Daily reading

Today’s reading is: Deut. 33-34

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Deuteronomy Chapter Thirty-Three

  1. Moses’ blessings upon the tribes of Israel (Deut. 33:1-25) is an interesting comparison study with Jacob’s blessings upon the tribes of Israel (Gen. 49:1-27).
  2. The introduction paints a picture of Sinai that is only hinted at elsewhere in Scripture (Deut. 33:2-5; Ex. 34:5-8; Ps. 68:15-18; Acts 7:38,53; Gal. 3:19).
  3. Reuben’s blessing was to survive (Deut. 33:6; cp. Gen. 49:3,4; Jdg. 5:15,16).
  4. Judah’s blessing was to go forth in military victory (Deut. 33:7; cp. Gen. 49:8-12).
  5. Levi’s blessing was to remain faithful in the Lord’s service, regardless of the conflict they must endure (Deut. 33:8-11).  This is quite a bit different than Jacob’s prophetic word (Gen. 49:5-7).
  6. Benjamin’s blessing is to have a closeness to the Lord (Deut. 33:12).  This is different from his ravenous wolf identity that Jacob prophesied (Gen. 49:27).
  7. Joseph receives a lengthy blessing, and highlights his fruitfulness (Deut. 33:13-17; Gen. 49:22-26).
  8. Zebulun & Issachar are linked together (Deut. 33:18,19; cp. Gen. 49:13,14,15; Jdg. 5:14,15).
  9. The blessings on Gad are for enlarged territories as a response to Gad’s faithfulness in battle (Deut. 33:20,21; Gen. 49:19).
  10. Dan is a lion’s whelp, springing away from a serpent (alternative to Bashan) (Deut. 33:22).  In Jacob’s prophecy, he was a serpent (Gen. 49:16-18).
  11. Naphtali is promised favor (grace) (Deut. 33:23).  In Jacob’s prophecy, he was a doe (Gen. 49:21).  A view of the coming grace of Jesus Christ may be at work here (Matt. 4:13-16; Isa. 9:1ff.).
  12. Asher is promised abundant favor and blessings (Deut. 33:24,25; Gen. 49:20).
  13. The conclusion to the song is a reminder that there is no people on earth like Israel, and there is no god on earth like the one true God Whom they serve (Deut. 33:26-29).

Deuteronomy Chapter Thirty-Four

  1. Moses is given a panorama view of the promised land (Deut. 34:1-4).
  2. Moses died, and was buried by the Lord (Deut. 34:5-8; Jude 9).
  3. Joshua succeeds Moses (Deut. 34:9) and writes the epitaph to the Book of Deuteronomy, even the entire Law of Moses (Deut. 34:10-12).