_This is the blessing wherewith Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death._ THE BLESSING OF THE TRIBES The many successive “blessings” of Israel were a necessary consequence of his Divine election. In that seed all families of the earth were to be blessed. Therefore it... [ Continue Reading ]
_From His right hand went a fiery law for them._ Yea, He loved the people. THE LAW OF ANTAGONISM At first sight the text might seem to involve a contradiction, but closer consideration will show that it expresses a great truth, namely, that the severity of human life is an expression of the Divin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let Reuben live, and not die._ REUBEN The name of Reuben stands first in the blessing of Moses, but this recognition of his natural place among the tribes is almost sadder in its suggestiveness than would have been the putting of his name farther down. When the substance of a high and ancient dign... [ Continue Reading ]
_And thus is the blessing of Judah._ JUDAH The name “Judah” was given to Jacob’s fourth son in memory of his mother’s grateful utterance of praise to God when this child was vouchsafed to her. It is the Hebrew word meaning “praised,” and had reference originally to Jehovah, upon whom Leah in her jo... [ Continue Reading ]
_And of Levi he said._ LEVI Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah, and his name commemorated the desire and hope of his mother, that her husband’s heart would be “closely joined” to her now that she had borne him three sons (Genesis 29:34). The Hebrew word from which “Levi” is derived means “to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him._ THE SAFETY OF THE LORD’S BELOVED I. He was the special object of the Divine affection. God especially loves His spiritual children with a love of-- 1. Approbation. 2. Manifestation. 3. Distinction. II. He was to dwell... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land._ JOSEPH The character of Joseph is not often correctly apprehended, although it comes out very distinctly in the picture which Scripture has given us of the boy, the youth, and the man. Its most conspicuous quality was firm resolution and indomit... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out._ THE BLESSING OF ZEBULUN AND ISSACHAR CONSIDERED I. The different circumstances and occupations in which men are placed. It is owing to God’s directing the inclinations of men that some are fond of the country and some of the town; that some love the noise and b... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall call the people unto the mountain, there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness._ THE SEAMAN’S RETURN I. Their privilege. To “suck the abundance of the sea” is a metonymical expression, signifying as much as to be enriched with the wares and merchandise imported by sea to them. T... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed be He that enlargeth Gad._ GAD We are able to form a more than usually distinct idea of the personal character which pertained to Gad, and which he transmitted to his descendants. Scripture hints and Jewish traditions bear one another out in suggesting that this man was wild and turbulent... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dan is a lion’s whelp._ DAN; OR ACTIVITY IN CONFLICT 1. The section in Moses’ blessing devoted to Dan offers three significant points of contrast with all the other sections of the poem. (1) It is the shortest of all. This sudden economy of his utterances is all the more noticeable because of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_And of Naphtali he said._ NAPHTALI It may seem to anyone who looks upon a map of Canaan as divided amongst the tribes, that this definition of locality is far enough from corresponding with the facts. Simeon’s lot would better answer to the description here, for he did occupy the southwest corner... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let Asher be blessed._ ASHER “Asher” signifies “happiness,” or “prosperity,” and was given by Leah to the son of her handmaid Zilpah, in token of the joy which this new gift of God had brought to her wounded heart (Genesis 30:13). In this blessing of Moses there is manifestly a play upon the name... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy shoes shall be iron and brass._ SHOES OF IRON, AND STRENGTH SUFFICIENT: A NEW YEAR’S PROMISE I. Thy shoes shall be iron and brass. The passage has several translations, which may serve as divisions in opening up the meaning. The Lord’s promises are true in every sense they will fairly bear. A... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun._ THE GOD OF JESHURUN Are we to understand this passage as revoking all the threatened judgments previously denounced against Israel? No. But Moses saw, amidst all the rebellion with which Israel as a nation was to be chargeable, and amidst all the reve... [ Continue Reading ]
_The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms._ MAN’S REFUGE AND SUPPORT I. Man needs a refuge and a support. “We make mistakes, and men misunderstand and misinterpret them, and a word or a look fans the flame and makes a foe, and our heart craves for someone to fly to who... [ Continue Reading ]
_Happy art thou, O Israel._ THE PEERLESS NATION The word “Israel” never grows old. It is a name that, though it figures on the page of history as a name of long, long ago, still lives, and lives to represent a living people at this day. When Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he said (Danie... [ Continue Reading ]