C F 1. Introduction.
G 2-5. Israel, collectively, with Yahaveh King.
H v1 6. Reuben.
v2 7. Judah.
v3 8-11. Levi.
v4 12. Benjamin.
v5 13-17. Joseph.
v6 18,19. Zebulun and Issachar.
v7 20,21. Gad.
v8 22. Dan.
v9 23. Naphtali.
v10 24,25. Asher.
G 26,27. Israel, collectively, with Yahaveh King.
F 28,29. Conclusion.1452 B.C.
Deuteronomy 33)
1: And this (Moses' 10th, and last, address) is the blessing (to be distinguished from "The Song"), wherewith Moses the man of God (see explanation below) blessed the sons of Israel before his death.
The first occurrence of this expression is here in Deut.33:1, and is used of Moses (Ps. 90, Title), who was, par excellence, the prophet, like to whom Christ was to be "raised up" (Deut. 18:15-19), shows that it is to be understood of what Moses was, namely, "the prophet".
He was so called, not because he foretold, but because he spoke for God. This is the meaning of the word "prophet" as taught by its first occ. in Gen. 20:7. The prophet was God's "spokesman" (Ex. 4:16. Cp. Ex.7:1).
God's spokesman could know what to speak for Him only - 1. from His Spirit (Neh. 9:30. Cp. Hos. 9:7, margin, and see Num. 11:16,17,25-29); 2. from Yahaveh making Himself known (Num. 12:6. Ezek. 3:17. Jer. 15:19. Cp. 2 Chron. 36:120; and 3. from God's written Word. This is why Timothy is the only one called a "man of God" in the N.T. (1 Tim. 6:11), and why today, one, and only one who knows "all Scripture", which is so profitable, can be called a "man of God" (2 Tim. 3:17).
All such are God's spokesman because they alone know what He wishes to be spoken. They are His witnesses (Acts 1:8; 22:15), Christ The Prophet because He spoke only those things which were given Him to speak (see note on Deut. 18:18), and He alone is "the faithful Witness" (Rev. 1:5).
It was for the above reason that the expression "the man of God" (i.e. God's man) became the general name for a prophet among the common people. See all the occ.:
Pentateuch - 1
Prophets - 65
Others - 12
--
78= 6 x 13 = the number of man X rebellion
N.T. 2
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80=8 x 10=regeneration X ordinal perfection
2: And he said, "The Lord came from Sinai (Heb. bô, to come, or enter on business), and rose up from Seir to them (Heb. zarah, to break forth as light); He shined forth from mount Paran (Heb, yaph'a, to shine forth in glory), and He came (Heb. 'athah, to come with speed. Cp maran-athah = Yehovah comes, 1 Cor. 16:22) with ten thousands of saints (= holy ones, i.e angels. Cp. Ps. 68:17. Acts 7:53. Gal. 3:19. Hab. 2:2. Jude 14 and note on Ex.3:5): from His right hand went a fiery law for them (Heb. dath, an edict, or mandate. Imperial mandate).
3: Yes, He loves the people(used only here, and only of Yahaveh's love to Israel); all His saints are in Your hand: and they sat down at Your feet (put for teaching thus received); every one shall receive (= bore, or carried away) of Your words."
4: Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the assembly of Jacob.
5: And He (i.e. Yahaveh) was king in Jeshurun (= the Upright One, see 32:15), when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered themselves together.
6: Let Reuben live, and not die (reversing Gen. 49:3,4); and let not his men be few." (as opposed to women and children)
7: And this is the blessing of Judah (including Simeon; for their blessing and inheritance were one. Josh. 19:1. Judg. 1:3): and he said, "Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him to his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be You a help to him from his enemies."
8: And of Levi he said, "Let Your Thummim and Your Urim (see Ex.28:30. Num.26:55) be with Your holy one (= Your man of loving-kindness, or Gracious One = the High Priest who was of the tribe of Lev. See Ex.3:5), Whom You did prove at Massah (= temptation), and with whom You did strive at the waters of Meribah (= strife);
9: Who said to his father and to his mother, 'I have not seen him;' neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own sons (put for not caring for): for they have observed Your word, and kept Your covenant.
10: They shall teach Jacob Your judgments (this was the great work of the priests. Cp. Lev. 10:11. Deut. 17:9,10. Jer. 18:18. Hag. 2:11. Mal. 2:7), and Israel Your law: they shall put incense before You (= to Your nose), and whole burnt sacrifice upon Your altar.
11: 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."
12: And of Benjamin he said, "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him (Sam. and Sept. omit); and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between His shoulders."
13: And of Joseph he said, "Blessed of the Lord be his land (Gp. Gen.49:25), for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that couches beneath (note the many "ands" in vv.14-18),
14: And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon (put for months),
15: And for the chief things of the ancient mountains (= mountains of old, cp. v.27), and for the precious things of the everlasting hills (cp. Gen. 49:26),
16: And for the precious things of the earth and fullness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush (cp. Ex. 3:2. The word occurs only in these 2 places): let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren (cp. Gen. 49:46).
17: His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of wild ox (or rhinoceros, put for Ephraim and Manasseh): with them he shall push the peoples together to the ends of the earth (or land): and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh."
18: And of Zebulun he said, "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and, Issachar, in your tents.
19: They shall call the people to 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." (= hidden treasures of the sand = amber, agate, jet, pearls, glass, &c.)
20: And of Gad he said, "Blessed be He that enlarges Gad: He dwells as a lion, and tears the arm with (= likewise, or, yes) the crown of the head.
21: And he provided the first part for himself, because there, a portion of the lawgiver, was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord, and His judgments with Israel."
22: And of Dan (cp. Gen. 49:16-18) he said, "Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan."
23: And of Naphtali (cp. Gen. 49:21 and Josh. 19:32-39) he said, "O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess you the west and the south."
24: And of Asher (cp. Gen. 49:20) he said, "Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil (oil found there when water failed. See 1 Kings 17:9, and cp. Josh. 19:24-28).
25: Under your shoes shall be iron and brass (i.e. above the ground, olives and oil; beneath, iron and copper. Refers to rich ores); and as the length of your days, so shall your strength be." (= sufficiency, or security, as in a fold)
26: There is none like (see Ex. 15:11) unto the GOD of Jeshurun (= Upright, i.e. the ideal Israel [cp. v.29] as the "upright" nation, possessing all the laws. Cp. 32:15), "Who rides upon the heaven in your help (cp. Ps. 68:4,33), and in His excellency on the sky.
27: The eternal God is your refuge (= abode. Ps. 90:1; 91:9), and underneath are the everlasting arms (put for the strength that is in them): and He shall thrust out the enemy from before you; and shall say, 'Destroy them.'
28: Israel (note the name, "Israel" connected with Divine safety, and "Jacob" with earthly substance) then shall dwell in safety alone (cp. Num. 23:9. Jer.23:6): the fountain (or, eye.....shall look upon) of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and new wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
29: Happy are you, O Israel (the Ideal nation, viewed as Jeshurun the upright, see note on 32:15): who is like unto you, O people saved by the Lord (this their greatest glory), the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of your excellency! and your enemies shall be found liars to you (= shall submit themselves. Cp. 2 Sam. 22:45. Ps. 66:33); and you shall tread upon their high places." (The end of Moses' 10th, and last, address.)