Blessing Israel

Audio Teaching

Notes

Text: Deut. 33 NASB95

Chumash Introduction

“[T]he difference between Jacob’s and Moses’ blessings lies in the difference between their respective roles in the formation of the people. Jacob, the final and consummate patriarch, was the father of the nation; Moses was its first leader. Thus, even if the two sets of blessings are similar in content, they differ in nature by virtue of their source: one is the blessing of a father to his family, the other, the blessing of a leader to his nation.”

“[E]ven though the vision of the future is not a blessing per se, and Moses’ death seems the very opposite of blessing. Moses succeeded in transmitting to us his supra-natural Divine perception, which was granted to him only on Mount Nebo on the day of his death; this heightened Divine consciousness is the most sublime blessing possible.

The vision of the nation’s future that God granted Moses, up to and including the vision of the final, messianic Redemption, is a fitting conclusion for the Torah, for as we know, the Torah was given to humanity in order to enable us to make the world into God’s home, and this goal will ultimately be achieved only upon the advent of the final Redemption. We are taught that Moses, the first redeemer, will also be the final redeemer, and that a spark of his soul is present in every generation as the leaders of that generation, as well as in each of us as individuals. Thus, Moses’ blessings—which provide us with the means, the impetus, and the vision to fulfill our Divine mission and our destiny, bringing the world to its fullest completion—are consummately channeled first through the leaders of our generation and finally through our own  selves, as we look to the Torah as our guide to living life to its fullest, to connecting ourselves with God, and to transforming our lives and our world into God’s true home.”

[Quick Notes]

Success in Warfare: 33:7, 11, 12

Prosperity in the Land: 33:15-16, 23, 25

Moses Blessed Israel on Three other Occasions:

1. Construction of the Tabernacle: Ex. 39
2. First Worship Service: Lev. 9
3. The outset of the Farewell Speech: Deut. 1

Deut. 33 Verse Notations

7: Voice of Judah:

Judah goes first (Jud. 1:2; 20:1)

Our praise sets the path for victory

13: Blessed of the Lord be his land.

14: Each month has its own significance.

19: Issachar has the authority to set the calendar.

20: Gad enlarged [ part of Jordan]

Zech. 2:4 “‘Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it.”

23: Possession of the Sea of the South [part of Syria].

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Resources:

Unrolling the Scroll Commentary: First Fruits of Zion

A Time to Advance – Understanding the Significance of the Hebrew Tribes and Months: Pierce/Heidler

Moses’ Blessing and Jacob’s Blessing:  Adin Even-Israel (Steinsaltz) (Chabad Article)