Deuteronomy 33:20

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.

Whatever our place and business are, it is our wisdom and duty to apply thereto; and it is happiness to be well pleased therewith. We should not only invite others to the service of God, but abound in it. The blessing of Naphtali. The favour of God is the only favour satisfying to the soul. Those are happy indeed, who have the favour of God; and those shall have it, who reckon that in having it they have enough, and desire no more.

And of Gad he said,.... The tribe of Gad, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: blessed be he that enlargeth Gad; that is, the Lord, to whom the praise and glory were to be given, who had appointed to Gad a large inheritance on the other side Jordan, and had settled him in it, and which became larger by the conquest of the Hagarites, and others, 1 Chronicles 5:18, he dwelleth as a lion; bold and courageous, secure, and without fear of any of his enemies, though near him, on his borders, as the Moabites and Ammonites were; of the same spirit and temper were the men of the tribe of Gad in the times of David, 1 Chronicles 12:8, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head, at once, just as a lion tears its prey; which figurative phrases are expressive of this tribe conquering and destroying strong and mighty men, signified by the "arm", in which the strength of a man lies, and of kings and governors, pointed at by the "crown of the head"; as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; which was done in the times of Joshua, when with and under him they subdued and destroyed the kings and princes of the land of Canaan.

Deuteronomy 33:20 . Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad — That bringeth him out of his straits and 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 head, the seat of the crown, their dignity and principality, and the arm, the subject of strength and instrument of action; both chief princes, and their subjects.

Verses 20, 21. - As in the blessing of Shem by Noah, God is praised for Shem's prosperity ( Genesis 9:26 ), so here God is praised for the enlargement of the warlike tribe of Gad (cf. Genesis 49:19 ). He dwelleth as a lion ; rather, as a lioness . Though the noun לָבִיא has a masc. termination, usage shows that it was the female and not the male that was thereby designated (see e.g. , Genesis 49:9 ; Numbers 24:9 , where it can hardly, be a mere synonym; and Job 4:11 ; Job 38:39 , where the reference to the young of the animal accords better with the lioness than with the lion, Gesenius). Deuteronomy 33:20

By praising God for enlarging Gad he supposeth the ground of these praises, that God would enlarge Gad, i.e. either. 1. Enlarge his territories; which seems needless, because they had a very large portion now when Moses uttered these words. Or, 2. Bring him out of his straits and troubles, which he was likely to be oft engaged in, because he was encompassed with potent enemies. And in this sense the phrase is used Psalm 4:1 : compare Psalm 31:8 118:5 . One instance of the fulfilling hereof we have Jud 11 . He dwelleth as a lion, i.e. safe and secure from his enemies, and terrible to them when they rouse and molest him. See 1 Chronicles 5:18 , &c.; 1 Chronicles 12:8 . Teareth the arm with the crown of the head, i.e. utterly destroys his enemies; both the head , the seat of the crown, their dignity and principality, and the arm, the subject of strength and instrument of action; both chief princes, and their instruments and subjects.

i. e., Blessed be God who shall grant to Gad a spacious territory. Compare the blessing of Shem Genesis 9:26 . With the crown - Rather, yea, the crown. The warlike character of this tribe is shown by their leading the van in the long campaigns of Joshua (compare Joshua 4:12-13; Joshua 22:1-4). Compare also 1 Chronicles 5:18-22; 1 Chronicles 12:8 ff, and the acts of Jehu, the Gadite, in 2 Kings 9; 10.

20, 21. of Gad he said—Its possessions were larger than they would have been had they lain west of Jordan; and this tribe had the honor of being settled by Moses himself in the first portion of land conquered. In the forest region, south of the Jabbok, "he dwelt as a lion" (compare Ge 30:11; 49:19). Notwithstanding, they faithfully kept their engagement to join the "heads of the people" [De 33:21] in the invasion of Canaan.

20 . foreigner ] See on Deuteronomy 15:3 . that the Lord thy God … thine hand unto ] See on Deuteronomy 12:7 . the land whither thou goest in , etc.] See on Deuteronomy 7:1 , Deuteronomy 8:1 . 20 And of Gad he said: Blessed be the Broadener of Gad, Like a lion he haunts And tears the arm, yea the scalp. 21 And he saw to the best for himself, [For there was the lot of the leader (?)] Yet he went with the heads of the people, He wrought the just will of the Lord, And his judgements along with Israel. On Gad’s territory see Deuteronomy 3:16 f. (mingled with that of Reuben); and Joshua 13:24-28 , where he extends from Aroer on Arnon northward through Moab and all the cities of Gilead to Lidebir (just S. of the Yarmûk) unto the uttermost part of the sea of Chinnereth : truly the broadest of the tribal territories, the lot of the leader (?), as this oracle describes it. On the obscure oracle upon Gad in Genesis 49:19 , little more than a play upon his name, see Ryle’s notes in this series. It is not possible to deduce a date from this oracle; see on Deuteronomy 33:20 . 20 . he that enlargeth , etc.] Jehovah. The reference is usually interpreted of the recovery of Gad’s territory from the Syrians, 2 Kings 14:25 f., and as proof of a date for the poem between that and the conquest by Tiglath Pileser ( 1 Chronicles 5:26 ). But it may as well be a reference to the original allotment of so vast a territory to Gad, Joshua 13:24 ff. dwelleth ] So Sam. Haunts is more appropriate.