THE BLESSING OF MOSES This chapter contains the last words or 'swan-song' of Moses. Immediately before his death he takes farewell of the people, and blesses each of the tribes in turn, as Jacob had done on his deathbed: see Genesis 49. The two blessings should be compared; see also on Deuteronomy... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Judges 5:4; Habakkuk 3:3. SEIR] Edom (see on Numbers 20:22). MOUNT PARAN] the S. boundary of Canaan. The appearance of Jehovah is described as a sunrise. The glory of His Presence appeared on Mt. Sinai, His beams smote the top of Mt. Seir, and glowed upon Mt. Paran. Read, 'He came forth from the... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL HIS SAINTS] i.e. Israel's saints. THEY SAT DOWN AT THY FEET] as disciples listening to the words of their teacher.... [ Continue Reading ]
This v. may be interpolated. Moses could hardly have written it himself. The superscription in Habakkuk 3:1 seems also to indicate that a later writer has written down the Blessing of Moses.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS KING] Jehovah, not Moses: cp. on Numbers 23:21. ON JESHURUN see Deuteronomy 32:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Reuben is the eldest of the sons of Jacob. There is a difficulty in the second half of this v., in which AV has inserted a negative not in the original. It may be better to read with RV 'yet let his men be few.' In the earlier blessing of Jacob it is said that Reuben will not endure, or have preemin... [ Continue Reading ]
LET HIS HANDS.. for him] RV 'with his hands he contended for himself' (or, 'for it,' i.e. the people). Judah was the champion of the tribes: see e.g. Judges 1:1; Judges 20:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
On the Urim and Thummim see Exodus 28:30. Jehovah is addressed in this v., and Levi is meant by thy holy one. Three privileges of the priestly tribe are referred to in this blessing, viz. the use of the Urim and Thummim, the teaching of the Law, and the presentation of incense and sacrifice (Deutero... [ Continue Reading ]
This v. refers to the separation of the tribe of Levi to their sacred duties. They have no lot or inheritance among their brethren. There may be a particular referenee to the exceptional zeal of Levi mentioned in Exodus 32:26 : cp. for the thought Matthew 10:37; Luke 9:59. 11. Them that rise agains... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BELOVED OF THE LORD] is Benjamin, and the subject of the second and third clauses is Jehovah, as in AV. The v. refers to the fact that Zion, the dwelling-place of Jehovah, was in the land of Benjamin. Jerusalem was on the border line between Benjamin and Judah, so that Jewish writers speak of th... [ Continue Reading ]
The fertility of the land of Joseph is also emphasised in the earlier blessing of Jacob: see Genesis 49:22. The precious things of heaven is the rain, and the DEEP THAT COUCHETH BENEATH is the springs of water. The words for the dew should perhaps be read 'from above'... [ Continue Reading ]
THINGS PUT FORTH BY THE MOON] RV 'things of the growth of the moons,' i.e. probably of the months, things put forth month by month, according to their season.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOOD WILL OF HIM THAT DWELT IN THE BUSH] Jehovah revealed Himself in the bush as the Deliverer of Israel: see Exodus 3:2; Exodus 3:6. The latter part of the v. is identical with that of Genesis 49:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
Read, 'His firstling bullock, majesty is his, and his horns are the horns of the wild ox.' Ephraim is meant, and is compared to a wild ox: see on Numbers 23:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY GOING OUT] The reference is to the commercial intercourse between Zebulun and foreign nations. The phrase is almost equivalent to 'exports.' Zebulun seems to have had an outlet to the Mediterranean Sea; cp. the next v. and also Genesis 49:13; Isaiah 9:1. Nazareth was in the land of Zebulun. IN T... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE] RV 'peoples,' their heathen neighbours who trade with them, particularly the Phoenicians. These they are here said to call unto the mountain where they offer sacrifices of righteousness, i.e. sacrifices that are offered rightly. It would appear that in the land of Zebulun and Issachar th... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CAME WITH THE HEADS OF THE PEOPLE, ETC.] The Gadites, true to their promise, crossed the Jordan with the other tribes and assisted them in the conquest of the land: see on Numbers 32:16. HE THAT ENLARGETH GAD] i.e. Jehovah who has given him the wide territory E. of the Jordan: see Numbers 32. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST PART] Gad chose the part E. of the Jordan which was first conquered and also the first to be allotted: see Numbers 32. The next clause should read, 'for there was a ruler's (or commander's) portion reserved.' Gad obtained a portion suitable for such a warlike tribe. It was a 'commander's s... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'Dan is a lion's whelp that leapeth forth from Bashan.' This depicts the stealth and violence of the Danites in war or in marauding expeditions: see e.g. their capture of Laish, Judges 18. The forest and ravines of Bashan were the haunts of wild beasts: see on Bashan, Numbers 21:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
Naphtali touched the Sea of Galilee on the E. and included some of the richest land and most beautiful scenery in Palestine. The Plain of Gennesaret was specially luxuriant. Josephus calls it the 'ambition of nature.' The west should be the 'sea,' i.e. the Sea of Gennesaret or Galilee, not the Medit... [ Continue Reading ]
The first clause should probably read, 'Blessed above sons be Asher.' Northern Galilee has always been distinguished for the cultivation of the olive. Jewish writers say, 'In Asher oil flows like a river': cp. Genesis 49:20. In ancient times this district was one of the main sources of the supply of... [ Continue Reading ]
THY SHOES] rather, 'thy bars' or bolts, referring to the impregnable fortresses guarding the mountain passes of Galilee. Asher, lying in the N., was the gate of Canaan. THY STRENGTH] A word of very doubtful signification, not found elsewhere. It means, perhaps, 'rest' or 'security,' and the clause w... [ Continue Reading ]
ON JESHURUN, see Deuteronomy 33:5. IN THY HELP] rather, 'for thy help.' The clouds are said to be the chariot of God: see Psalms 68:33; Psalms 104:3; Nahum 1:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
REFUGE] RV 'dwelling-place': cp. Psalms 90:1. Jehovah protects Israel both above and beneath.... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'Israel dwelleth in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone, in a land of corn and wine; yea, his heavens drop down dew.' Israel separated from all other nations (see on Numbers 23:9) dwells securely in a rich land. For the expression FOUNTAIN OF JACOB, see Psalms 68:26; Isaiah 48:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
THINE ENEMIES SHALL BE FOUND LIARS UNTO THEE] RV 'shall submit themselves unto thee.' The idea is that of conquered nations cringing before their victors and protesting (perhaps feigning) submission.... [ Continue Reading ]