“And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.”
This blessing containeth not only a simple prayer, but an assurance of the effect thereof.
“Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.”
As thy disciples. Hebrew, his Saints, that is, the children of Israel.
“Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.”
Reuben shall be one of the tribes of God’s people, though for his sin his honor be diminished, and his family but small.
“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.”
Signifying, that he should hardly obtain Jacob’s promises, Gen. 49:8 .
“And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;”
Cross references: : Exod. 28:30
“Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.”
He preferred God’s glory to all natural affection, Exod. 32:29 .
“Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.”
He declareth that the ministers of God have many enemies, and therefore have need to be prayed for.
“And of Benjamin he said, 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.”
Because the Temple should be built in Zion, which was in the tribe of Benjamin, he showeth that God should dwell with him there.
“And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.”
Gen. 49:26 Which was God appearing unto Moses, Exod. 3:2 .
“And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.”
In thy prosperous voyages upon the Sea, Gen. 49:13 .
“They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.”
Or, mount Zion. The tribe of Zebulun.
“And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel. seated: Heb. cieled”
So the portion of the Gadites, and others on this side Jordan was God’s, though it was not so known.
“Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. Thy shoes: or, Under thy shoes”
Thou shalt be strong, or thy country full of metal. It seemeth that Simeon is left out, because he was under Judah, and his portion of his inheritance, Josh. 19:9 .
“Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.”
Who was plentiful in issue as a fountain.
“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! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places. found: or, subdued”
Thine enemies for fear shall lie and fain to be in subjection.