1 And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
2 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 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 commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.
5 And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.
6 Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.
7 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 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 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 shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.
11 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.
12 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 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 And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,
15 And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,
16 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 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.
18 And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.
19 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 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 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 And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.
23 And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.
24 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 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
26 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 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 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 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.
The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament and the final book of the Pentateuch. It is considered to be the last speech of Moses to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. In this book, Moses reminds the Israelites of their covenant with God and gives them instructions on how to live according to His laws. Chapter 33 of the book of Deuteronomy is the final chapter of Moses' speech and is often referred to as the "Song of Moses" or the "Blessing of Moses". This chapter is a poetic blessing given by Moses to the twelve tribes of Israel before his death. It serves as a conclusion to the book of Deuteronomy and highlights the importance of God's covenant with His people.
1. God's Faithfulness and Protection
The main theme of chapter 33 is the faithfulness and protection of God towards His people. Throughout the chapter, Moses praises God for His steadfast love and faithfulness towards the Israelites. He reminds the Israelites of how God delivered them from Egypt and led them through the wilderness, providing for their every need. Moses also acknowledges God as the source of their strength and protection, stating, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27). This theme of God's faithfulness and protection is a recurring theme throughout the book of Deuteronomy and is a reminder to the Israelites that they can trust in God to guide and protect them as they enter the Promised Land.
2. The Blessing of God's Presence
In chapter 33, Moses blesses each of the twelve tribes of Israel, highlighting the unique blessings that God has bestowed upon them. He acknowledges God's presence with each tribe and blesses them with strength, security, and prosperity. This theme of God's presence and blessings is a reminder to the Israelites that their success and prosperity in the Promised Land will come from their obedience to God's laws and His presence among them.
3. The Role of the Levites
Moses also specifically blesses the tribe of Levi in chapter 33. The Levites were the priestly tribe of Israel, responsible for carrying out the religious duties and sacrifices. In his blessing, Moses acknowledges their role as the spiritual leaders of the Israelites and their dedication to serving God. This theme highlights the importance of the Levites in maintaining the covenant between God and His people and their role in preserving the spiritual integrity of the nation.
4. The Inheritance of the Promised Land
Another prominent theme in chapter 33 is the inheritance of the Promised Land. Moses reminds the Israelites that the land they are about to enter is a gift from God and that they must remain faithful to Him in order to possess it. He also prophesies about the future prosperity of the Israelites in the land, stating, "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" (Deuteronomy 33:13). This theme serves as a reminder to the Israelites that the Promised Land is a blessing from God and that they must remain faithful to Him in order to receive it.
Chapter 33 of the book of Deuteronomy holds great significance in the overall message of the book. It serves as a final reminder to the Israelites of their covenant with God and the importance of remaining faithful to Him. The blessings given by Moses in this chapter are a reminder of God's faithfulness, protection, and provision for His people. They also serve as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's laws in order to receive His blessings.
The chapter also serves as a final farewell from Moses to the Israelites. He blesses each tribe and prophesies about their future in the Promised Land, but he also acknowledges that he will not be joining them. This highlights the theme of succession and the passing of leadership from Moses to Joshua. It also serves as a reminder to the Israelites that God will continue to be with them even after Moses' death.
The blessings given by Moses in this chapter also have a deeper spiritual meaning. Each tribe represents a different aspect of the spiritual life, and the blessings can be seen as a reminder of the spiritual blessings that God bestows upon His people. For example, the tribe of Judah, which is blessed with strength and victory, represents the spiritual strength and victory that comes from following God's laws. The tribe of Benjamin, which is blessed with the protection of God, represents the spiritual protection that God provides for His people.
Overall, chapter 33 of the book of Deuteronomy serves as a conclusion to Moses' speech and a reminder of the covenant between God and His people. It highlights the importance of remaining faithful to God and serves as a reminder of His faithfulness, protection, and blessings. It also serves as a reminder of the role of the Levites in preserving the spiritual integrity of the nation and the importance of the inheritance of the Promised Land. Through this chapter, we are reminded of the unchanging love and faithfulness of God towards His people and the importance of remaining obedient to His laws.
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