Deuteronomy 33:13

33:6-23 The order in which the tribes are here blessed, is not the same as is observed elsewhere. The blessing of Judah may refer to the whole tribe in general, or to David as a type of Christ. Moses largely blesses the tribe of Levi. Acceptance with God is what we should all aim at, and desire, in all our devotions, whether men accept us or not, 2Co 5:9. This prayer is a prophecy, that God will keep up a ministry in his church to the end of time. The tribe of Benjamin had their inheritance close to mount Zion. To be situated near the ordinances, is a precious gift from the Lord, a privilege not to be exchanged for any worldly advantage, or indulgence. We should thankfully receive the earthly blessings sent to us, through the successive seasons. But those good gifts which come down from the Father of lights, through the rising of the Sun of righteousness, and the pouring out of his Spirit like the rain which makes fruitful, are infinitely more precious, as the tokens of his special love. The precious things here prayed for, are figures of spiritual blessing in heavenly things by Christ, the gifts, graces, and comforts of the Spirit. When Moses prays for the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush, he refers to the covenant, on which all our hopes of God's favour must be founded. The providence of God appoints men's habitations, and wisely disposes men to different employments for the public good.

Deuteronomy 33:13-15 . And of Joseph — Including both Ephraim and Manasseh. In Jacob’s blessing, that of Joseph 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 warmth of the sun, and the rain, which God will send from heaven. The deep — The springs of water bubbling out of the earth: perhaps it may likewise refer to the great deep, the abyss of waters, which is supposed to be contained in the earth. 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. Hebrew, Of the moons, or months, that is, which it bringeth forth in the several mouths or seasons of the year. The chief things — That is, the excellent fruits, growing upon the mountains, as grapes, olives, figs, &c., or the precious minerals, contained in them; ancient and lasting — That is, such as have been from the beginning of the world, and are likely to continue till the end of it, in opposition to those hills or mounts which have been cast up by man.

(13) And of Joseph he said. —The remark of Rashi is especially applicable here. “Thou wilt find in the case of all the tribes, that the blessing of Moses is drawn from the fountain of the blessing of Jacob.” As the voice of Judah, the office of Levi, and the situation of Benjamin are singled out for notice, so the land of Joseph is blessed. The deep that coucheth beneath.—Rashi observes that “the deep ascends in vapour, and also gives moisture from below.”

Verses 13-17. - The blessing on Joseph by Moses closely resembles that pronounced by Jacob on his favorite son; he solicits for him the utmost abundance of temporal blessing, and the riches of the Divine favor. There is this difference, however, between the two blessings, that in that of the patriarch it is the growth of the tribe in power and might that is chiefly contemplated; whilst in that of Moses it is the advance of the tribe in wealth, prosperity, and influence that is chiefly indicated. "Jacob described the growth of Joseph under the figure of a luxuriant branch of a fruit tree planted by the water; whilst Moses fixes his eye primarily upon the land of Joseph, and desires for him the richest productions" (Keil). For the precious things of heaven, for the dew . Several codices, for מטל , "for dew ," read מעל , above - "the precious things of heaven above;" and this reading, some critics of eminence adopt. Probably, however, this is only a correction, to bring this passage into accordance with Genesis 49:25 . The Targums and the Peshito combine both readings. Instead of " for the precious things," it is better to read "with," etc., and so throughout vers. 13-16. Literally, it is from , etc.; מִמֶּגֶד , the מ expressing the instrumental cause of the blessing, of which the Lord is the efficient cause.

The noun מֶגֶד , literally, excellency , preciousness , occurs only here and in Song of Solomon 4:13, 16 and Cant 7:13, where it is rendered by "pleasant." The precious fruit of the heavens is the dew, which, with the waters stored up in the recesses of the earth, furthers the growth of the earth's produce, ripened by the influences of sun and moon. And for the chief things of the ancient mountains ; literally, and from the head of the mountains of old . The precious things of the mountains and hills are the vines and olive trees with which the lower slopes are adorned, and the forests that crown the loftier. The good will of him that dwelt in the bush. The reference is to the appearance of Jehovah to Moses in the bush at Horeb ( Exodus 3 .), when he manifested himself as the Deliverer of Israel, whose good pleasure it was that they should be redeemed from bondage and favored with blessing. That was separated from his brethren ; separated in the sense of consecrated , or distinguished ( נָזִיר , from נָזַר , to consecrate), from among his brethren. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock ; rather, the firstborn of his oxen , majesty is to him . The singular, שׁור , is here used collectively, as in Deuteronomy 15:19 . The oxen are Joseph's sons, all of whom were strong, but the firstborn excelled the rest, and was endowed with majesty. It is Ephraim that is referred to, whom Jacob raised to the position of the firstborn ( Genesis 48:8 , etc.).

His portion shall be excellent, and endowed with choice blessings from God, as it here follows. For the precious things of heaven, i.e. the precious fruits of the earth brought forth by the influences of heaven, the warmth of the sun, and the rain which God will send from heaven. For the deep that coucheth beneath; the springs of water bubbling out of the earth.

Comparing the words of Moses with those of Jacob, it will be seen that the patriarch dwells with emphasis on the severe conflicts which Joseph, i. e., Ephraim and Manasseh, would undergo (compare Genesis 49:23-24 ); while the lawgiver seems to look beyond, and to behold the two triumphant and established in their power.

13-17. of Joseph he said—The territory of this tribe, diversified by hill and dale, wood and water, would be rich in all the productions—olives, grapes, figs, &c., which are reared in a mountainous region, as well as in the grain and herbs that grow in the level fields. "The firstling of the bullock and the horns of the unicorn" (rhinoceros), indicate glory and strength, and it is supposed that under these emblems were shadowed forth the triumphs of Joshua and the new kingdom of Jeroboam, both of whom were of Ephraim (compare Ge 48:20).

13 . paddle ] peg or stake , in Jdg 5:26 of tent-peg , here a digging-stick, Scot. ‘dibble.’ 13 And of Joseph he said: Blessed of the Lord be his land, With the wealth of heaven above, And the deep that crouches beneath. 14 With the wealth of the crops of the sun, And the wealth of the yield of the moons. 15 With the best (?) from the hills of yore, And the wealth of the ancient heights. 16 Even the wealth of the land and its fulness, And His favour who dwelt in the Bush. May they come on the head of Yoséph, On the skull of the crowned of his brothers! 17 His firstling bull’s be the splendour, And his horns the horns of the wild ox! With them he thrusteth the peoples Together to the ends of the earth. These be the myriads of Ephraim, And these the thousands of Manasseh. The rather longer Blessing of Joseph in Genesis 49:22-26 dwells similarly on the richness of the territory, and on the primacy, of Joseph among the tribes. But it reflects, as this does not, a contest with foreign foes in which he has suffered severely, yet his strength is maintained by the help of the Mighty One of Jacob ( the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel ?), the God of thy father . The following are close parallels: Deuteronomy 33:13 with Genesis 49:25 c , d ; Deuteronomy 33:16 c , d with 26 c , d . See Ryle’s notes. 13 . For ] Rather with or from , and so throughout 13–16. precious things ] Heb. meged , exact meaning uncertain.

It is found only here and in Song of Solomon 4:13 ; Song of Solomon 4:16 ; Song of Solomon 7:13 (14) where its plur. is used with fruits : R.V. and Budde precious fruits , Haupt most luscious fruitage . Here it is similarly rendered by Steuern. ‘das Köstlichste,’ Marti ‘das Herrlichste,’ Berth. ‘köstliche Gabe.’ But from the Ar. analogue it is as likely that it meant lavishness , profusion or wealth . Sam. has issue or profluence . LXX in Deuteronomy 33:13 ἀπὸ ὡρῶν , in Deuteronomy 33:14 and Deuteronomy 33:16 καθ ʼ ὤραν , but in Deuteronomy 33:15 ἀπὸ κορυφῆς reading rôsh twice. for the dew ] So Sam. LXX. Read (with the change of one consonant) from above as in Genesis 49:25 . the deep ] Heb. Tehôm without the art. as always, because originally the proper name of the mythical monster, Bab. Tiâmat, identified with the Ocean and its supposed extension below, as well as around, the earth, the source of springs and fountains; cp. LXX ἀπὸ ἀβύσσων πηγῶν . The personification further survives in the epithet couching or crouching . See on Deuteronomy 8:7 .