Chapter 33:
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| Geneva
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Numbers Joshua
Deuteronomy 33
The blessing of Moses. He pronounces them all blessed,
in what God had done for them, already, ver. 1-5. He pronounces
a blessing upon each tribe, ver. 6-25. He pronounces them all in
general blessed, on account of what God would be to them, and
do for them, if they were obedient, ver. 26-29.
Verse 1. Moses blessed Israel - He is said to bless them, by praying to
God with faith for his blessing upon them; and by foretelling the
blessings which God would confer upon them. And Moses calls
himself here the man of God, that is, the servant or prophet of
God, to acquaint them that the following prophecies were not his
own inventions, but divine inspirations. The children of Israel -
The several tribes: only Simeon is omitted, either in detestation of
their parent Simeon's bloody carriage, for which Jacob gives that
tribe a curse rather than a blessing, in Gen. xlix, 5-7. Or, because
that tribe had no distinct inheritance, but was to have its portion in
the tribe of Judah, Josh. xix, 1.
Verse 2. The Lord came - Namely, to the Israelites, manifested himself
graciously and gloriously among them. From Sinai - Beginning at
Sinai, where the first appearance of God was, and so going on
with them to Seir and Paran. And rose up - He appeared or
shewed himself, as the sun doth when it riseth. From Seir - From
the mountain or land of Edom, to which place the Israelites came,
Num. xx, 14, &c. and from thence God led them on towards the
land of promise, and then gloriously appeared for them in
subduing Sihon and Og before them. But because the land of
Edom is sometimes taken more largely, and so reacheth even to
the Red-sea, and therefore mount Sinai was near to it, and because
Paran was also near Sinai, being the next station into which they
came from the wilderness of Sinai: all this verse may belong to
God's appearance in mount Sinai, where that glorious light which
shone upon mount Sinai directly, did in all probability scatter its
beams into adjacent parts, such as Seir and Paran were. And if so,
this is only a poetical expression of the same thing in divers
words, and God coming or rising or shining from or to or in Sinai
and Seir and Paran note one and the same illustrious action of
God appearing there with ten thousands of his saints or holy
angels, and giving a fiery law to them. Paran - A place where God
eminently manifested his presence and goodness both in giving
the people flesh which they desired, and in appointing the seventy
elders and pouring forth his spirit upon them. With ten thousands
of saints - That is, with a great company of holy angels, Psalm
lxviii, 17 Dan. vii, 10, which attended upon him in this great and
glorious work of giving the law, as may be gathered from Acts
vii, 53 Gal. iii, 19. From his right hand - Which both wrote the
law and gave it to men. An allusion to men who ordinarily write
and give gifts with their right hand. A fiery law - The law is called
fiery, because it is of a fiery nature purging and searching and
inflaming, to signify that fiery wrath which it inflicteth upon
sinners for the violation of it, and principally because it was
delivered out of the midst of the fire.
Verse 3. The people - The tribes of Israel. The sense is, this law, though
delivered with fire and smoke and thunder, which might seem to
portend nothing but hatred and terror, yet in truth was given to
Israel, in great love, as being the great mean of their temporal and
eternal salvation. Yea, he, embraced the people, and laid them in
his bosom! so the word signifies, which speaks not only the
dearest love, but the most tender and careful protection. All God's
saints or holy ones, that is, his people, were in thy hand, that is,
under God's care to protect, direct and govern them. These words
are spoken to God: the change of persons, his and thy, is most
frequent in the Hebrew tongue. This clause may farther note
God's kindness to Israel, in upholding them when the fiery law
was delivered, which was done with so much terror that not only
the people were ready to sink under it, but even Moses did
exceedingly fear and quake. But God sustained both Moses and
the people, in or by his hand, whereby he in a manner covered
them that no harm might come to them. At thy feet - Like scholars
to receive instructions. He alludes to the place where the people
waited when the law was delivered, which was at the foot of the
mount. Every one - Of the people will receive or submit to thy
instructions and commands. This may respect either, the peoples
promise when they heard the law, that they would hear and do all
that was commanded. Or, their duty to do so.
Verse 4. Moses - He speaks this of himself in the third person, which is
very usual in the Hebrew language. The law is called their
inheritance, because the obligation of it was hereditary, passing
from parents to their children, and because this was the best part
of their inheritance, the greatest of all those gifts which God
bestowed upon them.
Verse 5. He was king in Jeshurun - Moses was their king not in title, but
in reality, being under God, their supreme governor, and law
giver. Gathered together - When the princes and people met
together for the management of public affairs, Moses was owned
by them as their king and lawgiver. 6. Let Reuben live - Though
Reuben deserve to be cut off or greatly diminished and obscured,
according to Jacob's prediction, Gen. xlix, 4, yet God will spare
them and give them a name and portion among the tribes of Israel,
and bless them with increase of their numbers. All the ancient
paraphrasts refer this to the other world, so far were they from
expecting temporal blessings only. Let Reuben live in life eternal,
says Onkelos, and not die the second death. Let Reuben live in
this world, so Jonathan and the Jerusalem Targum, and not die
that death which the wicked die in the world to come.
Verse 7. Hear, Lord - God will hear his prayer for the accomplishment
of those great things promised to that tribe, Gen. xlix, 8-12. This
implies the delays and difficulties Judah would meet with, that
would drive him to his prayers, which would be with success.
Unto his people - When he shall go forth to battle against his
enemies and shall fall fiercely upon them, as was foretold, Gen.
xlix, 8, 9. Bring him back with honour and victory, to his people,
to the rest of his tribe who were left at home when their brethren
went to battle: and to his brethren the other tribes of Israel. Let his
hands be sufficient for him - This tribe shall be so numerous and
potent that it shall suffice to defend itself without any aid, either
from foreign nations or from other tribes; as appeared when this
tribe alone was able to grapple with nine or ten of the other tribes.
From his enemies - Thou wilt preserve this tribe in a special
manner, so that his enemies shall not be able to ruin it, as they
will do other tribes, and that for the sake of the Messiah who shall
spring out of it.
Verse 8. Let thy Urim - The Thummim and the Urim, which are thine, O
Lord by special institution and consecration, (by which he
understands the ephod in which they were put, and the high
priesthood, to which they were appropriated, and withal the gifts
and graces signified by the Urim and Thummim, and necessary
for the discharge of that high-office) shall be with thy holy one,
that is, with that priest, whom thou hast consecrated to thyself,
and who is holy in a more peculiar manner than all the people
were; that is, the priesthood shall be confined to and continued in
Aaron's family. Whom thou didst prove - Altho' thou didst try
him, and rebuke him, yet thou didst not take away the priesthood
from him. At Massah - Not at that Massah mentioned Exod. xvii,
7, which is also called Meribah, but at that other Meribah, Num.
xx, 13. Thou didst strive - Whom thou didst reprove and chastise.
Verse 9. I have not seen him - That is, I have no respect unto them. The
sense is, who followed God and his command fully, and executed
the judgment enjoined by God without any respect of persons,
Exod. xxxii, 26, 27. They kept thy covenant - When the rest broke
their covenant with God by that foul sin of idolatry with the calf,
that tribe kept themselves pure from that infection, and adhered to
God and his worship.
Verse 11. His substance - Because he hath no inheritance of his own and
therefore wholly depends upon thy blessing. The work of his
hands - All his holy administrations, which he fitly calls the work
of his hands, because a great part of the service of the Levites and
priests was done by the labour of their hand and body, whereas
the service of evangelical ministers is more spiritual and
heavenly. Smite - He pray's thus earnestly for them, because he
foresaw they who were to teach and reprove, and chastise others
would have many enemies, and because they were under God, the
great preservers and upholders of religion, and their enemies were
the enemies of religion itself.
Verse 12. Of Benjamin - Benjamin is put next to Levi, because the
temple, where the work of the Levites lay, was upon the edge of
the lot of this tribe. And 'tis put before Joseph, because of the
dignity of Jerusalem, (part of which was in this lot) above
Samaria, which was in the tribe of Ephraim: likewise because
Benjamin adhered to the house of David and to the temple of God,
when the rest of the tribes deserted both. The beloved of the Lord
- So called in allusion to their father Benjamin who was the
beloved of his father Jacob; and because of the kindness of God to
this tribe which appeared both in this, that they dwelt in the best
part of the land, as Josephus affirms, and in the following
privilege. Shall dwell in safety by him - Shall have his lot nigh to
God's temple, which was both a singular comfort and safeguard to
him. Shall cover - Shall protect that tribe continually while they
cleave to him. He - The Lord shall dwell, that is, his temple shall
be placed, between his shoulders, that is, in his portion, or
between his border's as the word shoulder is often used. And this
was truly the situation of the temple, on both sides whereof was
Benjamin's portion. And though mount Sion was in the tribe of
Judah, yet mount Moriah, on which the temple was built, was in
the tribe of Benjamin.
Verse 13. And of Joseph - Including both Ephraim and Manasseh. In
Jacob's blessing that of Joseph's 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.
Verse 14. 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 months or seasons of the year.
Verse 15. The chief things - That is, the excellent fruits, as grapes,
olives, figs, &c. which delight in mountains, growing upon, or the
precious minerals contained in, their mountains and hills called
ancient and lasting, that is, such as have been from the beginning
of the world, and are likely to continue to the end of it, in
opposition to those hills or mounts which have been cast up by
man.
Verse 16. And for - And in general for all the choice fruits which the
land produceth in all the parts of it, whither hills or valleys.
Fulness thereof - That is, the plants and cattle and all creatures
that grow, increase, and flourish in it. The good will - For all other
effects of the good will and kindness of God who not long since
did for a time dwell or appear in the bush to me in order to the
relief of his people, Exod. iii, 2. Of Joseph - That is, of Joseph's
posterity. Him that was separated from his brethren - His brethren
separated him from them by making him a slave, and God
distinguished him from them by making him a prince. The
preceeding words might be rendered, My dweller in the bush.
That was an appearance of the divine majesty to Moses only, in
token of his particular favour. Many a time had God appeared to
Moses; but now he is just dying, he seems to have the most
pleasing remembrance, of the first time that he saw the visions of
the Almighty. It was here God declared himself the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and so confirmed the promise made to
the father, that promise which our Lord shews, reaches as far as
the resurrection and eternal life.
Verse 17. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock - Or young bull,
which is a stately creature, and was therefore formerly used as an
emblem of royal majesty. This seems to note the kingdom which
Ephraim should obtain in Jeroboam and his successors. His horns
- His strength and power shall be very great. The people - All that
shall oppose him, and particularly the Canaanites. The ten
thousands - Of the land of Canaan. Though Manasseh be now
more numerous, yet Ephraim shall shortly outstrip him, as was
foretold Gen. xlviii, 17-19.
Verse 18. Rejoice - Thou shalt prosper and have cause of rejoicing. In
thy going out -
1. To war, as this phrase is often used.
2. To sea, in way of traffick, because their portion lay near the
sea. And in both respects his course is opposite to that of Issachar,
who was a lover of peace and pasturage. He is here joined with
Zebulun, both because they were brethren by father and mother
too, and because their possessions lay near together. In thy tents -
Thou shalt give thyself to the management of laud and cattle,
living quietly in thy own possessions.
Verse 19. They - Zebulun of whom Moses takes more special notice.
And so having dispatched Issachar in two words, he returns to
Zebulun. The people - the Gentiles, either those of Galilee, which
was called Galilee of the Gentiles, who were their neighbours; or
people of other nations, with whom they had commerce, which
they endeavoured to improve in persuading them to worship the
true God. The mountain - That is, to the temple, which Moses
knew was to be seated upon a mountain. Sacrifices of
righteousness - Such as God requires. Their trafficking abroad
with Heathen nations shall not make them forget their duty at
home, nor shall their distance from the place of sacrifice hinder
them from coming to it to discharge that duty. Of the abundance
of the sea - They shall grow rich by the traffick of the sea, and
shall consecrate themselves and their riches to God. Hid in the
sand - Such precious things as either
1. Are contained in the sand of the sea and rivers, in which
sometimes there is mixed a considerable quantity of gold and
silver. Or,
2. Such as grow in the sea, or are fetched from the sandy bottom
of it, as pearls, coral, ambergrease. Or,
3. Such as being cast into the sea by shipwreck are cast upon the
shore by the workings of the sea. It were well, if the enlargement
of our trade with foreign countries, were made to contribute to the
spreading of the gospel.
Verse 20. Enlargeth - That bringeth him out of his straits amid 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.
Verse 21. The first part - The first fruits of the land of promise, the
country of Sihon, which was first conquered, which he is said to
provide for himself, because he desired and obtained it of Moses.
Of the law-giver - Of Moses, whose portion this is called, either
because this part of the land beyond Jordan was the only part of
the land which Moses was permitted to enter upon: or because it
was given him by Moses, whereas the portions beyond Jordan
were given to the several tribes by Joshua according to the
direction of the lot. Seated - Hebrew. hid or protected: for their
wives and children were secured in their cities, while many of
their men went over to the war in Canaan. He came - He went, or
he will go, to the war in Canaan, with the princes, or captains, or
rulers of the people of Israel, that is, under their command and
conduct, as indeed they did; or with the first of the people; or, in
the front of the people, as the Syriack renders it; for this tribe and
their brethren whose lot fell beyond Jordan, were to march into
Canaan before their brethren. He executed - The just judgment of
God against the Canaanites, as the rest of the Israelites did.
Verse 22. A lion's whelp - Courageous, and generous, and strong, and
successful against his enemies. Which leapeth - From Bashan,
because there were many and fierce lions in those parts, whence
they used to come forth and leap upon the prey. Or this may refer
either to the particular victories obtained by Samson, who was of
the tribe of Daniel, or to a more general achievement of that tribe,
when a party of them surprised Laish, which lay in the farthest
part of the land of Canaan from them. And the mountain of
Bashan lying not far from that city, from whence they probably
made their descent upon it, thus leaping from Basham.
Verse 23. Satisfied with favour - With the favour of God. That only is
the favour that satisfies the soul. They are happy indeed that have
the favour of God; and they shall have it, that place their
satisfaction in it. And full with the blessing of the Lord - Not Only
with corn, wine and oil, the fruit of the blessing, but with the
blessing itself, the grace of God, according to his promise and
covenant. Possess thou the west and the south - Or, the sea and the
south. This is not to be understood of the place, that his lot should
fall there, for he was rather in the east and north of the land; but of
the pleasures and commodities of the west or of the sea, which
were conveyed to him from his neighbour Zebulun; and of the
south, that is, from the southern tribes and parts of Canaan, which
were brought to him down the river Jordan, and both sorts of
commodities were given him in exchange for the fruitful rich soil
which he had in great abundance.
Verse 24. Let Asher - Who carries blessedness in his very name, be
blessed with children - He shall have numerous, strong and
healthful children. Acceptable to his brethren - By his sweet
disposition and winning carriage. In oil - He shall have such
plenty of oil that he may not only wash his face, but his feet also
in it.
Verse 25. Iron and brass - The mines of iron and copper, which were in
their portion, whence Sidon their neighbour was famous among
the Heathens for its plenty of brass, and Sarepta is thought to have
its name from the brass and iron which were melted there in great
quantity. Thy strength shall be - Thy strength shall not be
diminished with age, but thou shalt have the vigour of youth even
in thine old age: thy tribe shalt grow stronger and stronger.
Verse 26. There us none - These are the last words that ever Moses
wrote, perhaps the greatest writer that ever lived upon the earth.
And this man of God, who had as much reason to know both as
ever any mere man had, with his last breath magnifies both the
God of Israel, and the Israel of God. Unto the God of Jeshurun,
who to help thee, rideth upon the heaven, and with the greatest
state and magnificence, on the sky. Riding on the heaven denotes
the greatness and glory, in which he manifests himself to the
upper world, and the use he makes of the influences of heaven and
the products of the clouds, in bringing to pass his own counsels in
this lower world. All these he manages and directs, as a man doth
the horse he rides on.
Verse 27. The eternal God - He who was before all worlds, and will be,
when time shall be no more: Is thy refuge - Or, thy habitation or
mansion-house (so the word signifies) in whom thou art safe, and
easy, and at rest, as a man is in his own house. Every true Israelite
is at home in God: the soul returns to him, and reposes in him.
And they that make him their habitation shall have all the
comforts and benefits of an habitation in him. And underneath are
the everlasting arms - The almighty power of God, which protects
and comforts all that trust in him, in their greatest straits and
distresses. He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee - Shall
make room for thee by his resistless power, and shall say, Destroy
them - Giving thee not only a commission but strength to put it in
execution. And, has he not given the same commission and the
same strength to believers, to destroy all sin?
Verse 28. Alone - Either
1. Tho' they be alone, and have no confederates to defend them,
but have all the world against them, yet my single protection shall
be sufficient for them. Or,
2. Distinct and separated from all other nations, with whom I will
not have them mingle themselves. The fountain - That is, the
posterity of Jacob, which flowed from him as waters from a
fountain, in great abundance. The fountain is here put for the river
or streams which flow from it, as Jacob or Israel who is the
fountain is often put for the children of Israel. His heavens - That
is, those heavens or that air which hangs over his land.
Verse 29. The shield of they help - By whom thou are sufficiently
guarded against all assailants; and the sword of thy excellency -
Or, thy most excellent sword, that is, thy strength and the author
of all thy past or approaching victories. Those in whose hearts is
the excellency of holiness, have God himself for their shield and
sword. They are defended by the whole armour of God: His word
is their sword, and faith their shield. And thine enemies shall be
found liars unto thee - Who said they would destroy thee: or at
least, that they would never submit: and thou shalt tread upon
their high places - Their strong holds, palaces and temples. Thus
shall the God of peace tread Satan under the feet of all believers,
and that shortly.
Chapter 33:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Numbers Joshua
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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