Deuteronomy Chapter 33
Moses Blesses the Tribes
1 Moses the man of God gave this blessing to Israel before he died:
2 “Yahveh came from Sinai
and dawned from Seir;
he shined out from Mount Paran.
He came with ten thousand holy ones
with flashing lightning at his right hand.
3 He loved his people;
all the ones consecrated to him
were in his hand;
so they followed in his steps
and received direction from him
4when Moses commanded us a law
as a possession for the assembly of Jacob.
5 Yahveh became king in Jeshurun,
when the leaders of the people gathered
all the tribes of Israel.”
6 “Let Reuben live,
let his people not be few.”
Deut 33:1-6
7 He said about Judah,
“Listen, Yahveh, to Judah
and bring him to his people.
With your hands, contend for him
and help him against his enemies.”
Deut 33:7
8 He said about Levi,
“You’ve given Levi your Thummin
and your Urim to that godly man
that you tested at Massah
and strove with at Meribah;
9 who said of his parents,
‘I don’t care about them’;
who disowned his relatives
and ignored his children
in preference to observing your word
and keeping your covenant.
10 He’ll teach Jacob your ordinances
and Israel your Law.
He’ll put incense in front of you
and whole burnt offering on your altar.
11 Yahveh, bless his substance
and accept his ministry.
Crush the loins of his adversaries,
the ones who hate him,
so they won’t get up again.”
Deut 33:8-11
12 He said about Benjamin,
“Yahveh’s beloved
lives in safety beside him.
He surrounds him all day long
and makes his home
between his shoulders.” Deut 33:12
` 13 He said about Joseph,
“May Yahveh bless his land
with the best gifts from the sky above
and the deep below,
14 with the best fruits of the sun
and the rich yield of the months,
15 with the finest produce of the ancient mountains
and the abundance of the everlasting hills,
16 with the best gifts of the soil and its bounty,
and the favor of him that appeared in the bush.
May these come on Joseph’s head
and on the crown of the one that’s
chief among his brothers.
17 He has the majesty of a young bull
and the horns of the wild ox.
He’ll gore the nations away,
to the ends of the earth.
Such are the thousands of Manasseh
and the ten thousands of Ephraim.”
Deut 33:13-17
18 He said about Zebulun and Issachar,
“Celebrate, Zebulun, in your travels,
and Issachar, in your tents.
19 Call the people to the mountain
to offer proper sacrifices.
Draw wealth from the sea
and hidden treasures from the sand.” Deut 33:18-19
20 He said about Gad,
“Blessed is the one that enlarges Gad’s territory.
Gad crouches like a lion
to tear off an arm and the crown from the head.
21 He chose the best land for himself,
because a commander’s portion was reserved there.
He came to the heads of the people;
with Israel he carried out Yahveh’ commands
and just decrees.” Deut 33:20-21
22 He said about Dan,
“Dan is a lion’s cub
that leaps out from Bashan.” Deut 33:22
23 He said about Naphtali,
“Naphtali, satisfied by being favored
and full of Yahveh’s blessing,
possess the lake and the south.” Deut 33:23
24 He said about Asher,
“May Asher be more blessed than other sons;
let him be his brothers’ favorite,
and let him dip his foot in olive oil.
25 Your bars will be iron and bronze;
your strength will be like your days.” Deut 33:24-25
26 “There’s none like the God of Jeshurun,
who rides through the heavens to help you,
who rides through the sky in his majesty.
27 The eternal God is where you live;
his everlasting arms undergird you.
He thrust out your enemy in front of you
and said, ‘Destroy them.’
28 So Israel lives in safety,
the fountain of Jacob alone,
in a land of grain and wine;
his sky drops dew.
29 You’re blessed, Israel.
Who is like you,
a people Yahveh has saved,
Yahveh, the shield that protected you,
the sword that gave you triumph?
Your enemies will come cringing before you;
you’ll walk on their backs.” Deut 33:26-29