Deuteronomy 33 · Kingdoms of Scripture

1This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the sons of Israel before his death.

2He said, Yahweh came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon them. He shone from Mount Paran and came from holy myriads. From his right hand, Eshdat for them.

Notes (1)

Text
The written consonants are אשדת, one word, printed Eshdat. The Masoretic reading splits it אש דת, fire of a law. The written word is printed. No fragment was read that would replace it.

3Yes, he cherishes peoples. All his holy ones are in your hand. They were gathered at your feet. He takes up from your words.

Notes (1)

Translation
The verbs are compressed. Chovev is he cherishes. Tukku is they were gathered. Yissa mi-dabberotekha is he takes up from your words. No extra words are added to fill the line.

4Moses commanded us instruction, a possession of the assembly of Jacob.

5He became king in Yeshurun, when the heads of the people gathered, the tribes of Israel together.

6Let Reuben live, and not die, and let his men be a number.

7And this for Judah. He said, Hear, Yahweh, the voice of Judah, and bring him to his people. His hands contend for him, and you shall be a help against his foes.

8And of Levi he said, Your Thummim and your Urim belong to your loyal man, whom you tested at Massah, and with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah.

Notes (1)

Translation
The line names Thummim before Urim. Ish chasidekha is your loyal man. Chesed is loyalty.

9who said of his father and of his mother, I have not seen him, and he did not recognize his brothers, and his son he did not know, for they kept your saying and guarded your covenant.

Notes (1)

Text
The written consonants are בנו, “his son,” singular. The Masoretic reading is בניו, “his sons.” The written singular is printed.

10They shall direct your rules to Jacob and your instruction to Israel. They shall set incense at your nose, and a whole offering on your altar.

Notes (1)

Translation
Be-appekha is at your nose. Kalil is a whole offering.

11Bless, Yahweh, his strength, and accept the work of his hands. Strike the loins of those who rise against him, and of those who hate him, so that they do not rise.

Notes (1)

Translation
Chayil here is his strength.

12Of Benjamin he said, Yahweh’s beloved shall dwell in safety beside him. He covers him all the day, and he dwells between his shoulders.

13And of Joseph he said, His land is blessed by Yahweh, from the best of the heavens, from the dew, and from the deep that crouches below,

Notes (1)

Translation
Meged is the best of a thing. Tehom is the deep.

14and from the best of the sun’s produce, and from the best of the yield of the months,

15and from the head of the ancient mountains, and from the best of the hills of ages,

16and from the best of the earth and its fullness, and the favor of the one who dwells in the bush. Let it come on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the one set apart among his brothers.

Notes (1)

Translation
Shokheni sneh is the one who dwells in the bush. Nazir echav is the one set apart among his brothers. The line does not name the vow of a nazir.

17A firstborn bull, splendor is his, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he gores peoples, the ends of the earth together. They are the myriads of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

Notes (1)

Translation
Re’em is a wild ox.

18And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents.

19Peoples they call to the mountain. There they sacrifice right sacrifices. For they suck the abundance of the seas, and the hidden stores buried in the sand.

20And of Gad he said, Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad. He lives like a lion and tears an arm, yes, a crown.

21He saw the first portion for himself, for there a ruler’s portion was stored. He came with the heads of the people. He did the rightness of Yahweh, and his rules with Israel.

Notes (1)

Translation
Cheleqat mechoqeq safun is a ruler’s portion, stored. Tzidqat Yahweh is the rightness of Yahweh.

22And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s cub. He leaps from Bashan.

23And of Naphtali he said, Naphtali, satisfied with favor and full of Yahweh’s blessing. He shall take possession of the sea and the south.

24And of Asher he said, Blessed more than sons is Asher. Let him be the favored of his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil.

25Iron and bronze are your bars, and as your days, so is your strength.

Notes (1)

Translation
Min’al can be a bar or a sandal. With iron and bronze, it is printed as bars. Dov’ekha is your strength.

26There is none like the God of Yeshurun, who rides the heavens as your help, and in his majesty, the clouds.

27A dwelling is the God of old, and under you are arms of ages. He drove the enemy out from before you and said, Destroy.

Notes (1)

Translation
Me’onah is a dwelling. Elohei qedem is the God of old. Zero’ot olam are arms of ages. The line then says he drove the enemy out and said, Destroy.

28Israel dwells in safety, alone, the spring of Jacob, in a land of grain and new wine. Yes, his heavens drop dew.

Notes (1)

Translation
En ya’aqov is the spring of Jacob.

29Happy are you, Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, the shield of your help, and the one who is the sword of your majesty? Your enemies shall come cringing to you, and you shall tread on their high places.

1This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the sons of Israel before his death.

2He said, Yahweh came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon them. He shone from Mount Paran and came from holy myriads. From his right hand, Eshdat for them.

Notes (1)

Text
The written consonants are אשדת, one word, printed Eshdat. The Masoretic reading splits it אש דת, fire of a law. The written word is printed. No fragment was read that would replace it.

3Yes, he cherishes peoples. All his holy ones are in your hand. They were gathered at your feet. He takes up from your words.

Notes (1)

Translation
The verbs are compressed. Chovev is he cherishes. Tukku is they were gathered. Yissa mi-dabberotekha is he takes up from your words. No extra words are added to fill the line.

4Moses commanded us instruction, a possession of the assembly of Jacob.

5He became king in Yeshurun, when the heads of the people gathered, the tribes of Israel together.

6Let Reuben live, and not die, and let his men be a number.

7And this for Judah. He said, Hear, Yahweh, the voice of Judah, and bring him to his people. His hands contend for him, and you shall be a help against his foes.

8And of Levi he said, Your Thummim and your Urim belong to your loyal man, whom you tested at Massah, and with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah.

Notes (1)

Translation
The line names Thummim before Urim. Ish chasidekha is your loyal man. Chesed is loyalty.

9who said of his father and of his mother, I have not seen him, and he did not recognize his brothers, and his son he did not know, for they kept your saying and guarded your covenant.

Notes (1)

Text
The written consonants are בנו, “his son,” singular. The Masoretic reading is בניו, “his sons.” The written singular is printed.

10They shall direct your rules to Jacob and your instruction to Israel. They shall set incense at your nose, and a whole offering on your altar.

Notes (1)

Translation
Be-appekha is at your nose. Kalil is a whole offering.

11Bless, Yahweh, his strength, and accept the work of his hands. Strike the loins of those who rise against him, and of those who hate him, so that they do not rise.

Notes (1)

Translation
Chayil here is his strength.

12Of Benjamin he said, Yahweh’s beloved shall dwell in safety beside him. He covers him all the day, and he dwells between his shoulders.

13And of Joseph he said, His land is blessed by Yahweh, from the best of the heavens, from the dew, and from the deep that crouches below,

Notes (1)

Translation
Meged is the best of a thing. Tehom is the deep.

14and from the best of the sun’s produce, and from the best of the yield of the months,

15and from the head of the ancient mountains, and from the best of the hills of ages,

16and from the best of the earth and its fullness, and the favor of the one who dwells in the bush. Let it come on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the one set apart among his brothers.

Notes (1)

Translation
Shokheni sneh is the one who dwells in the bush. Nazir echav is the one set apart among his brothers. The line does not name the vow of a nazir.

Notes (1)

Translation
Re’em is a wild ox.

18And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents.

19Peoples they call to the mountain. There they sacrifice right sacrifices. For they suck the abundance of the seas, and the hidden stores buried in the sand.

20And of Gad he said, Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad. He lives like a lion and tears an arm, yes, a crown.

21He saw the first portion for himself, for there a ruler’s portion was stored. He came with the heads of the people. He did the rightness of Yahweh, and his rules with Israel.

Notes (1)

Translation
Cheleqat mechoqeq safun is a ruler’s portion, stored. Tzidqat Yahweh is the rightness of Yahweh.

22And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s cub. He leaps from Bashan.

23And of Naphtali he said, Naphtali, satisfied with favor and full of Yahweh’s blessing. He shall take possession of the sea and the south.

24And of Asher he said, Blessed more than sons is Asher. Let him be the favored of his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil.

25Iron and bronze are your bars, and as your days, so is your strength.

Notes (1)

Translation
Min’al can be a bar or a sandal. With iron and bronze, it is printed as bars. Dov’ekha is your strength.

26There is none like the God of Yeshurun, who rides the heavens as your help, and in his majesty, the clouds.

27A dwelling is the God of old, and under you are arms of ages. He drove the enemy out from before you and said, Destroy.

Notes (1)

Translation
Me’onah is a dwelling. Elohei qedem is the God of old. Zero’ot olam are arms of ages. The line then says he drove the enemy out and said, Destroy.

28Israel dwells in safety, alone, the spring of Jacob, in a land of grain and new wine. Yes, his heavens drop dew.

Notes (1)

Translation
En ya’aqov is the spring of Jacob.