33:6-25Note the difference in blessings God gave each tribe. To one he gave the best fand, to another strength, to another safety. Too often we see someone with a particular blessing and think that God must love that person more than others. Think rather that God draws out in all people their unique talents. All these gifts are needed to complete his plan. Don’t be envious of the gifts others have. Instead, look for the gifts God has given you, and resolve to do the tasks he has uniquely qualified you to do.
Life Application Study BibleDeuteronomyChapter 33
Deuteronomy 33
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 307, 308, 309, 310
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
33Deuteronomy 33
Moses Blesses the People
133 This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave to the people of Israel before his death:
2“The LORD came from Mount Sinaiand dawned upon us* from Mount Seir;he shone forth from Mount Paranand came from Meribah-kadeshwith flaming fire at his right hand.*
3Indeed, he loves his people;*all his holy ones are in his hands.They follow in his stepsand accept his teaching.
4Moses gave us the LORD’s instruction,the special possession of the people of Israel.*
5The LORD became king in Israel*—when the leaders of the people assembled,when the tribes of Israel gathered as one.”
6Moses said this about the tribe of Reuben:*“Let the tribe of Reuben live and not die out,though they are few in number.”
7Moses Said this about the tribe of Judah:“O LORD, hear the cry of Judahand bring them together as a people.Give them strength to defend their cause;help them against their enemies!”
8Moses said this about the tribe of Levi:“O LORD, you have given your Thummim and Urim—the sacred lots—to your faithful servants the Levites.*You put them to the test at Massahand struggled with them at the waters of Meribah.
9The Levites obeyed your wordand guarded your covenant.They were more loyal to youthan to their own parents.They ignored their relativesand did not acknowledge their own children.
10They teach your regulations to Jacob;they give your instructions to Israel.They present incense before youand offer whole burnt offerings on the altar.
11Bless the ministry of the Levites, O LORD,and accept all the work of their hands.Hit their enemies where it hurts the most;strike down their foes so they never rise again.”
12Moses said this about the tribe of Benjamin:“The people of Benjamin are loved by the LORDand live in safety beside him.He surrounds them continuouslyand preserves them from every harm.”
13Moses said this about the tribes of Joseph:“May their land be blessed by the LORDwith the precious gift of dew from the heavensand water from beneath the earth;14 with the rich fruit that grows in the sun,and the rich harvest produced each month;15 with the finest crops of the ancient mountains,and the abundance from the everlasting hills;16 with the best gifts of the earth and its bounty,and the favor of the one who appeared in the burning bush.May these blessings rest on Joseph's head,crowning the brow of the prince among his brothers.
17Joseph has the majesty of a young bull;he has the horns of a wild ox.
He will gore distant nations,driving them to the ends of the earth.This is my blessing for the multitudes of Ephraimand the thousands of Manasseh.”
18Moses said this about the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar*:“May the people of Zebulun prosper in their travels.May the people of Issachar prosper at home in their tents.
19They summon the people to the mountainto offer proper sacrifices there.They benefit from the riches of the seaand the hidden treasures in the sand.”
20Moses said this about the tribe of Gad: “Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad’s territory! God is poised there like a lion to tear off an arm or a head. 21The people of Gad took the best land for themselves; a leader’s share was assigned to them. When the leaders of the people were assembled, they carried out the LORD’s justice and obeyed his regulations for Israel.”
22Moses said this about the tribe of Dan:“Dan is a lion’s cub,leaping out from Bashan.”
23Moses said this about the tribe of Naphtali:“O Naphtali, you are rich in favorand full of the LORD’s blessings;may you possess the west and the south.”
24Moses said this about the tribe of Asher:“May Asher be blessed above other sons;may he be esteemed by his brothers;may he bathe his feet in olive oil.
25May the bolts of your gates be of iron and bronze;may you be secure all your days.”
26“There is no one like the God of Israel.*He rides across the heavens to help you,across the skies in majestic splendor.
27The eternal God is your refuge,and his everlasting arms are under you.He drives out the enemy before you;he cries out, ‘Destroy them!”
28So Israel will live in safety,prosperous Jacob in security,ina land of grain and new wine,while the heavens drop down dew.
29How blessed you are, O Israel!Who else is like you, a people saved by the LORD?He is your protecting shieldand your triumphant sword!Your enemies will cringe before you,and you will stomp on their backs!”
Textual footnotes
- Masoretic Text lacks this line.
- of Abarim.
- upon them.
- of the Hebrew is uncertain.
- of Jacob. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring some-
- times to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation,
- 33:2b Or came from myriads of holy ones, from the south, from his mountain slopes. The meaning
- 33:3 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads indeed, lover of the peoples.
- 33:4 Hebrew
- 33:5 Hebrew in Jeshurun, a term of endearment for Israel.
- 33:6 Hebrew lacks Moses said this about the tribe of Reuben.
- 33:8 As in Greek version; Hebrew lacks the Levites.
- 33:18 Hebrew lacks and Issachar.
- 33:26 Hebrew of Jeshurun, a term of endearment for Israel.
Life Application Notes 4 notes
33:20,21The people of the tribe of Gad received the best of the new land because they obeyed God by punishing Israel's wicked enemies. Punishment is unpleasant for both the giver and the receiver, but it is a necessary part of growth. If you are ina position that sometimes requires you to correct others, don’t hald back from fulfilling your task. Understand that realistic discipline is important to character development. Always strive to be both just and merciful, keeping in mind the best interests of the person who must receive the punishment.
33:24Bathing feet in oil was a sign of prosperity.
33:27Moses’ song declares that God is our refuge, our only true security. How often we entrust our lives to other things perhaps money, career, a noble cause, or a lifelong dream. But our only true refuge is the eternal God, who always holds out his arms to catch us when the shaky supports that we trust collapse and we fall. No storm can destroy us when we take refuge in him. Those without God, however, must forever be cautious. One mistake may wipe them out. Living for God in this world may look like risky business. But it is the godless who are on shaky ground. Because God is our refuge, we can dare to be bold.
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Study feature · page 309
THE DEATH OF MOSES Just before Moses died, he climbed Mount Nebo. Although he could not enter the Promised Land, God showed him its beauty from Mount Nebo's peak.
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