And this [is] the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. Ver. 1. _Before his death._] The words of dying men are living oracles, they should therefore be pious and ponderous.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _Went a fiery law for them._] This fire wherein the law was given, and shall be required, is s... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 3. _Yea, he loved the people._] With a general love, with a common philanthropy. But the love of God in Christ is that we must all labour after; such a love as dot... [ Continue Reading ]
Moses commanded us a law, [even] the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. Ver. 4. _Moses commanded us a law._] These are the words of those saints above mentioned, expressing their good affection to the law and to Moses, by whose mediation they received it. _ Even the inheritance._] For perpe... [ Continue Reading ]
And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people [and] the tribes of Israel were gathered together. Ver. 5. _And he was king in Jeshurun._] A heroic king, reigning by virtue and justice only, not by force and violence: one that said not, εξεστι, but καηνκει; This I can do, but this is fit... [ Continue Reading ]
Let Reuben live, and not die; and let [not] his men be few. Ver. 6. _Let Reuben live, and not die._] Let him have a nail and a name in God's house, notwithstanding the heinousness of his sin, and the severity of Jacob's sentence. Gen 49:4 _See Trapp on "_ Gen 49:4 _"_... [ 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. Ver. 7. _And this is the blessing._] Simeon is not mentioned, but implied in Judah's blessing, in the... [ 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; Ver. 8. _Let thy Thummin and thy Urim._] Sincerity of life and soundness of doctrine. _See Trapp on "_ Exo 28:30 _"_ There is grea... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 9. _Who said unto his father._] In that heroical fact, Exodus 32:26 _; _ Exo 32:29 in that terrible crisi... [ Continue Reading ]
They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar. Ver. 10. _They shall teach Jacob._] Apt and able to teach must all ministers be, as Paul. Act 20:18-35 _Praedicationis officium suscipit, quisquis ad sacerdotium... [ 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._ Ver. 11 And of them that hate him.] Ministers shall be sure of many enemies: they hate him that reproveth in the gate. _Veritas... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 33:12 [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. Ver. 12. _The beloved of the Lord._] The Lord's _corculum, deliciae,_ darling; as their father Benjamin was o... [ 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, Ver. 13. _And of Joseph._] _See Trapp on "_ Gen 49:2 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And for the precious fruits [brought forth] by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, Ver. 14. _And for the precious fruits._] So St James calleth them, "The precious fruits of the earth." Jam 5:7 Diogenes justly taxed the folly of his countrymen, _Quod res pretiosas minimo eme... [ Continue Reading ]
And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, Ver. 15. _And for the chief things._] Metals and minerals usually dug out of mountains, which are here called ancient and lasting, because they have been from the beginning, and were not first cast... [ 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. Ver. 16. _And for the good will of him, &c._] _See Trapp... [ 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. Ver. 17. _His horns are like the horns of un... [ Continue Reading ]
_And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents._ Ver. 18. _In thy going out._] To trade and traffic by sea. Gen 49:13 _Peterent coelum navibus Belgoe, si navibus peti posset,_ saith one. The lowcountry men are said to grow rich by war; it is sure they do by... [ 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. Ver. 19. _They shall call the people to the mount,_] _i.e., _ To God's house, situate on mount Zion. Though they... [ 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. Ver. 20. _He dwelleth as a lion._] That should make his party good with the enemy, upon whom he bordereth, and by whom he is often invaded. See Gen 49:19 Judges 11:5; Judge... [ 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. Ver. 21. _In a portion of the lawgiver._] That portion that Moses the lawgiver as... [ Continue Reading ]
And of Dan he said, Dan [is] a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan. Ver. 22. _He shall leap from Bashan,_] _i.e., _ He shall suddenly set upon his enemies; as Ahithophel counselled Absalom, 2Sa 17:1-2 and this is called "good counsel"; 2Sa 17:14 and as Caesar served Pompey, “ _… Caesar in omni... [ 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._ Ver. 23. _Satisfied with favour, and full, &c._] Fulness of blessing is then only a mercy, when the soul of a man is satisfied with favour: when from a full tab... [ 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. Ver. 24. _Let Asher be blessed with children._] Let his wife be as the vine, and his children as olive plants, two of the best fruits; Psa 128:3 the one for cheering... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy shoes [shall be] iron and brass; and as thy days, [so shall] thy strength [be]. Ver. 25. _Thy shoes._] Thou shalt have store of mines. _ And as thy days shall thy strength be,_] _i.e., _ Thou shalt _as Eliphaz speaketh, _ Job 5:26 come in a lusty old age to the grave. This the Greeks call ευγη... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 33:26 [There is] none like unto the God of Jeshurun, [who] rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. Ver. 26. _Who rideth upon the heaven._] Having the celestial creatures for his cavalry, and the terrestrial for his infantry; how then can his want help?... [ 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]. Ver. 27. _The eternal God._] Heb., The God of antiquity, that "Ancient of days," that "Rock of ages," "who is before all things, and by whom... [ 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. Ver. 28. _Israel then shall dwell, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ Num 23:9 _"_ The fountain of Jacob.] Or as some read it, The eye of Jacob. The same word signifies... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 29. _Happy art thou, O Israel._] Or, Oh the happines... [ Continue Reading ]