Study Desk

Moses Blesses the Tribes^(a)

This is the blessing^(b) that Moses the man of God^(c) pronounced on the Israelites before his death.

He said: "The Lord came from Sinai^(d) and dawned over them from Seir;^(e) he shone forth^(f) from Mount Paran.^(g) He came with^[a] myriads of holy ones^(h) from the south, from his mountain slopes.^[b]

Surely it is you who love⁽ⁱ⁾ the people; all the holy ones are in your hand.^(j) At your feet they all bow down,^(k) and from you receive instruction,

the law that Moses gave us,^(l) the possession of the assembly of Jacob.^(m)

He was king⁽ⁿ⁾ over Jeshurun^[c](o) when the leaders of the people assembled, along with the tribes of Israel.

"Let Reuben live and not die, nor^[d] his people be few."^(p)

And this he said about Judah:^(q) "Hear, Lord , the cry of Judah; bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes!"

About Levi^(r) he said: "Your Thummim and Urim^(s) belong to your faithful servant.^(t) You tested^(u) him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.^(v)

He said of his father and mother,^(w) ‘I have no regard for them.' He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant.^(x)

He teaches^(y) your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel.^(z) He offers incense before you^(aa) and whole burnt offerings on your altar.^(ab)

Bless all his skills, Lord , and be pleased with the work of his hands.^(ac) Strike down those who rise against him, his foes till they rise no more."

About Benjamin^(ad) he said: "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him,^(ae) for he shields him all day long,^(af) and the one the Lord loves^(ag) rests between his shoulders.^(ah)"

About Joseph^(ai) he said: "May the Lord bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below;^(aj)

with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield;

with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains^(ak) and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;

with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush.^(al) Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among^[e] his brothers.^(am)

In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns^(an) are the horns of a wild ox.^(ao) With them he will gore^(ap) the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim;^(aq) such are the thousands of Manasseh.^(ar)"

About Zebulun^(as) he said: "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar,^(at) in your tents.

They will summon peoples to the mountain^(au) and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous;^(av) they will feast on the abundance of the seas,^(aw) on the treasures hidden in the sand."

About Gad^(ax) he said: "Blessed is he who enlarges Gad's domain!^(ay) Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head.

He chose the best land for himself;^(az) the leader's portion was kept for him.^(ba) When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord 's righteous will,^(bb) and his judgments concerning Israel."

About Dan^(bc) he said: "Dan is a lion's cub, springing out of Bashan."

About Naphtali^(bd) he said: "Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake."

About Asher^(be) he said: "Most blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil.^(bf)

The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze,^(bg) and your strength will equal your days.^(bh)

"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,^(bi) who rides^(bj) across the heavens to help you^(bk) and on the clouds^(bl) in his majesty.^(bm)

The eternal^(bn) God is your refuge,^(bo) and underneath are the everlasting^(bp) arms. He will drive out your enemies before you,^(bq) saying, ‘Destroy them!'^(br)

So Israel will live in safety;^(bs) Jacob will dwell^[f] secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew.^(bt)

Blessed are you, Israel!^(bu) Who is like you,^(bv) a people saved by the Lord ?^(bw) He is your shield and helper^(bx) and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.^(by)"

The Death of Moses

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo^(a) from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah,^(b) across from Jericho.^(c) There the Lord showed^(d) him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan,^(e)

all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea,^(f)

the Negev^(g) and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms,^(h) as far as Zoar.⁽ⁱ⁾

Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath^(j) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob^(k) when I said, ‘I will give it^(l) to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross^(m) over into it."

And Moses the servant of the Lord ⁽ⁿ⁾ died^(o) there in Moab, as the Lord had said.

He buried him^[a] in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor,^(p) but to this day no one knows where his grave is.^(q)

Moses was a hundred and twenty years old^(r) when he died, yet his eyes were not weak^(s) nor his strength gone.^(t)

The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab^(u) thirty days,^(v) until the time of weeping and mourning^(w) was over.

Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit^[b] of wisdom^(x) because Moses had laid his hands on him.^(y) So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

Since then, no prophet^(z) has risen in Israel like Moses,^(aa) whom the Lord knew face to face,^(ab)

who did all those signs and wonders^(ac) the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials^(ad) and to his whole land.

For no one has^(ae) ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds^(af) that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.