naphtali’s allotment. 23 “About Naphtali he said: ‘Naphtali is (1) abounding with the favor of the Lord and is (2) full of his blessing; he (3) will inherit southward to the lake.’” 


When Asher was born Leah said “Happy am I.” The name itself means blessings or happiness. Among the blessing Moses wished for Asher is Moses’ desire for favor with his brothers. It is a desirable thing to have the love and good-will of those among whom we live. It is one thing we too should pray for. God has all hearts in His hand. and we should try to gain favor with others by meekness, humility, and a readiness, as we have ability and opportunity, to do good to all men. This was one of Asher’s blessings. 24-25 “About Asher he said: ‘Most blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil. 25 The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.’” 

After terrible threatenings of deserved wrath and vengeance in his song, Moses’ final words of blessing contain many surprising references to mercy and undeserved mercy by which it becomes obvious that God has no pleasure in the death of sinners. God would rather they should turn and live. In jealousy for His own honor, God will not make a full end of them. It cannot be denied but that they deserved to be utterly ruined, and that their memory would cease from among men, so that the name of an Israelite would never be known but in history; for they were a nation void of counsel. They were a most selfwilled and inconsiderate people that would not believe the glory of God, though they saw it, nor understand His loving kindness, though they tasted it and lived from its benefits. Of those who could cast off such a wonderful God, such a good law, such a faithful covenant, for vain, selfish and dunghill gods, it could truly be said, ‘there is no understanding in them.’  Yet see what Moses says in concluding his blessings to Israel in verses 26-29. 26 “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who 4 rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. 27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them! ’28 So Israel will live in safety; Jacob will dwell secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew. 29 Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.” 


Even though Moses knew Israel would rebel against God after he was dead, perhaps he also rightly knew that Israel would return. Surely the blessings recorded here would give hope to Israel in the long term. We should learn to bless our people. They may not desire it, (Israel didn’t) but we should wish it.