Deuteronomy 33: The Blessing of Moses
Before his death Moses blesses the tribes one by one and exalts the God of Jeshurun, the eternal refuge whose everlasting arms uphold his people.
Deuteronomy 33 (WEB)
1 This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
2 He said, “Yahweh came from Sinai, and rose from Seir to them. He shone from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones. At his right hand was a fiery law for them.
3 Yes, he loves the people. All his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet. Each receives your words.
4 Moses commanded us a law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.
5 He was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.
6 “Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few.”
7 This is for Judah. He said, “Hear, Yahweh, the voice of Judah. Bring him in to his people. With his hands he contended for himself. You shall be a help against his adversaries.”
8 About Levi he said, “Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah.
9 He said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him.’ He didn’t acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own children; for they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.
10 They shall teach Jacob your ordinances, and Israel your law. They shall put incense before you, and whole burnt offering on your altar.
11 Yahweh, bless his skills. Accept the work of his hands. Strike through the hips of those who rise up against him, of those who hate him, that they not rise again.”
12 About Benjamin he said, “The beloved of Yahweh will dwell in safety by him. He covers him all day long. He dwells between his shoulders.”
13 About Joseph he said, “His land is blessed by Yahweh, for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, for the deep that couches beneath,
14 for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, for the precious things that the moon can yield,
15 for the best things of the ancient mountains, for the precious things of the everlasting hills,
16 for the precious things of the earth and its fullness, the good will of him who lived in the bush. Let this come on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who was separated from his brothers.
17 The firstborn of his herd, majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he will push all of the peoples, to the ends of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim. They are the thousands of Manasseh.”
18 About Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and Issachar, in your tents.
19 They will call the peoples to the mountain. There they will offer sacrifices of righteousness, for they will draw out the abundance of the seas, the hidden treasures of the sand.”
20 About Gad he said, “He who enlarges Gad is blessed. He dwells as a lioness, and tears the arm, yes, the crown of the head.
21 He provided the first part for himself, for the lawgiver’s portion reserved was reserved for him. He came with the heads of the people. He executed the righteousness of Yahweh, His ordinances with Israel.”
22 About Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s cub that leaps out of Bashan.”
23 About Naphtali he said, “Naphtali, satisfied with favor, full of Yahweh’s blessing, Possess the west and the south.”
24 About Asher he said, “Asher is blessed with children. Let him be acceptable to his brothers. Let him dip his foot in oil.
25 Your bars will be iron and brass. As your days, so your strength will be.
26 “There is no one like God, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, in his excellency on the skies.
27 The eternal God is your dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrust out the enemy from before you, and said, ‘Destroy!’
28 Israel dwells in safety; the fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine. Yes, his heavens drop down dew.
29 You are happy, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency? Your enemies will submit themselves to you. You will tread on their high places.”
Deuteronomy 33 (KJV)
1 And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
2 And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
3 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.
4 Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.
5 And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.
6 Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.
7 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.
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;
9 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.
10 They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.
11 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.
12 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.
13 And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,
14 And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,
15 And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,
16 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.
17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
18 And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.
19 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.
20 And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.
21 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.
22 And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.
23 And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou the west and the south.
24 And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
28 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.
29 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.
Deuteronomy 33 (ASV)
1 And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
2 And he said, Jehovah came from Sinai, And rose from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, And he came from the ten thousands of holy ones: At his right hand was a fiery law for them.
3 Yea, he loveth the people; All his saints are in thy hand: And they sat down at thy feet; Every oneshall receive of thy words.
4 Moses commanded us a law, An inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.
5 And he was king in Jeshurun, When the heads of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together.
6 Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few.
7 And this isthe blessingof Judah: and he said, Hear, Jehovah, the voice of Judah, And bring him in unto his people. With his hands he contended for himself; And thou shalt be a help against his adversaries.
8 And of Levi he said, Thy Thummim and thy Urim are with thy godly one, Whom thou didst prove at Massah, With whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;
9 Who said of his father, and of his mother, I have not seen him; Neither did he acknowledge his brethren, Nor knew he his own children: For they have observed thy word, And keep thy covenant.
10 They shall teach Jacob thine ordinances, And Israel thy law: They shall put incense before thee, And whole burnt-offering upon thine altar.
11 Bless, Jehovah, his substance, And accept the work of his hands: Smite through the loins of them that rise up against him, And of them that hate him, that they rise not again.
12 Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of Jehovah shall dwell in safety by him; He covereth him all the day long, And he dwelleth between his shoulders.
13 And of Joseph he said, Blessed of Jehovah be his land, For the precious things of heaven, for the dew, And for the deep that coucheth beneath,
14 And for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, And for the precious things of the growth of the moons,
15 And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, And for the precious things of the everlasting hills,
16 And for the precious things of the earth and the fulness thereof, And the good will of him that dwelt in the bush. Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, And upon the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
17 The firstling of his herd, majesty is his; And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox: With them he shall push the peoples all of them, eventhe ends of the earth: And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.
18 And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; And, Issachar, in thy tents.
19 They shall call the peoples unto the mountain; There shall they offer sacrifices of righteousness: For they shall suck the abundance of the seas, And the hidden treasures of the sand.
20 And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: He dwelleth as a lioness, And teareth the arm, yea, the crown of the head.
21 And he provided the first part for himself, For there was the lawgiver’s portion reserved; And he camewiththe heads of the people; He executed the righteousness of Jehovah, And his ordinances with Israel.
22 And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s whelp, That leapeth forth from Bashan.
23 And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full with the blessing of Jehovah, Possess thou the west and the south.
24 And of Asher he said, Blessed be Asher with children; Let him be acceptable unto his brethren, And let him dip his foot in oil.
25 Thy bars shall be iron and brass; And as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
26 There is none like unto God, O Jeshurun, Who rideth upon the heavens for thy help, And in his excellency on the skies.
27 The eternal God isthy dwelling-place, And underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy from before thee, And said, Destroy.
28 And Israel dwelleth in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; Yea, his heavens drop down dew.
29 Happy art thou, O Israel: Who is like unto thee, a people saved by Jehovah, The shield of thy help, And the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall submit themselves unto thee; And thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Summary
As his final act, Moses the man of God blesses the tribes of Israel, echoing the patriarch Jacob before him. He opens by recalling the Lord's glorious coming from Sinai, surrounded by holy ones, loving his people and giving them his law as an inheritance. Then he pronounces a tailored blessing over each tribe: life for Reuben, help for Judah, the priestly office for Levi, security for Benjamin who dwells between God's shoulders, abundant fruitfulness for Joseph, joy for Zebulun and Issachar, and so on through Gad, Dan, Naphtali, and Asher. Each blessing reflects the tribe's calling and need, all flowing from the goodness of God. The song rises to a magnificent climax of praise: there is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help his people; the eternal God is their dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Israel is pronounced happy and uniquely blessed—a people saved by the Lord, their shield and sword, secure in him. Moses ends his life as he lived much of it, lifting Israel's eyes to the incomparable God who is their refuge.
Main Characters
- Moses, the man of God — The prophet who, on the threshold of death, blesses each tribe of Israel and exalts the incomparable God who is their dwelling place.
- The twelve tribes — The families of Israel, each receiving a blessing suited to its calling and need, all bound together as God's saved people.
- Levi — The priestly tribe entrusted with the Urim and Thummim, called to teach God's law and offer his sacrifices, blessed for its faithfulness.
- The God of Jeshurun — The incomparable God who rides the heavens to help his people, the eternal dwelling place whose everlasting arms uphold them.
Key Verse
Deuteronomy 33:27 (WEB)
The eternal God is your dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrust out the enemy from before you, and said, ‘Destroy!’
Lessons Learned
- God knows his people individually and blesses each according to its calling and need.
- All true blessing flows from the goodness and love of God himself.
- God is the eternal refuge whose everlasting arms hold his people secure.
- Israel's true happiness is found not in itself but in being a people saved by the Lord.
- God blesses with particular care. Moses speaks a distinct word over each tribe, from Judah to Asher (Deuteronomy 33:7-25, WEB). The Lord knows and provides for his people personally, not generically.
- There is none like our God. “There is no one like God, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help” (Deuteronomy 33:26, WEB). The incomparable God bends the heavens to come to our aid.
- God is our eternal refuge. “The eternal God is your dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27, WEB). However we fall, his arms are always beneath us.
- Salvation is the source of joy. “You are happy, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh” (Deuteronomy 33:29, WEB). Our deepest blessing is to belong to the saving God.
- Moses blesses each tribe individually. What does this tell us about how God relates to his people?
- How does it comfort you that “underneath are the everlasting arms” (33:27)? When have you sensed those arms?
- Moses calls God Israel's “dwelling place.” What does it mean to make God our home and refuge?
- Verse 29 says Israel is happy because they are “a people saved by Yahweh.” Where do we tend to look for happiness instead?
- If you imagined God speaking a tailored blessing over your life and calling, what do you most need from him today?
- The individual blessings show that God does not deal with his people as a faceless mass but knows each by name and calling. He provides for our particular needs and gifts. This personal care reaches its fullness in Christ, the Good Shepherd who knows his own.
- The everlasting arms picture a security that no fall can break through—when we sink, God is already beneath us. Invite members to share, as they are comfortable, times they have known God's upholding. His support does not depend on our strength but on his.
- To make God our dwelling place is to find our security, identity, and rest in him rather than in circumstances. It is to live “at home” in his presence and protection. Like the psalmist (Ps 90:1), we treat God himself, not any place or thing, as our refuge.
- We chase happiness in comfort, success, relationships, or possessions, all of which can fail. Israel's joy rests on something unshakable—being saved by God. Help the group locate their hope in their salvation rather than in shifting circumstances.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name their deepest current need—security, courage, provision, peace—and to receive God's blessing in that place. Keep the tone warm and prayerful, letting the group bless one another.