Deuteronomy 33

Deuteronomy 33:1

THe man of God] Namely, a Prophet, inspired by divine Spirit, in giving this blessing.

Deuteronomy 33:2

Came] From the top of Sinai, a hill of Idumea, called Seir, in the wildernesse of Paran, God appeared unto his people to give them his Law, Exodus 19:18 From Seir.] from off Idumea, see Gen. 33. 14. 16. and 36. 8. Now under the name of Idumea, often times is meant in Scripture, all the Countrey from the red sea, to the dead sea, or lake of Sodom: See 1 King. 9. 26 Paran] See of this name, generall to that great mountainous wildernesse, Numbers 13:3 Ten thousands] The Italian hath it, From the ten thousands] Namely from heaven, which is the habitation of holy Angels, which are in manner of innumerable armies of God: see Psal. 68. 27. Daniel 7:10. Rev. 5. 11. and 9. 16 Went] The Italian, Having on his right hand] Being in a manner armed with fire, Exodus 19:18; Exodus 24:17. for to pronounce his Law, in token of the power of it, Jeremiah 23:29. and of his terror and curse against sinners, Hebrews 12:18.

Deuteronomy 33:3

Yea he loved] The Italian, Though thou lovest] that is to say, O Lord, though thou through a common love, causest all men to feele some effects of thy goodnesse, yet thou bearest thy people a speciall affection, whom thou hast sanctified and taken as proper to thy selfe, to have them under thy care and protection: At thy feet] attentive and tractable like to thy disciples, Luke 10:39. Acts 22:3.

Deuteronomy 33:4

The inheritance] The singular wealth and treasure that God bestoweth upon his children, and in which as in a generall inheritance, are comprehended all other goods; which also by vertue of the Covenant, passeth from the father to the child; See Psal. 119. 111.

Deuteronomy 33:5

King] He hath not only been a Law-giver, but also a supreme Magistrate, actually administring his own Law. Such Kings raigning by vertue and justice only, not by force and violence, were anciently called Heroick Kings: When the heads] So it is declared that this Monarchy of Moses was tempered with Aristocracy, in which temperature consists the most absolute kind of government: And the Tribes] This seemes to be added, to shew so much the more the harmony of this Common-wealth, the whole people with a free accord consenting to Moses his Laws, proposed in the generall assembly.

Deuteronomy 33:6

Let Reuben live] God will not suffer (and I pray him it may not) the tribe of Reuben be utterly extinguished, for the grievous sins of its first father, Genesis 49:3-4. though by that meanes it were deprived of the gift of great increase, which seemed to belong unto him by birth right, and was conferred upon Joseph.

Deuteronomy 33:7

Judah] Because that there is no mention made of Simeon in these blessings, some imagine that this tribe was comprehended under Judah, in whose countrey Simeons part was also included, Joshua 19:1. Judges 1:3 Bang him] He hath a relation to the severall captivities of this tribe, out of all which it was delivered, ever untill the comming of the Messias, whereas the other tribes were dispersed, without being restored: Be sufficient] let it have no need of any human helpe to maintain it, but only thou, O God, lend it thine aide: Others, he shall fight with his own hands for himselfe, that is to say, he shall defend himselfe valiantly against all his enemies, Genesis 49:8.

Deuteronomy 33:8

Thy Thummim] He directeth his speech to God: The sense is, O Lord, confirme thy Priesthood, meant by these two words, Exodus 28:30. to Aarons lineage, whom thou hast consecrated to it, though thou hast imposed that just punishment upon him, that he should not enter into the land of Canaan, for the fault which he committed at the waters of Meriba, Numbers 20. 13. which were also called of Massah, as the rest, Exod. 17 7. because that God did there try his servants: Thou diddest strive] rebuking him, and severely punishing him.

Deuteronomy 33:9

Who] This hath a relation to that, that the Priests being judges in many cases, Deut. 17. 9. and 19 7. ought to be free from all acceptation of persons following Moses and Aarons examples, who had proceeded therein with all manner of integrity: Others referre this to the history of the execution done by the Levites, for, the pure zeale of God, without any carnall respects, Exodus 32:27. and to the Law of mourning for the next of kinne, Lev. 10 6, 7. and 21. 10 They] The Priests and Levites, who till then had kept themselves pure in Gods service and obedience, more than the rest of the people; but by these words their duty is not so much set down, as the act commanded, Malachi 2:7. See Jeremiah 18:18.

Deuteronomy 33:11

His substance] The Italian hath it, His army] for the orders, services and the whole conduct of the Leviticall Ministery, had some resemblance of military discipline: See Numbers 4. 3 The worke] Namely, his Ministery: Smite through] Destroy all Shcismaticks that shall seeke to oppose that order of Priesthood, which thou hast appointed: See Numbers chap. 16. v 5.

Deuteronomy 33:12

The belived] It should seem he calleth Benjamin so, by reason that as Jacob loved Benjamin in a singular manner, he being the youngest of all his children, Genesis 44:30. So the Lord honored that tribe, being the least of all the rest, 1 Samuel 9:21. Psal. 68. 27. Chusing Jerusalem which was within her territories, Joshua 18:28. for the place of his Temple and service:By him] Neere to his Temple, which was as it were Benjamins safeguard: Between his] Let the chiefe City of Benjamin be Jerusalem, a City of Gods singular presence, in which the two holy hills of Moriah and Sion, resembled two shoulders, a figure of Gods power and protection, who beareth of the whole body of his people.

Deuteronomy 33:13

The precious things] See Genesis 49:25 For the deep] that is to say, of the earth moystned, and fattened by the sweet exhalations up the waters under the earth.

Deuteronomy 33:14

By the Sun] Which warmeth the earth, and quickens the seeds, and ripens the fruits: The Moon] Which the diverse seasons, and months of the yeare, produce in great variety.

Deuteronomy 33:15

Mountaines] See Genesis 49:26.

Deuteronomy 33:16

Of him] Of God, who appeared in the bush, Exodus 3:2. for a signe of his residence in grace and power in the middest of his people.

Deuteronomy 33:17

His glory] He hath a reference to the power, valour and warlike customes of these two tribes: See Psal. 78 9 The people] which shall come to assault him or all those Nations, whose land that was which God had assigned for his people: And they] these great acts shall bee archieved by these two numerous and warlike tribes, come out of Joseph, whereof that of Manasses who was the elder, shall yeeld in power and number to Ephraims, who was the second brother, according to Jacobs Prophecie, Genesis chap. 48. v. 19.

Deuteronomy 33:18

In thy] Of the commodity thou shalt have, thy land bordering upon the sea, to make many voyages, which will be very profitable to thee: In thy] in thy peaceable and home led life, free from enterprises, and altogether employed in governing of thine owne private affaires: See Genesis chap. 25. verse 27.

Deuteronomy 33:19

They] Namely the Zabulonites, by their frequent voyages into farie Countreies, shall invite many Nations to come and worship the true God in his Temple in mount Sion: There]these nations by the Zabulonites enducements, shall serve the true God in that only manner which he hath approved of and appointed: Or the Zabulonites themselves, being delivered from the dangers of the seas, and enriched, shall come to yeeld sacrifices of thanksgiving to the Lord, Psal. 107. 32. Jonah 2:9 The abundance] The great riches which navigation brings in: In the sand] the sea-shore, which though of it selfe it be very barren, brings in great revenues, by reason of the sea trading.

Deuteronomy 33:20

He that] Namely the Lord, who hath bestowed upon the tribe of Gad, a large and spacious Countrey, and although it lye upon the frontiers, and therefore be often invaded, yet it shall have strength, and heart to defend it selfe.

Deuteronomy 33:21

He provided] God hath assigned unto Gad, the first land which was conquered from the Amorites on this side Jordan: See concerning these first fruits of the countrey, Numbers 24 20 Because there] because this part of the Country was that alone which God let Moses see, and which he would have him divide amongst certain tribes: And he came] This is spoken by propheticall anticipation concerning the Gadites company and faithfull assistance, which they lent their brethren, in the subduing of the land of Canaan, and executing the Lords vengeance upon the accursed people, See Joshua 4:12.

Deuteronomy 33:22

A lions whelp] The Italian, Like a lions, &c.] It shall be a warlike nation, which out of his mountainous frontier, shall often invade its enemies.

Deuteronomy 33:23

With favour] With Gods grace and favour, which will make him acceptable amongst his brethren, Genesis 49:21 Possesse thou] the Italian, Thou shalt possesse] See Joshua 19:32.

Deuteronomy 33:24

Dip] He shall enjoy an exceeding fat countrey, Genesis 49:20.

Deuteronomy 33:25

Thy shoes] It seemeth to be a proverbiall kind of speech, taken from shoes which are made of a solid, and hard matter, to signifie a continuance of strength, without wearing out, as Deuteronomy, 29. 5.

Deuteronomy 33:27

Underneath] As in heaven is the pacificall feat of Gods glorious resting place, so here on earth is the theater of the works of his providence, and omnipotency, through which he rules the world.

Deuteronomy 33:28

Alone] From other people, as a Nation consecrated to God and by him protected against all assaults.

Deuteronomy 33:29

Bee found Ciars] The Italian, Shall dissemble] Hebrew, Shall lye unto thee, that is to say, shall be constrained to yeeld obedience unto thee, though it be but a feigned and forced one: See Psalme 18. 44. and 66. 3. and 81. 15 Shalt tread] Shalt beat downe their loftinesse, shalt assault and conquer their country, and all their forts.