Deuteronomy 31-34

Sunday Evening Bible Study

October 21, 2001

Introduction

The name Deuteronomy means “second law”. It is Moses’ final address to the people. It covers the last 1˝ months of Moses’ life. He’s 120 years old. It’s God’s “review” for the people to make sure they understand His ways before they go into the land.

Deuteronomy 31

:4 And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.

With God’s help, they had conquered the kings of the Amorites and had taken their land. (Deut. 2:26 – 3:11)

Lesson

One victory leads to another.

Over and over God will remind the Israelites of the things He’s done for them, whether getting them out of Egypt or conquering the Amorites.
They are about to go into a season of warfare, and to encourage the people, God wants to remind them that He has fought for them before.
When David found the opportunity before him of facing Goliath, he drew on his prior experience as a shepherd:
(1 Sam 17:34-37 KJV) And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: {35} And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. {36} Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. {37} David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

David had learned from experience that God was able to give him victory in battle.

God wants us to learn to trust Him for the battles we are currently facing.

For some of us, these will be our “early” battles, the ones that we will look back upon and remember how God worked in our lives.

For some of us, we already have seen victory in our lives, and we can gain encouragement that if God helped me once, He can help me again.

:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

This would be a great verse to memorize!

Lesson

The size of your fear is related to the size and closeness of your God.

We have an awesome God. He is very near. We have no need to fear.
(Zep 3:17 KJV) The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
If you’ve been experiencing fear lately, take time to reacquaint yourself with God’s greatness. Take time to draw near to Him.

:7 And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.

Joshua had been the leader of the army.

He had recently received a measure of Moses’ authority. (Num. 27:18-23)

Now he was to take Moses’ place.

:9 And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.

Moses gives a copy of the Law to the priests. They were to be the keepers and enforcers of God’s law.

:10 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,

Once every seven years at the feast of tabernacles, in September-October.

The year of release, every seventh year, you were to set slaves free and not plant seed in the fields. (Deut. 15:1-11)

:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods …

God knew that when Moses was gone, that the people would turn their back on Him. He’s not surprised when we sin either.

:19 Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

Moses and Joshua were to write a song (the verb is plural, they both wrote the song).

Songs are a great way to teach things, a great way to remember things.

How many of you remember the song, Flintstones, they’re the Flintstones, they’re a (modern stone-age family) …

How did you remember that? Because songs are a great way of getting something into our brain.

How about this … do any of you know the Scripture verse 1John 4:7,8 by heart? Many of us know it because we learned the song.

Lesson

Write songs that teach.

Here’s a challenge to you song writers out there. Your songs don’t have to just be about worship and telling the Lord you love Him. They can also be songs that teach a principle.
One of the greatest things you can teach people is the Word of God. Take God’s Word and put it to music.

:21 that this song shall testify against them as a witness

They’ll have probably forgotten God’s Word, but they won’t forget the song.

:22 Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

The song is the next chapter, Deut. 32

:23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge

God speaks directly to Joshua.

:26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant

The scrolls were to be kept next to the Ark of the Covenant.

Deuteronomy 32

:1-43 Moses’ Song

:3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD

publish – proclaim

:5 their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.

(Deu 32:5 NKJV) … They are not His children, Because of their blemish: A perverse and crooked generation.

:6 Do ye thus requite the LORD

(NIV) Is this the way you repay the LORD

:8 When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance

When God set up the boundaries of the ancient nations. This was done in Genesis 10, the record of the songs of Noah.

(Gen 10:32 KJV) These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

There were 70 nations.

:8 he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

When Jacob went down to Egypt, his family consisted of 70 people.

(Gen 46:26-27 NKJV) All the persons who went with Jacob to Egypt, who came from his body, besides Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all. {27} And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two persons. All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy. (Also, Exodus 1:5)

This is a bit of a mystery to me, why God divided the earth into 70 nations, the same number as the number of Jacob and his descendants when they went to Egypt. But that’s the way God did it.

The Number 70

The number 70 is kind of interesting in its use. It seems to be tied to the nation of Israel. In fact God says here it’s the “number of the children of Israel”.

It was the number of elders in Israel
(Num 11:24 KJV) And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.
Gideon had 70 sons (Judg 8:30)
Ahab had 70 sons (2Ki. 10:1)
Israel was kept in Babylon for 70 years
(2 Chr 36:21 NASB) to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were complete.

They hadn’t kept seventy years’ worth of sabbaths (which would be 70 years times 7 years they were disobedient).

Daniel’s prophecy concerning the Messiah had to do with 70 weeks
(Dan 9:24 NASB) "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place.
Jesus’ rule of forgiveness
(Mat 18:21-22 KJV) Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? {22} Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Where do you suppose that He came up with the “seventy times seven”? Was it just a way of exaggerating Peter’s suggestion? Perhaps it was a way of saying that just as God has been completely forgiving to all of Israel, so we ought to be forgiving to others as well.

:9 the LORD'S portion is his people;

God’s people are His treasure.

:10 he kept him as the apple of his eye.

apple – pupil

(NLT) he guarded them as his most precious possession.

Lesson

You are God’s treasure

This is the way that God views His people:
Zechariah 2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

When someone tries to hurt you, it’s like they’re poking God in the eye. Pity them.

:11 beareth them on her wings

God has mentioned this before, regarding the time He delivered them through the Red Sea:

(Exo 19:4 KJV) Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

Lesson

God’s protection.

An eagle teaches it's young to fly in a very different way. Eagles' nests are located on very high, out of the way places. When it's time for a flying lesson, the mother eagle will push the baby out of the nest. The baby will start flailing at the air, trying to fly, but falling like a rock to the canyon floor. At just the last moment, the mother will swoop down, and scoop up the baby on top of its wings. Then they try it all over again.
God never promises to keep us away from problems, but He always promises to rescue us in the nick of time.
In talking about how the Israelites gave us examples of how to live, and how not to live, Paul writes:

1CO 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.

He will deliver us.

:12 So the LORD alone did lead him

By pushing him out of the nest.

Lesson

It’s scary learning to fly.

Sometimes God has to make things uncomfortable for us to get us to move along. A baby eagle can’t spend its entire life in the nest. There comes a time when it needs to get out on its own and fly.
Illustration
WHO IS THE PILOT?
In Point Man, Steve Farrar tells about a photographer for a national magazine who was assigned to take pictures of a great forest fire. He was advised that a small plane would be waiting to fly him over the fire. The photographer arrived at the airstrip just an hour before sundown. Sure enough, a small Cessna airplane was waiting. He jumped in with his equipment and shouted, “Let’s go!” The tense man sitting in the pilot’s seat swung the plane into the wind and soon they were in the air, though flying erratically. “Fly over the north side of the fire,” said the photographer, “and make several low-level passes.” “Why?” asked the nervous pilot. “Because I’m going to take pictures!” yelled the photographer. “I’m a photographer, and photographers take pictures.” After a long pause, the “pilot” replied: “You mean, you’re not my instructor?”

:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked

Jeshurun – “upright one”, a term of endearment, referring to the nation of Israel.

We’ve talked before about the dangers of riches and wanting wealth. Here’s another example of the danger. When Israel became “fat” and wealthy, they stopped seeking God.

:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God

The other “gods” are really just demons in disguise. There are other spiritual forces out there, they are Satanic ones.

(1 Cor 10:20 KJV) But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

:20 they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

froward – perverse

:21 I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people

Israel made God jealous by their worshipping other gods, so God would make them jealous by turning to other nations with salvation.

(Rom 11:11 KJV) I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

When they rejected the Lord, He turned to the Gentiles with salvation, not because He’s totally rejected them, but in the hopes of provoking them to jealousy. Hopefully they’ll want what we have.

Paul noticed this when he wrote to the Romans, he quoted this passage:

(Rom 10:19 KJV) But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

:22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell

Literally, Sheol. A place in the earth for the dead, both good and bad. Jesus described it having two compartments (Luke 16). Abraham’s bosom was a place of comfort for the believing, the fire was a place of torment for the unbelieving.

:23 I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.

God is referring to the discipline He would be bringing on Israel to bring them back to Him.

We saw this last week how God had promised the people that if they continually went astray, He would bring greater and greater difficulties on the people to get them to turn around.

Now God has built this warning into the song that the people might remember and be warned.

:27 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy

This is speaking about Israel’s enemies. God didn’t want Israel’s enemies to get the wrong idea about what was happening to Israel, as if somehow Israel’s God was weaker than theirs. And so God would limit the victories that Israel’s enemies would have over her.

:28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.

Speaking of Israel’s enemies …

:30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them

How else could these things have happened if God weren’t involved? How else could Israel’s enemies have so easily conquered them if it weren’t for the fact that God had made it happen?

But the heathen have a hard time seeing this.

:31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.

The enemies of Israel wouldn’t have any concept of what a real God of Refuge was. They had no concept of a living, powerful, real God.

:32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom …

The heathen came from a bad stock.

:33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

(Deu 32:33 NASB) "Their wine is the venom of serpents, And the deadly poison of cobras.

:34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?

You get the idea that God’s plans are all locked away in a vault somewhere in heaven.

:35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense

Even Israel’s enemies, whom God used to bring judgment on Israel with, even they will have to face God’s judgment.

Lesson

Let God take care of it.

Vengeance is one of God’s job descriptions. It is not one of yours, yet we like to think that we can handle it:
Illustration

I heard a story the other night about a truck driver who dropped in at an all-night restaurant in Broken Bow, Nebraska. The waitress had just served him when three swaggering, leather-jacketed motorcyclists -- of the Hell's Angels type -- entered and rushed up to him, apparently spoiling for a fight. One grabbed the hamburger off his plate; another took a handful of his French fries; and the third picked up his coffee and began to drink it.

The trucker did not respond as one might expect. Instead, he calmly rose, picked up his check, walked to the front of the room, put the check and his money on the cash register, and went out the door. The waitress followed him to put the money in the till and stood watching out the door as the big truck drove away into the night.

When she returned, one of the cyclists said to her, "Well, he's not much of a man, is he?"

She replied, "I can't answer as to that, but he's not much of a truck driver. He just ran over three motorcycles out in the parking lot."

Vengeance is God’s job. Let go of the bitterness and let Him handle it.
(Rom 12:17-21 KJV) Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. {18} If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. {19} Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. {20} Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. {21} Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Illustration

When the first missionaries came to Alberta, Canada, they were opposed by a young Cree Indian chief named Maskepetoon. But eventually he responded to the gospel and accepted Christ. Shortly afterward, a member of the Blackfoot tribe who hated Maskepetoon killed his father. The chief rode into the murderer's village and demanded that he be brought before him. Confronting the guilty man he said, "You shall ride my best horse and wear my best clothes."

In utter amazement and remorse his enemy exclaimed, "My son, now you have killed me." The hate in his heart had been erased by Maskepetoon's forgiveness and kindness.

How do you treat those who’ve hurt you? Repay evil with good.

:35 their foot shall slide in due time

They will have their day before God.

:36 … and repent himself for his servants

 (Deu 32:36 NLT) "Indeed, the LORD will judge his people, and he will change his mind about his servants, when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.

Don’t think that this has all been for the sake of destroying Israel. All this talk of wrath and punishment has been for the sake of seeing them come back to the Lord. Even with the nation of Israel, when we see all the Scriptures that talk about their utter destruction, keep in mind that God always has a place somewhere for when they turn around and come back to Him.

:38 let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

There’s a note of sarcasm in God’s response here. These people had been trusting in other gods, so God asks where these other “gods” are to help them.

When we come to the end of our rope, we find that there is no one we can trust in except the Lord. All the other things we’ve looked to for help will disappoint us.

:39 neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

No one escapes God.

:44-52 Moses ready to die

:44 And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.

Hoshea – Joshua (just another form of the name)

:47 For it is not a vain thing for you

Obeying God isn’t a waste of time.

:49 Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo

Abarim – The range of mountains overlooking (from the E) the Jordan valley and the Dead Sea.

Nebo – also known as Pisgah

:51 Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh

Moses didn’t represent God correctly. He struck the Rock when he should have spoken to it. (Num. 20)

:52 Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel.

Lesson

Don’t compromise your ministry.

This isn’t about Moses losing his salvation. We know that Moses is in heaven. After all, Jesus spoke with him on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mat. 17).
This is about not being able to finish your ministry.
(1 Cor 9:24-27 KJV) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. {25} And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. {26} I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: {27} But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Deuteronomy 33

:1-5 prelude to blessing

:1 And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

When Jacob was about to die, he called his twelve sons together and put a blessing on them, which was actually more like a prophecy than a blessing. Moses is about to die, and now he gives the same kind of blessing/prophecy on the twelve tribes.

:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran

Referring to God taking His people through the wilderness from Mount Sinai. Seir is another term for Edom. Paran is a desert area south of Israel.

:2 and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

The saints here may be a reference to angels. “Saints” simply means “holy ones”.

:3 Yea, he loved the people;

God loves His people.

:3 all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.

Here the word “saints” probably refers to the Israelites.

:5 And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

Jeshurun – “upright one”, a term of endearment, another name used for Israel.

The “king” referred to here is the Lord, not Moses. God is the King over Israel.

:6-25 Blessings on the tribes

:6 Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.

This almost seems like a prayer for Reuben to survive in the midst of a tough time.

Reuben would settle on the eastern side of the Jordan, and would face troubles from the neighboring Moabites. See map.

When Jacob prophesied over him, he said,

(Gen 49:4 NIV) Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father's bed, onto my couch and defiled it.

Perhaps Moses is now praying that they don’t just waste away.

The Septuagint has the last phrase being given to Simeon, who is otherwise excluded from these blessings. Why is Simeon excluded? Some think because he would receive his inheritance completely within the borders of the tribe of Judah. See map.

Map of Israel and it’s tribes


: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.

(Deu 33:7 NIV) And this he said about Judah: "Hear, O 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!"

Since Judah was the tribe that marched at the front of the army, it was first in battle. This is a prayer for victory over 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;

Moses was of the tribe of Levi. Levi was the tribe of the priests.

The Urim and Thummim were probably (to the best of our knowledge) some kind of precious stones that were used in conjunction with the high priest’s breast piece to help determine God’s will. Some have suggested they may have been a black stone and a white stone, and if God’s answer was “yes”, then the white stone was pulled out, if “no”, then the black stone.

Massah and Meribah was when Israel complained about lack of water (Ex. 17), and Moses struck the Rock to bring forth water.

It seems that Moses is asking God to keep His anointing on the priesthood, that they would still continue to be used by God for the nation.

: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.

(Deu 33:9 NLT) The Levites obeyed your word and guarded your covenant. They were more loyal to you than to their parents, relatives, and children.

This could be a reference to the golden calf incident when the Levites stood with Moses to bring judgment on Israel:

(Exo 32:26-28 KJV) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. {27} And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. {28} And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

:10 They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.

These are some of the duties of the tribe of Levi. The priests were to teach Israel God’s Law. They were the ones who performed the sacrifices, burning incense, etc.

: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.

the beloved of the LORD – might refer to Benjamin’s place as the youngest, favored son of Jacob.

between his shoulders – might refer to the future location of the temple, in Jerusalem. Though Jerusalem was also a part of Judah, it is listed as a part of Benjamin as well.

: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,

Joseph is sometimes not mentioned among the twelve tribes because he received a “double portion” blessing from his father Jacob. Usually Joseph is represented by his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who each received the same portion as the other complete tribes, hence Joseph’s double portion.

:14 And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,

Material blessings.

:15 And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,

Ephraim and Manasseh would get some of the choicest land.

: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.

him that dwelt in the bush – the burning bush, referring to the Lord.

: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.

the mountain – possibly Mount Tabor, which was located between the two tribes.

abundance of the seas – sea trade

treasures hid in the sand – Both tribes should traffic with the Phoenicians 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 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.

(Deu 33:20-21 NLT) Moses said this about the tribe of Gad: "Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad's territory! Gad is poised there like a lion to tear off an arm or a head. {21} The people of Gad took the best land for themselves; a leader's share was assigned to them. When the leaders of the people were assembled, they carried out the Lord's justice and obeyed his regulations for Israel."

Gad was one of the tribes that settled on the eastern side of the Jordan River. They took of the “first part”, the part conquered from Sihon and Og.

But they didn’t stop there, they kept their promise and helped the other tribes on the western side of the Jordan to conquer their territory as well.

:22 And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.

lion’s whelp – or “lion cub”, perhaps possessing potential for great power.

Bashan is the land in the north. Though Dan was originally given land in the south, they took a portion of land in the north as well.

: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.

(Deu 33:23 NIV) About Naphtali he said: "Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the LORD and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake."

This may be talking about Naphtali’s geographical position around the Sea of Galilee. They had a fertile land.

: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.

oil – olive oil, referring to the great abundance in their crops. It’s one thing to anoint a person’s foot with oil, but Asher’s feet would be bathed in it.

:25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

shoes – some translations have “bolts of your gates”. Might refer to their ability to protect themselves. They would be strong and secure.

:26-29 Praise to God

:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:

Lesson

Find rest in His arms.

When you think you’ve hit bottom, you’ve only hit God’s arms.
Why would we be worried if we’re in His arms?
(Isa 40:11-12 KJV) He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. {12} Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

: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.

God would give Israel every possible opportunity to succeed.

Deuteronomy 34

:1-4 Peeking at the Promised Land

:1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,

Pisgah – is sometimes identified with Mount Nebo (Deut. 34:1). Here it may refer to the range of mountains that extend toward the NE corner of the Dead Sea, of which Nebo is the highest peak.

Moses looks at the land starting in the Northeast (Gilead), then sweeps counterclockwise to the south (Judah)

:3 unto Zoar.

South of the Dead Sea.

:4 And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.

Even though Moses would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land, he still got a peek at it.

:5-12 Moses dies

:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

If Moses is dead, then who wrote these verses? Probably Joshua did.

:6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

Who buried Moses?

It’s kind of vague here. It could be meaning that God buried him. It wouldn’t seem that any human was involved since no one knew where he was buried. It could have been angels involved:

(Jude 1:9 KJV) Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Was Moses’ body lost forever?

No.

(Mat 17:1-3 KJV) And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, {2} And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. {3} And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

He didn’t die of old age. God just pulled his plug. Speaking of old age …

Illustration

Sitting on the side of the highway waiting to catch speeding drivers, a State police officer sees a car puttering along at 22 MPH. He thinks to himself, “This driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!” So he turns on his lights and pulls the driver over. Approaching the car, he notices that there are five old ladies—two in the front seat and three in the back—wide-eyed and white as ghosts. The driver, obviously confused, says to him, “Officer, I don’t understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit! What seems to be the problem?” “Ma’am,” the officer replies, “you weren’t speeding, but you should know that driving slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers.” “Slower than the speed limit? No sir, I was doing the speed limit exactly 22 miles an hour!” the old woman says a bit proudly. The officer, trying to contain a chuckle explains to her that “22” was the highway number, not the speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the woman grinned and thanked the officer for pointing out her error. “But before I let you go, ma’am, I have to ask, is everyone in this car okay? These women seem awfully shaken and they haven’t muttered a single peep this whole time,” the officer asks. “Oh, they’ll be all right in a minute officer. We just got off Highway 119.”

:10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses,

At least that is, until Jesus.

:10 whom the LORD knew face to face,

(Exo 33:11 NIV) The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Joshua, in contrast, would need the help of the priests to understand God’s will:

(Num 27:21 KJV) And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.