Deuteronomy 33

Deuteronomy 33:1

Augustine of Hippo: And this is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before they died. And he said: “The Lord has come from Sinai, and it has been shown to us from Seir. It has been hurried from Mount Farán with many thousands of Kadesh. On his right there are angels with him; and he forgave his people; and all the sanctified ones are under your hands and these are under you. And he took from his words the law, which Moses commanded us, inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob. And there will be a prince in the beloved, once the princes of the peoples gathered together with the tribes of Israel. " Do not overlook or neglect this prophecy. It is seen that this blessing refers to the new people, which Christ the Lord sanctified, and from whose person Moses says these things, not from Moses himself. And all this is evident from what is said below. If it is said: The Lord has come from Sinai, because on Mount Sinai the law was given, what does it mean next: And it has been shown to us from Seir, being that Seir is a mount of Idumea, where Did Esau reign? On the other hand, since Moses blesses the children of Israel with these words, as the Scripture predicts, how does Moses say: And he took from his words the law, which Moses commanded us? It is, without a doubt, a prophecy, as we have said, that announces in advance a new people sanctified by the grace of Christ under the name of the children of Israel, because this people is a descendant of Abraham, that is, they are the children of the promise. And it means “seeing God.” Therefore, in the Lord, who has come from Sinai, one must see Christ, because Sinai means trial. Christ has come from the test of passion, of the cross, of death. And it has been shown to us since Seír. Seír means “hairy,” and designates the sinner. That is how Esau, the abhorred, was born (Cf Genesis 25,25). But as those who were sitting in the darkness and in the shadow of death a light appeared to them (Cf Isaiah 9,2), that is why it appeared from Seir. At the same time, it is not absurd not to understand that it was predicted that the grace of Christ would come to the people of Israel from the Gentiles, meaning by the name of Seir, because it is a mountain belonging to Esau. That is why the Apostle says: So also they did not now believe in the mercy granted to you so that they too may obtain mercy (Rm 11,31). They say: It has been shown to us from Seir and it has been hurried from Mount Farán -from the fruitful mountain, for this means Farán, by which the Church is designated-, with many thousands from Cades. Cades means “changed” and “sanctity.” So many thousands have been changed and sanctified by grace. With them Christ came to gather the Israelites later. Then he goes on saying: On his right there are angels with him. This does not need explanation. And he forgave his people, granting them the forgiveness of sins. Then the word returns to that people to say: And all the sanctified are under your hands and they are under you. They are not overbearing, and without wanting to establish their own justice. They recognize the grace to submit to the justice of God (Cf Rm 10,3). Then he says: And he took the law from his words. Who receives it, of course, is the people of whom it was said: He forgave his people. He received, then, from his words the law, which Moses commanded us. His people received the law from his words, because of his teaching he understood the law that Moses commanded us. For Christ himself said in the Gospel: If you believed in Moses, you would also believe in me, for he wrote about me (John 5,46). The Jewish people did not receive a law that they did not understand. He received it when he understood it from his words without the ancient veil and once he converted the people to the Lord. He calls this law inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob. And it is an inheritance, not earthly, but celestial; not temporary, but eternal. And it continues: And there will be a prince in the beloved. The prince, of course, is the Lord Jesus, who will be in the beloved town. Once the princes of the peoples - of the Gentiles - gathered together with the tribes of Israel. And this is to fulfill what was said before: Rejoice, Gentiles, together with his people, because a partial blindness has come upon Israel, until all the Gentiles enter and thus all Israel will be saved. — QUESTIONS ON DEUTERONOMY, Q. 56 (tr. J. Litteral, draft)

Deuteronomy 33:2

Gregory the Dialogist: Hence it is well said through Moses: “In His right hand was a fiery law.” For the reprobate, who are also to be placed on the left, are indeed the left hand; but the elect are called the right hand of God. Therefore in God’s right hand is the fiery law, because the elect by no means hear heavenly commandments with a cold heart, but are set ablaze toward them with the torches of inward love. The word is brought to the ear, and their mind, angry at itself, is consumed by the flame of inward sweetness. — Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 30

Hippolytus of Rome: Hippolytus, the expositor of the Targum, has said that Moses, when he had finished this prophecy, also pronounced a blessing upon all the children of Israel, by their several tribes, and prayed for them. Then God charged Moses, saying to him, Go up to Mount Nebo, which indeed is known by the name of the mount of the Hebrews, which is in the land of Moab over against Jericho.

And He said to him: View the land of Chanaan, which I am to give to the children of Israel for an inheritance. Thou, however, shalt never enter it; wherefore view it well from afar off. When Moses therefore viewed it, he saw that land,-a land green, and abounding with all plenty and fertility, planted thickly with trees; and Moses was greatly moved, and wept.

And when Moses descended from Mount Nebo, he called for Joshua the son of Nun, and said to him before the children of Israel: Prevail, and be strong; for thou art to bring the children of Israel into the land which God promised to fathers that He would give their them for an inheritance. Fear not, therefore, the people, neither be afraid of the nations: for God will be with thee.

And Moses wrote that Senna, and gave it to the priests the sons of Levi, and commanded them, saying: For seven years keep this Senna hid, and show it not within the entire course of seven years. (“And then”) in the feast of tabernacles, the priests the sons of Levi will read this law before the children of Israel, that the whole people, men and women alike, may observe the words of God: Command them to keep the word of God, which is in that law. And whosoever shall violate one of its precepts, let him be accursed.

Accordingly, when Moses had finished the writing of the law, he gave it to Joshua the son of Nun, and enjoined him to give it to the sons of Levi, the priests. Moses also enjoined and charged them to place the book of the law again within the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that it might remain there for a testimony for ever.

And when Moses had made an end of his injunctions, God bade him go up Mount Nebo, which is over against Jericho. The Lord showed him the whole land of promise in its four quarters, from the wilderness to the sea, and from sea to sea. And the Lord said to him, Thou hast seen it indeed with thine eyes, but thou shall never enter it. There accordingly Moses died, the servant of God, by the command of God. And the angels buried him on Mount Nebo, which is over against Beth-Phegor. And no one knows of his sepulchre, even to this day. For God concealed his grave.

And Moses lived 120 years; nor was his eye dim, nor was the skin of his face wrinkled.

Moses died on a certain day, at the third hour of the day, on the seventh day of the second month, which is the month Jiar.

And the children of Israel wept for him in the plains of Moab three days.

And Joshua the sun of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hand upon him. And all the children of Israel obeyed him. And God charged Joshua the son of Nun on a certain day,-namely, the seventh day of the month Nisan.

And Joshua the son of Nun lived 110 to years, and died on the fourth day, which was the first day of the month Elul. And they buried him in the city Thamnatserach, on Mount Ephraim.

Praise be to God for the completion of the work. — Hippolytus Exegetical Fragments

Paterius: What does God’s left hand mean, except the reprobate, who are to be placed at God’s left hand? The elect are called God’s right hand. For at God’s right hand there is a fiery law, because by no means do the elect hear the heavenly commands with cold hearts but flame up at these commands like torches of inner love. The word comes to their ears, and their minds burn with the flame of inner sweetness. — EXPOSITION OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT, Deuteronomy 26

Deuteronomy 33:6

Aphrahat the Persian Sage: Moses wished by his priestly power to absolve Reuben from his transgression and sin, in that he had lain with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, so that when his brothers should rise, he might not be cut off from their number. So he said in the beginning of his blessing, “Reuben shall live and not die and shall be in the number.” — DEMONSTRATION 8.8

Deuteronomy 33:9

Paterius: That man desires to know God more closely who, out of love for piety, does not want to know those he knew according to the flesh. Divine knowledge suffers a grave loss if it is shared with fleshly knowledge. Each one ought to stand apart from his relatives and neighbors if he wishes to be joined more truly to the Father of all. Those he manfully neglects for the sake of God he loves more firmly, to the extent that he ignores the passing attachment of carnal relationship. In the world of time, indeed, we should be more helpful to those we are related to more closely than to others, since this flame grows into a fire when fuel is supplied. But the fire first burns where it is kindled. We ought to acknowledge the bond of earthly relationship but ignore it when it blocks the journey of the mind. This happens when the faithful soul, on fire with devotion to God, does not despise what is joined to it below, rightly orders these relations within itself and transcends them by its love of what is highest. So we ought to see to it by resourceful concern lest such love should make its entry for the sake of the flesh and turns the heart’s progress away from the right path. It could weaken the power of higher love and press the rising mind down by loading a weight on it. Thus one ought to sympathize with his relatives’ needs in such a way that, through compassion, he does not allow the effect of his decision to be blocked. The emotions of the mind should fill the heart but not turn it away from its spiritual vocation. For holy men do not love their carnal relatives by failing to give them what they need, but by love of spiritual things they conquer that love in themselves, insofar as they temper it with the reins of discretion. Through this love, at least in a small measure, they will not stray from the right path. Cows are figures that suggest these men to us. As the cows move to the high place before God’s ark, they walk with eagerness and a determined pace, while their calves have been left in the stable. For Scripture has it, “walking on and lowing, giving forth bellows from within, and yet not turning their steps away from the path, they have set out.” — EXPOSITION OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT, Deuteronomy 27

Deuteronomy 33:17

Ambrose of Milan: Ten thousand, he said, Ephraim, and thousands of Manasseh (Deut. XXXIII, 17), that is, he should rule over both the Jews and the Gentiles, and acquire for himself the fullness of the Church from both peoples. — On the Blessings of the Patriarchs, Chapter XI

Augustine of Hippo: When Moses blesses Joseph, he says, among other things: Firstborn of the bull his beauty. This is not to be understood as if he had said: firstborn of the bull, but, being the firstborn, his beauty is that of the bull. It is understood as a figure of the Lord, because of the horns of the cross. <div — QUESTIONS ON DEUTERONOMY, Q. 57 (tr. J. Litteral, draft)

Deuteronomy 33:22

Ambrose of Milan: Moses blessed this tribe, saying: Dan is a lion’s cub that shall leap forth from Bashan (Deut. XXXII, 22), that is, from confusion. Hence, according to the Greek translation, we should understand that Dan himself became a serpent sitting on the way. Dan means judgement. And therefore, this tribe underwent a grave risk of judgement, as the serpent, Antichrist, slipped in and wounded it with his venoms. — On the Blessings of the Patriarchs, Chapter VII

Deuteronomy 33:24

Ambrose of Milan: But the Church has oil wherewith she dresses the wounds of her children, lest the hardness of the wound spread deeply; she has oil which she has received secretly. With this oil Asher washed his feet as it is written: “A blessed son is Asher, and he shall be acceptable to his brothers, and shall dip his feet in oil.” With this oil, then, the Church anoints the necks of her children, that they may take up the yoke of Christ; with this oil she anointed the Martyrs, that she might cleanse them from the dust of this world; with this oil she anointed the Confessors, that they might not yield to their labours, nor sink down through weariness; that they might not be overcome by the heat of this world; and she anointed them in order to refresh them with the spiritual oil. — Letter 41, Section 20

Deuteronomy 33:25

Paterius: Moses says this with regard to the holy church. Shoe in Holy Scripture means the office of preaching, as is written, “Feet have been shod in preparation for the gospel of peace.” Since iron means virtue and bronze means perseverance, a man’s shoes are said to be iron and bronze when his preaching is strengthened with incisiveness and persistence. With iron he penetrates opposing evils, and with bronze he preserves the good he had patiently proposed. — EXPOSITION OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT, Deuteronomy 28