1Toto je požehnání, které Boží muž Mojžíš před svou smrtí udělil synům Izraele. 2Řekl: "Hospodin přišel ze Sinaje, ze Seíru, jako když slunce vychází, tak jim z pohoří Paran zazářil. S nesčíslnými tisíci kráčel od Kádeše, oheň Zákona vzešel z jeho pravice. 3Ó, jak miluješ lidi! Všechny své svaté v ruce máš. Oni se k tvým nohám přivinuli, aby přijímali slova tvá - 4Zákon, jenž Mojžíš vydal nám, dědictví shromáždění Jákobova. 5Ješurunovi stal se králem, vůdcové lidu když sešli se společně s kmeny Izraele. 6Ruben ať žije, ať nikdy nevymře, ač jeho mužů jen hrstka je!" 7O Judovi řekl: "Vyslýchej, Hospodine, hlas Judův, k jeho lidu jej zpět přiváděj. Když bojuje svou vlastní rukou, proti nepřátelům mu pomáhej." 8O Levim řekl: "Kéž tvé urim a tumim, Hospodine, připadne muži tobě věrnému! Zkusils jej onou zkouškou v Masse, přel ses s ním u vod sváru v Meribě. 9O otci i matce řekl: ‚Nehledím na ně!' Na vlastní bratry nebral zřetel a ke svým dětem neznal se. Ano, tvé slovo zachovali, tvou smlouvu budou střežit levité. 10Jákoba budou tvým pravidlům učit a Zákonu tvému Izrael. Kadidlo před tebe budou klást, zápaly přinášet ti na oltář. 11Požehnej, Hospodine, jeho síle, v díle jeho rukou zalíbení měj. Jeho protivníky udeř do slabin, aby jeho nepřátelé už nikdy nevstali!" 12O Benjamínovi řekl: "Hospodinův miláček to je - kéž zůstává u něj v bezpečí! On jej ochraňuje každý den, vždyť odpočívá v jeho náručí." 13O Josefovi řekl: "Jeho zemi ať žehná Hospodin nejlepší rosou z nebe nahoře, prameny sahajícími dolů do hloubky, 14nejlepšími dary slunce, nejlepší úrodou všech měsíců, 15největší chloubou hor odvěkých, nejlepšími dary věčných pahorků, 16nejlepším ze země a její plnosti! Přízeň Toho, jenž přebývá v keři, na hlavě Josefově nechť spočine, na temeni vyvoleného z bratří! 17Jak prvorozenému býku čest mu náleží, jeho rohy jsou rohy buvolí; národy ze všech zemských končinon těmi rohy porazí. Takové ať jsou desetitisíce Efraimovy, takové tisíce Manasesovy!" 18O Zabulonovi řekl: "Raduj se, Zabulone, kdykoli vycházíš, a ty, Isachare, v stanech svých! 19Na horu svolají různé národy, tam budou přinášet pravé oběti. Budou sytit z mořského bohatství, z pokladů v písku ukrytých." 20O Gádovi řekl: "Požehnán buď Ten, jenž Gáda rozšiřuje! Gád se uložil jako lvice, s ramenem i hlavu utrhne! 21To nejlepší si nechal pro sebe, díl, jenž je velitelům vyhrazen. V čele lidu totiž směle šel a Hospodinovu spravedlnost prováděl, jeho rozhodnutí pro celý Izrael." 22O Danovi řekl: "Dan je mladý lev, z Bášanu vyskakuje!" 23O Neftalímovi řekl: "Přízní jsi nasycen, Neftalíme, požehnání Hospodinova jsi pln, jezero i s jižní stranou opanuj!" 24O Ašerovi řekl: "Nad jiné syny požehnán je Ašer, mezi bratry ať je oblíben, své nohy ať smáčí olejem! 25Z železa a bronzu ať jsou tvé závory, po všechny své dny žij v bezpečí. 26Nikdo není jako Bůh, Ješurune! Na pomoc tobě spěchá nebem, brázdí oblaka ve slávě své! 27Odvěký Bůh je tvým útočištěm, věčné náručí tě podepře. Tvé nepřátele před tebou žene a říká: ‚Vyhlaď je!' 28Izrael proto bydlí v bezpečí, Jákobův příbytek nikdo neruší v zemi obilí a vína, kde z nebe padá rosa. 29Jak jsi, Izraeli, blažený! Kdo je ti podobný, lide, jejž Hospodin zachránil! On je štítem tvé ochrany a mečem tvého vítězství. Ať se tví nepřátelé před tebou krčí a ty ať jim šlapeš po šíji!"
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE MAJESTY OF GOD. (Deu. 33:1-28)
Moses the man of God--This was a common designation of a prophet (
1Sam 2:27;
1Sam 9:6), and it is here applied to Moses, when, like Jacob, he was about to deliver ministerially before his death, a prophetic benediction to Israel.
2 The Lord came--Under a beautiful metaphor, borrowed from the dawn and progressive splendor of the sun, the Majesty of God is sublimely described as a divine light which appeared in Sinai and scattered its beams on all the adjoining region in directing Israel's march to Canaan. In these descriptions of a theophania, God is represented as coming from the south, and the allusion is in general to the thunderings and lightnings of Sinai; but other mountains in the same direction are mentioned with it. The location of Seir was on the east of the Ghor; mount Paran was either the chain on the west of the Ghor, or rather the mountains on the southern border of the desert towards the peninsula [ROBINSON]. (Compare
Judg 5:4-
Judg 5:5;
Ps 68:7-
Ps 68:8;
Hab 3:3).
ten thousands of saints--rendered by some, "with the ten thousand of Kadesh," or perhaps better still, "from Meribah" [EWALD].
a fiery law--so called both because of the thunder and lightning which accompanied its promulgation (
Exod 19:16-
Exod 19:18;
Deut 4:11), and the fierce, unrelenting curse denounced against the violation of its precepts (
2Cor 3:7-9). Notwithstanding those awe-inspiring symbols of Majesty that were displayed on Sinai, the law was really given in kindness and love (
Deut 33:3), as a means of promoting both the temporal and eternal welfare of the people. And it was "the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob," not only from the hereditary obligation under which that people were laid to observe it, but from its being the grand distinction, the peculiar privilege of the nation.
6 Let Reuben live, and not die--Although deprived of the honor and privileges of primogeniture, he was still to hold rank as one of the tribes of Israel. He was more numerous than several other tribes (
Num 1:21;
Num 2:11). Yet gradually he sank into a mere nomadic tribe, which had enough to do merely "to live and not die." Many eminent biblical scholars, resting on the most ancient and approved manuscripts of the Septuagint, consider the latter clause as referring to Simeon; "and Simeon, let his men be few," a reading of the text which is in harmony with other statements of Scripture respecting this tribe (
Num 25:6-
Num 25:14;
Num 1:23;
Num 26:14;
Josh 19:1).
7 this is the blessing of Judah--Its general purport points to the great power and independence of Judah, as well as its taking the lead in all military expeditions.
8 of Levi he said--The burden of this blessing is the appointment of the Levites to the dignified and sacred office of the priesthood (
Lev 10:11;
Deut 22:8;
Deut 17:8-
Deut 17:11), a reward for their zeal in supporting the cause of God, and their unsparing severity in chastising even their nearest and dearest relatives who had participated in the idolatry of the molten calf (
Exod 32:25-
Exod 32:28; compare
Mal 2:4-
Mal 2:6).
12 of Benjamin he said--A distinguishing favor was conferred on this tribe in having its portion assigned near the temple of God.
between his shoulders--that is, on his sides or borders. Mount Zion, on which stood the city of Jerusalem, belonged to Judah; but Mount Moriah, the site of the sacred edifice, lay in the confines of Benjamin.
13 of Joseph he said--The territory of this tribe, diversified by hill and dale, wood and water, would be rich in all the productions--olives, grapes, figs, &c., which are reared in a mountainous region, as well as in the grain and herbs that grow in the level fields. "The firstling of the bullock and the horns of the unicorn" (rhinoceros), indicate glory and strength, and it is supposed that under these emblems were shadowed forth the triumphs of Joshua and the new kingdom of Jeroboam, both of whom were of Ephraim (compare
Gen 48:20).
18 Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out--on commercial enterprises and voyages by sea.
and, Issachar in thy tents--preferring to reside in their maritime towns.
19 shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand--Both tribes should traffic with the Phśnicians in gold and silver, pearl and coral, especially in murex, the shellfish that yielded the famous Tyrian dye, and in glass, which was manufactured from the sand of the river Belus, in their immediate neighborhood.
20 of Gad he said--Its possessions were larger than they would have been had they lain west of Jordan; and this tribe had the honor of being settled by Moses himself in the first portion of land conquered. In the forest region, south of the Jabbok, "he dwelt as a lion" (compare
Gen 30:11;
Gen 49:19). Notwithstanding, they faithfully kept their engagement to join the "heads of the people" [
Deut 33:21] in the invasion of Canaan.
22 Dan is a lion's whelp--His proper settlement in the south of Canaan being too small, he by a sudden and successful irruption, established a colony in the northern extremity of the land. This might well be described as the leap of a young lion from the hills of Bashan.
23 of Naphtali he said--The pleasant and fertile territory of this tribe lay to "the west," on the borders of lakes Merom and Chinnereth, and to "the south" of the northern Danites.
24 of Asher he said--The condition of this tribe is described as combining all the elements of earthly felicity.
dip his foot in oil--These words allude either to the process of extracting the oil by foot presses, or to his district as particularly fertile and adapted to the culture of the olive.
25 shoes of iron and brass--These shoes suited his rocky coast from Carmel to Sidon. Country people as well as ancient warriors had their lower extremities protected by metallic greaves (
1Sam 17:6;
Eph 6:15) and iron-soled shoes.
26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun--The chapter concludes with a congratulatory address to Israel on their peculiar happiness and privilege in having Jehovah for their God and protector.
who rideth upon the heaven in thy help--an evident allusion to the pillar of cloud and fire, which was both the guide and shelter of Israel.
28 the fountain of Jacob--The posterity of Israel shall dwell in a blessed and favored land.