Deuteronomy 33

1 This [specific, particular] is the blessing [a gift from God, bringing prosperity and praise] that Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] the man [a male person, individual] of God [Elohim, the supreme one] pronounced [to bless, praise or honor] upon the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, also referred to as the children of Israel] before [in the presence of, prior to] his death [the end of life, a natural or violent termination]. word study 2 He said: “The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came from Sinai [the mountain where Moses received the Law] and dawned upon us [shone forth, rose up] from Seir [a mountain in Idumaea]; He shone forth [appeared clearly, sent out beams of light] from Mount Paran [a desert area in Arabia] and came with myriads [ten thousands, a large number] of holy ones [saints, set-apart ones], with flaming [passionate, fiery] fire at His right hand [the right hand or side; the south]. word study 3 Surely You love [cherish, hold dear] the people [nations, Amaw]; all [every single one] the holy ones [set apart, sacred] are in Your hand [power, direction], and they sit down [assemble, encamp] at Your feet [in Your presence]; each receives [lifts up, is raised by] Your words [messages, divine utterances]— word study 4 the law [instruction, divine guidance] that Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet] gave us, the possession [inheritance, heritage] of the assembly [congregation, gathering] of Jacob [the people of God, descendants of Jacob]. word study 5 So the LORD [the supreme Ruler, Yehovah] became King [the Sovereign, reigning Monarch] in Jeshurun [Israel, the nation, the righteous people] when the leaders [heads, princes] of the people [the nation, Israel] gathered [assembled, came together], when the tribes [clans, families] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob] came together [united, as one]. word study 6 Let Reuben [the firstborn son of Jacob, ancestor of the tribe] live [have life, be revived] and not [never, under no circumstances] die [perish, cease to exist], nor [not, lest] his men [a few men, a small number] be few [small in number, limited].” word study 7 And concerning Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, son of Jacob] he said: “O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], hear [listen and obey] the cry [voice, sound] of Judah and bring him to his people [nation, community]. With his own hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] he defends [fights for] his cause, but may You be a help [assistant, one who provides aid] against his foes [enemies, adversaries].” word study 8 Concerning Levi [the tribe of priests] he said: “Give Your Thummim [sacred stones for revelation] to Levi and Your Urim [divine decision stones] to Your godly one [pious, dedicated to God], whom You tested [proved, examined] at Massah [the place of testing] and contested [argued, strife] at the waters [source of refreshment] of Meribah [the place of quarreling]. word study 9 He said of his father [who bore him, his male parent] and mother [who gave him birth, his female parent], ‘I do not consider them [I have not seen him, I ignore them].’ He disregarded his brothers [his male siblings, his close relatives] and did not know [was unaware of, did not recognize] his own sons [his descendants, his children], for he kept [obeyed, watched over] Your word [Your command, Your promise] and maintained [preserved, upheld] Your covenant [Your agreement, Your promise]. word study 10 He will teach [instruct, guide] Your ordinances [judgments, decisions] to Jacob [Israel, the chosen people] and Your law [instruction, Torah] to Israel; he will set [place, offer] incense [fragrant perfume, worship] before You [in Your presence, to Your face] and whole [complete, entire] burnt offerings [sacrifices, atonement] on Your altar [sacred place, worship center]. word study 11 Bless [praise and honor] his substance [strength, might, or power], O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and accept [be pleased with] the work [deeds, accomplishments, or service] of his hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share]. Smash [severely wound or shatter] the loins [waist or small of the back] of those who rise [stand up or rise to power] against him, and of his foes [enemies, those who hate] so they can rise [stand up or regain strength] no more [never again, be completely defeated].” word study 12 Concerning Benjamin [son of the right hand, referring to the youngest son of Jacob] he said: “May the beloved [cherished, loved one] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] rest secure [in safety, confidently] in Him; God [the supreme Protector] shields [covers, protects] him all [the entire] day long, and upon [on, above] His shoulders [the upper end of the arm, a place of rest] he rests [dwells, stays].” word study 13 Concerning Joseph [the one whom Jehovah has added] he said: “May his land [territory, region] be blessed [praised, honored] by the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] with the precious [excellent, of high value] dew [moisture, gentle rain] from heaven [the sky, the abode of God] above and the deep [subterranean, underground] waters that lie [stretch, rest] beneath [underneath, below], word study 14 with the bountiful [abundant, plentiful] harvest from the sun [the sun; the east or the west] and the abundant [precious, valuable] yield of the seasons [months, lunar cycles, times of growth], word study 15 with the best [finest contributions, chief things] of the ancient [oldest, from the front] mountains [hills, high places] and the bounty [excellence, precious things] of the everlasting [lasting, forever] hills [small hills], word study 16 with the choice gifts [precious things, excellence] of the land [earth, territory] and everything in it, and with the favor [good will, acceptance] of Him who dwelt [lived, resided] in the burning bush [thorny bush, seneh]. May these rest on the head [the topmost part of the body] of Joseph [Jehovah has added] and crown the brow [top] of the prince [leader] of his brothers [male siblings, relatives]. word study 17 His majesty [glory, splendor] is like a firstborn [preeminent, supreme] bull, and his horns [a horn; a hill or peak] are like those of a wild ox [aurochs, a powerful animal]. With them he will gore [push, thrust] the nations, even to the ends [borders, extremities] of the earth. Such are the myriads [thousands, a large number] of Ephraim, and such are the thousands [a multitude, a company] of Manasseh.” word study 18 Concerning Zebulun [a son of Jacob, founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel] he said: “Rejoice [to be glad, celebrate], Zebulun, in your journeys [goings out, travels], and Issachar [meaning ’there is recompense’], in your tents [tabernacles, dwelling places]. word study 19 They will call [summon, invite] the peoples [nations, tribes] to a mountain [a hill]; there [in that place, at that time] they will offer [sacrifice, slaughter] sacrifices [offerings, gifts] of righteousness [justice, moral integrity]. For [because, since] they will feast [suck, nurse] on the abundance [wealth, plenty] of the seas [the Mediterranean, large bodies of water] and the hidden [concealed, secret] treasures [riches, wealth] of the sand [the desert, sandy beaches].” word study 20 Concerning Gad [the seventh son of Jacob, founder of the tribe] he said: “Blessed [praised, honored] is he who enlarges [expands, increases] the domain of Gad! He lies down [dwells, rests] like a lion [lioness, fierce and powerful] and tears off [seizes, rips apart] an arm [the arm as stretched out; strength, might, power] or a head [the crown of the head, the scalp]. word study 21 He chose the best land [the most fertile and desirable part] for himself, because a ruler’s portion [a leader’s rightful share, a lawgiver’s inheritance] was reserved for him there [in that specific location, at that time]. He came with the leaders [heads, princes] of the people; he administered the LORD’s [Yehovah, the covenant God] justice [righteousness, moral virtue] and His ordinances [judgments, decrees] for Israel [the nation, the people of God].” word study 22 Concerning Dan [the tribe, a son of Jacob] he said: “Dan [a young lion, a lion’s whelp] is a lion’s cub [a fierce warrior], leaping [to spring forward, to pounce] out of Bashan [a fertile region, a place of abundance].” word study 23 Concerning Naphtali [satisfied, filled with delight] he said: “Naphtali is abounding [full, overflowing] with favor [acceptance, delight], full [complete, filled to the brim] of the blessing [gift, prosperity] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]; he shall take possession [occupy, inherit] of the sea [the west, the Mediterranean] and the south [the direction south, the southern region].” word study 24 And concerning Asher [the eighth son of Jacob] he said: “May Asher [be blessed with children, have many descendants] be the most blessed [highly favored, accepted] of sons; may he be the most favored [acceptable, pleasing] among his brothers [relatives, kin] and dip [immerse, bathe] his foot [in a figurative sense, his life] in oil [olive oil, ointment]. word study 25 May the bolts [shoes, bars] of your gate be iron [strong metal] and bronze [copper, base metal], and may your strength [power, might] match [be as long as] your days [lifetime, span of life].” word study 26 “There is none [no other, nothing comparable] like the God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] of Jeshurun [Israel, the nation], who rides [mounts, sits upon] the heavens [the visible sky and the unseen spiritual realm] to your aid [help, assistance, support], and the clouds [thin vapors in the sky] in His majesty [pride, glorious excellence]. word study 27 The eternal [everlasting, forever] God [Elohim, the supreme God] is your dwelling place [habitation, refuge], and underneath [beneath, under] are the everlasting [age-during, forever] arms [the arm as stretched out; strength, might, power]. He drives out [thrusts out, expels] the enemy [adversary, foe] before [in front of, from your presence] you, giving the command [saying, speaking], ‘Destroy [annihilate, desolate] him [them]!’ word study 28 So Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] dwells [lives, resides, tabernacles] securely [in safety, without fear, in confidence]; the fountain [spring, source] of Jacob [the patriarch, Israel’s ancestor] lives [exists, remains] untroubled [at peace, alone, in isolation] in a land [country, territory, earth] of grain [wheat, crops] and new wine [freshly squeezed, fermented], where even the heavens [the sky, the spiritual realm] drip [drop, pour down, ya’arfu] with dew [moisture, water]. word study 29 Blessed [happy, fortunate] are you, O Israel [the people of God, descendants of Jacob]! Who is like you [unique, special], a people saved [rescued, delivered] by the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]? He is the shield [protector, defender] that protects you, the sword [instrument of victory, strength] in which you boast [take pride, glory]. Your enemies [adversaries, those who oppose you] will cower [tremble, be subdued] before you, and you shall trample [tread, walk on] their high places [elevated areas, strongholds].” word study