_AND THIS IS THE BLESSING, WHEREWITH MOSES THE MAN OF GOD BLESSED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BEFORE HIS DEATH._ This is the blessing, wherewith Moses ... blessed the children of Israel. Conformably to what was alluded to formerly (see the note at Deuteronomy 31:24), some writers maintain that this chap... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND HE SAID, THE LORD CAME FROM SINAI, AND ROSE UP FROM SEIR UNTO THEM; HE SHINED FORTH FROM MOUNT_ _ 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._... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND HE WAS KING IN JESHURUN, WHEN THE HEADS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL WERE GATHERED TOGETHER._ And he was king in Jeshurun. On "Jeshurun" as a designation of Israel, see Deuteronomy 32:15. By the grammatical connection of this verse with the preceding, "he" must refer to Moses, who mi... [ Continue Reading ]
_LET REUBEN LIVE, AND NOT DIE; AND LET NOT HIS MEN BE FEW._ Let Reuben live, and not die. Although deprived of the honour and privileges of primogeniture, he was still to hold rank as one of the tribes of Israel. He was more numerous than several other tribes (Numbers 1:21; Numbers 2:11), yet gradu... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ This is the blessing of Judah. Its general purport points to the great power and independence of Judah,... [ Continue Reading ]
_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;_ Of Levi he said. The burden of this blessing is the appointment of the Levites to the dignified and sacred office of the priesthood (L... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Bless, Lord, his substance, and accept the work of his hands. The prayer is continued that a special blessing may attend them i... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord - so called from his being the fond object of Jacob's affection, and from his tribe... [ Continue Reading ]
_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,_ Of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land. The territory of this tribe, which was situated in central Palestine, was fertile and picturesque, ri... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND FOR THE PRECIOUS FRUITS BROUGHT FORTH BY THE SUN, AND FOR THE PRECIOUS THINGS PUT FORTH BY THE MOON,_ And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, х_ YªRAACHIYM_ (H3391), moons; Septuagint, kai kath' hooran genneematoon heeliou tropoo... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND FOR THE CHIEF THINGS OF THE ANCIENT MOUNTAINS, AND FOR THE PRECIOUS THINGS OF THE LASTING HILLS,_ And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills - "chief things" х_ MEERO'SH_ (H7218)], the best gifts; orchards of olives, vines, figs, and gra... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ For the good will of him that dwelt in the bush - i:e., every... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ His glory is like the firstling of his bullock. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND OF ZEBULUN HE SAID, REJOICE, ZEBULUN, IN THY GOING OUT; AND, ISSACHAR, IN THY TENTS._ Rejoice, Zebulun, In thy going out - namely, on commercial enterprises and voyages by sea. For 'the tribe of Zebulun's lot included the land which lay as far as the lake of Gennesareth, and that which belonge... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ They shall call the people unto the mountain, х_ `AMIYM_ (H5971)] - the tribes of Israel. "The mountain" was probal... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad - either extends the borders of his territories, of which there was no need, as they were already ample enough; or rathe... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND OF DAN HE SAID, DAN IS A LION'S WHELP: HE SHALL LEAP FROM BASHAN._ Dan is a lion's whelp, х_ QUWR_ (H6979) _ 'ARYEEH_ (H738)] - a cub; differing from х_ KªPIYR_ (H3715)] a young lion weaned, mud beginning to catch prey for itself. Dan is here called "a lion's whelp," in the knowledge or prophe... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Of Naphtali he said. The pleasant and fertile territory of this tribe lay to "the west," on the borders of lakes Merom and Chinnereth, and to "the south" of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed. The same play upon the name, which means happy, was made at the birth of Asher. The condition of this tribe is described as com... [ Continue Reading ]
_THY SHOES SHALL BE IRON AND BRASS; AND AS THY DAYS, SO SHALL THY STRENGTH BE._ Shoes shall be iron and brass. These shoes suited his rocky coast from Carmel to Sidon. Country people, as well as ancient warriors, had their lower extremities protected by metallic greaves (1 Samuel 17:6; Ephesians 6:... [ Continue Reading ]
_THERE IS NONE LIKE UNTO THE GOD OF JESHURUN, WHO RIDETH UPON THE HEAVEN IN THY HELP, AND IN HIS EXCELLENCY ON THE SKY._ There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun. The chapter concludes with a congratulatory address to Israel on their special happiness and privilege in having Yahweh for their God... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ The fountain of Jacob - the posterity of Israel shall dwell in a blessed and favoured land.... [ Continue Reading ]