Moses blessed Israel — He is said to bless them, by praying to God with faith for his blessing upon them; and by foretelling the blessings which God would confer upon them. And Moses calls himself here the man of God, that is, the servant or prophet of God, to acquaint them that the following prophe... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord came — Namely, to the Israelites, manifested himself graciously and gloriously among them. From Sinai — Beginning at Sinai, where the first appearance of God was, and so going on with them to Seir and Paran. And rose up — He appeared or shewed himself, as the sun doth when it riseth. From S... [ Continue Reading ]
The people — The tribes of Israel. The sense is, this law, though delivered with fire and smoke and thunder, which might seem to portend nothing but hatred and terror, yet in truth was given to Israel, in great love, as being the great mean of their temporal and eternal salvation. Yea, he, embraced... [ Continue Reading ]
Moses — He speaks this of himself in the third person, which is very usual in the Hebrew language. The law is called their inheritance, because the obligation of it was hereditary, passing from parents to their children, and because this was the best part of their inheritance, the greatest of all th... [ Continue Reading ]
He was king in Jeshurun — Moses was their king not in title, but in reality, being under God, their supreme governor, and law giver. Gathered together — When the princes and people met together for the management of public affairs, Moses was owned by them as their king and lawgiver.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let Reuben live — Though Reuben deserve to be cut off or greatly diminished and obscured, according to Jacob's prediction, Genesis 49:4, yet God will spare them and give them a name and portion among the tribes of Israel, and bless them with increase of their numbers. All the ancient paraphrasts ref... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear, Lord — God will hear his prayer for the accomplishment of those great things promised to that tribe, Genesis 49:8. This implies the delays and difficulties Judah would meet with, that would drive him to his prayers, which would be with success. Unto his people — When he shall go forth to battl... [ Continue Reading ]
Let thy Urim — The Thummim and the Urim, which are thine, O Lord by special institution and consecration, (by which he understands the ephod in which they were put, and the high priesthood, to which they were appropriated, and withal the gifts and graces signified by the Urim and Thummim, and necess... [ Continue Reading ]
I have not seen him — That is, I have no respect unto them. The sense is, who followed God and his command fully, and executed the judgment enjoined by God without any respect of persons, Exodus 32:26. They kept thy covenant — When the rest broke their covenant with God by that foul sin of idolatry... [ Continue Reading ]
His substance — Because he hath no inheritance of his own and therefore wholly depends upon thy blessing. The work of his hands — All his holy administrations, which he fitly calls the work of his hands, because a great part of the service of the Levites and priests was done by the labour of their h... [ Continue Reading ]
Of Benjamin — Benjamin is put next to Levi, because the temple, where the work of the Levites lay, was upon the edge of the lot of this tribe. And 'tis put before Joseph, because of the dignity of Jerusalem, (part of which was in this lot) above Samaria, which was in the tribe of Ephraim: likewise b... [ Continue Reading ]
And of Joseph — Including both Ephraim and Manasseh. In Jacob's blessing that of Joseph's is the largest. And so it is here. His land — His portion shall be endowed with choice blessings from God. Of heaven — That is, the precious fruits of the earth brought forth by the influences of heaven, the wa... [ Continue Reading ]
By the sun — Which opens and warms the earth, cherishes and improves and in due time ripens the seeds and fruits of it. The moon — Which by its moisture refreshes and promotes them. Heb. Of the moons, or months, that is, which it bringeth forth in the several months or seasons of the year.... [ Continue Reading ]
The chief things — That is, the excellent fruits, as grapes, olives, figs, &c. which delight in mountains, growing upon, or the precious minerals contained in, their mountains and hills called ancient and lasting, that is, such as have been from the beginning of the world, and are likely to continue... [ Continue Reading ]
And for — And in general for all the choice fruits which the land produceth in all the parts of it, whither hills or valleys. Fulness thereof — That is, the plants and cattle and all creatures that grow, increase, and flourish in it. The good will — For all other effects of the good will and kindnes... [ Continue Reading ]
His glory is like the firstling of his bullock — Or young bull, which is a stately creature, and was therefore formerly used as an emblem of royal majesty. This seems to note the kingdom which Ephraim should obtain in Jeroboam and his successors. His horns — His strength and power shall be very grea... [ Continue Reading ]
Rejoice — Thou shalt prosper and have cause of rejoicing. In thy going out — To war, as this phrase is often used. To sea, in way of traffick, because their portion lay near the sea. And in both respects his course is opposite to that of Issachar, who was a lover of peace and pasturage. He is here j... [ Continue Reading ]
They — Zebulun of whom Moses takes more special notice. And so having dispatched Issachar in two words, he returns to Zebulun. The people — the Gentiles, either those of Galilee, which was called Galilee of the Gentiles, who were their neighbours; or people of other nations, with whom they had comme... [ Continue Reading ]
Enlargeth — That bringeth him out of his straits amid troubles, which he was often engaged in, because he was encompassed with potent enemies. As a lion — Safe and secure from his enemies, and terrible to them when they rouse and molest him. Teareth the arm — Utterly destroys his enemies, both the h... [ Continue Reading ]
The first part — The first fruits of the land of promise, the country of Sihon, which was first conquered, which he is said to provide for himself, because he desired and obtained it of Moses. Of the law — giver — Of Moses, whose portion this is called, either because this part of the land beyond Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
A lion's whelp — Courageous, and generous, and strong, and successful against his enemies. Which leapeth — From Bashan, because there were many and fierce lions in those parts, whence they used to come forth and leap upon the prey. Or this may refer either to the particular victories obtained by Sam... [ Continue Reading ]
Satisfied with favour — With the favour of God. That only is the favour that satisfies the soul. They are happy indeed that have the favour of God; and they shall have it, that place their satisfaction in it. And full with the blessing of the Lord — Not Only with corn, wine and oil, the fruit of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Let Asher — Who carries blessedness in his very name, be blessed with children — He shall have numerous, strong and healthful children. Acceptable to his brethren — By his sweet disposition and winning carriage. In oil — He shall have such plenty of oil that he may not only wash his face, but his fe... [ Continue Reading ]
Iron and brass — The mines of iron and copper, which were in their portion, whence Sidon their neighbor was famous among the Heathens for its plenty of brass, and Sarepta is thought to have its name from the brass and iron which were melted there in great quantity. Thy strength shall be — Thy streng... [ Continue Reading ]
There us none — These are the last words that ever Moses wrote, perhaps the greatest writer that ever lived upon the earth. And this man of God, who had as much reason to know both as ever any mere man had, with his last breath magnifies both the God of Israel, and the Israel of God. Unto the God of... [ Continue Reading ]
The eternal God — He who was before all worlds, and will be, when time shall be no more: Is thy refuge — Or, thy habitation or mansion — house (so the word signifies) in whom thou art safe, and easy, and at rest, as a man is in his own house. Every true Israelite is at home in God: the soul returns... [ Continue Reading ]
Alone — Either Tho' they be alone, and have no confederates to defend them, but have all the world against them, yet my single protection shall be sufficient for them. Or, Distinct and separated from all other nations, with whom I will not have them mingle themselves. The fountain — That is, the pos... [ Continue Reading ]
The shield of they help — By whom thou are sufficiently guarded against all assailants; and the sword of thy excellency — Or, thy most excellent sword, that is, thy strength and the author of all thy past or approaching victories. Those in whose hearts is the excellency of holiness, have God himself... [ Continue Reading ]