Deuteronomy 33
The blessings of Moses, the man of God, are governmental in character, and not prophetic as Jacob’s. Thus the notable point of difference between the predictions of Jacob and Moses is, that the former gives a brief but very complete sketch of Israel’s history from her establishment as a nation till her full blessing under her Messiah. Moses, on the contrary, and in keeping with the character of the book of Deuteronomy, looks at the tribes entering the land and continuing therein in relationship to God, on the ground of obedience. Their place in Canaan, under the government of God, blessed when they did well, punished when they sinned, is in the main the subject of the blessings which in their range and bearing are much more narrow and circumscribed than those of Jacob’s. The order of the tribes is different here from that noted in Genesis 49.
Reuben
“Let Reuben live, and not die; and let (omit ‘not’) his men be few.” (Deut.33:6) It might have been expected that Reuben, being the eldest of the twelve sons, would have had a numbering somewhat more in keeping with his position (Num. 1:21), but instead of being the largest of the tribes, he was amongst the smallest, and after the conquest of Canaan was ever reckoned with Gad and half-tribe of Manasseh. Reuben, although small in numbers, was continued as a tribe, but never figured prominently in the land. The prediction was exactly fulfilled.
Judah
“And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be Thou an help to him from his enemies.” (Deut. 33:7) The birth-right of Reuben, the eldest, was transferred to Joseph (1 Chron. 5:1), but power or authority, which generally accompanied the birth-right, went to Judah. Jehovah specially identifies Himself with this tribe and with Judah too as a nation. It was of this tribe of whom Christ came according to the flesh. “Bring him unto his people,” no doubt refers to the future union of the now broken sticks, “beauty” and “bands” — Judah and Israel (Zech. 11:7-14; Ezek. 37:15-22). This is one of the few yet future prophetic announcements contained in these predictions. “The voice of Judah” is heard again and again in the prayers, songs, and prophecies of David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Daniel, and others of the royal tribe. “Be Thou an help to him from his enemies” is witnessed in the signal and remarkable deliverances vouchsafed to Judah, as a tribe and as a nation.
Levi
Here Simeon is omitted, and the brotherhood existing between him and Levi spoken of by Jacob (Gen. 49) broken up. (Deut. 33:8-11). Levi is blest with priesthood, service, and teaching, so that the scattering and dispersion of this tribe throughout the land, while in the first instance one of judgment, was yet used of God for the good and blessing of His people.
Benjamin
“The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between His shoulders.” (Deut. 33:12). Jehovah established His throne and sanctuary in Jerusalem; from the one He governed the people in righteousness, in the other He dwelt in their midst in grace; and, as Jerusalem was within the territory assigned to Benjamin, this beautiful prayer expressed, in words most touching and tender, Jehovah’s special place in midst of the tribe. What an honour, what a blessing was conferred upon Benjamin — the living God dwelling in her midst!
Joseph
The heavens and earth yield their treasures in rich and full abundance, and center on the head of Joseph. (Deut. 33:13-17). Glory, too, is his, and strength reaching his enemies to the end of the earth. All this might have followed Jehovah’s appropriation of the people and His dwelling in their midst, had they been ready for the reception of their Messiah and for the blessings He brought; but, alas! Israel knew not the day of her gracious visitation, and so the blessing is postponed, but not lost. The full blessing of Joseph awaits millennial days. Joseph’s sons come in for Reuben’s portion and blessing (1 Chron. 5:1).
Zebulun and Issachar
Of Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and Issachar, in thy tents.” (Deut. 33:18-19). Both tribes are called upon to rejoice. The former “in going out,” that is in commerce with the Gentiles; the latter as dwelling in her “tents,” that is in remaining in the land and trafficking at home. The river Belus, on the coast of Zebulun, furnished this commercial and maritime tribe with enormous quantities of fine sand, which they manufactured into glass. ‘Twas here, consequently, that the art of glass-making was first discovered, and which yielded a considerable revenue to this clever and industrious people. Besides this source of wealth, the seaport towns bordering on the Mediterranean, as Tyre and Sidon, poured their treasures into the country occupied by these tribes. Zebulun, particularly, looked after the sea trade, while the inland traffic was mainly taken up by Issachar.
Gad
The Gadites were a brave and courageous people, and, owing to their peculiarly exposed position on the eastern side of Jordan, were often in conflict with the surrounding nations. For mutual defence and protection, this tribe leagued itself with Reuben and half-tribe of Manasseh. The prowess of the people and their lion-like character were proverbial (Deut. 33:20-21). Gad “provided the first part for himself,” that is, the rich meadows and fertile lands of Gilead, particularly suitable for their numerous cattle. This very extensive and fine tract of country was claimed by the two tribes and a half already alluded to ere they crossed the Jordan (Num. 32). This apparent break in the unity of all Israel hitherto preserved, justly roused the jealousy of Moses and the tribes generally, which certainly was not allayed by their after action of building an altar apart from their brethren (Josh. 22). Gad, however, and the associate tribes had no intention to sever themselves from the nation, or break the link of relationship established between Jehovah and Israel. Gad passed “armed before the Lord” into Canaan, and even encouraged Joshua, in view of the conquest of the land (Josh. 1:12-18): Thus Gad “came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord, and His judgments with Israel.”
Dan
“Of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.” (Deut. 33:22). The bold, cruel, reckless daring of this tribe, and their gross idolatry, are well known. Judges 18, furnishes a terrible example of their cruelty and idolatry combined. Six hundred Danites stealthily surrounded Laish (Lion), the people of which were living in careless ease, and far from their allies and friends the Zidonians. The leaping of a “lion’s whelp” from the hills of Bashan is the expressive symbol of this and other war exploits by the Danites. The city of Laish was taken, and all put to the sword; then they named it Dan, after their father. Samson, the lion-judge of Israel, was of this tribe. Satan is termed a “serpent” and a “lion”; so Jacob connects with this tribe the subtlety of the “serpent,” and Moses the daring of the “lion.”
Naphtali
“O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord; possess thou the west and the south.” (Deut. 33:23). Josephus, the Jewish historian, says of the territory possessed by this tribe, “One might call it the ambition of nature,” their part of the country abounding with gardens, palm, fig, olive, and other trees, and being exceedingly fruitful in flower and fruit. The full blessing of Jehovah rested upon this tribe; hence little wonder that Naphtali’s satisfaction with her portion is here dwelt upon. The cities of Capernaum and Chorazin, embraced in the bounds of this tribe and of Zebulun, were specially visited by the favour of Jehovah, not merely in temporal blessing, but also by the personal ministry of Jesus (Isa. 9:1-2; Matt. 4:12-16).
Asher
“Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil. Thy shoes shall be iron and brass (copper); and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” (Deut. 33:24-25). This tribe multiplied greatly, and although it is difficult, if not impossible, to define with geographical accuracy the exact boundaries of the tribes, yet it is certain that Asher’s portion was not only extensive but crowded with cities, towns and villages, as the abundant ruins fully testify. Here is the testimony of the Jewish historian — ”Moreover, the cities be here very thick; and the numerous villages are so full of people through the richness of the soil, that the very least of them contain about 15,000 inhabitants.”
The prediction “Let Asher be blessed with children” has been fulfilled to the letter. The favour with which the tribe was regarded by their brethren is next noted; “Let him dip his foot in oil,” is an expression referring to the wonderful fertile hills and plains, stretching down to the sea coast for many miles. The mountains are now bare enough, but at one time they were covered with olive trees, and the many oil presses yet extant, and of ancient origin, show that northern Israel must have been an exceedingly rich country.
Here, too, abounded “iron and brass,” rather “copper” (Deut. 33:25). The inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon were famous artificers and workers in metals generally, and were employed by Solomon in casting and preparing the holy vessels for the temple. The purple produced from the beautiful shellfish on the sea coast of the tribe is largely spoken of in Scripture, and altogether the portion of Asher was exceedingly large and full.
We would conclude these remarks — prophetic and historic — with the grand conclusion: “There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in His excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. ... Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency!”