i. e., Blessed be God who shall grant to Gad a spacious territory. Compare the blessing of Shem Genesis 9:26.With the crown - Rather, yea, the crown. The warlike character of this tribe is shown by their leading the van in the long campaigns of Joshua (compare Joshua 4:12-13; Joshua 22:1-4). Compare also 1Ch 5:18-22; 1 Chronicles 12:8 ff, and the acts of Jehu, the Gadite, in 2 Kings 9:0; 2 Kings 10:0. read more
Deuteronomy 33:20. Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad That bringeth him out of his straits and troubles, which he was often engaged in, because he was encompassed with potent enemies. As a lion Safe and secure from his enemies, and terrible to them when they rouse and molest him. Teareth the arm Utterly destroys his enemies, both the head, the seat of the crown, their dignity and principality, and the arm, the subject of strength and instrument of action; both chief princes, and their... read more
The blessing of Moses (32:48-33:29)As God had announced earlier, the time for Moses to die had come (48-52; see Numbers 27:12-14). The prophetic blessings that he gave Israel before he died foresaw the favours that God would give the various tribes. But first Moses recalled the giving of the law at Sinai. God appeared in flaming majesty, bursting forth in glory brighter than the rising sun. Accompanying him were multitudes of heavenly servants who carry out God’s purposes in the lives of... read more
with = likewise, or, yea. read more
BLESSING OF GAD (Deuteronomy 33:20-21)"And of Gad he said,Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad:He dwelleth as a lioness,And teareth the arm, yea, the crown of the head.And he provided the first part for himself,For there was the lawgiver's portion reserved;And he came with the heads of the people;He executed the righteousness of Jehovah,And his ordinances with Israel."Here again, there are no specifics. It is the overall impression here that is significant; and it is very favorable. Gad's... read more
Ver. 20, 21. And of Gad he said— This warlike tribe, having applied to Moses for the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and obtained it, is not improperly compared by him to a lion resting after he is satiated with his prey. Moses seems indirectly to commend their prudence in having chosen so large and so good a tract of land for themselves; and concludes with reminding them of the conditions on which their grant of it was founded, viz "That, after they had built cities for their wives,... read more
20, 21. of Gad he said—Its possessions were larger than they would have been had they lain west of Jordan; and this tribe had the honor of being settled by Moses himself in the first portion of land conquered. In the forest region, south of the Jabbok, "he dwelt as a lion" (compare Genesis 30:11; Genesis 49:19). Notwithstanding, they faithfully kept their engagement to join the "heads of the people" [Deuteronomy 33:21] in the invasion of Canaan. read more
D. Moses’ blessing of the tribes ch. 33After receiving this announcement of his death, and as one of his final official acts as Israel’s leader, Moses pronounced a prophetic blessing on the tribes of Israel (cf. Jacob’s blessing of the tribes in Genesis 49)."In the ancient Near East, a dying father’s final blessings spoken to his sons were an irrevocable legal testament, accepted as decisive evidence in court disputes. In the case of the Biblical patriarchs, the authority and potency of their... read more
The arrangement of the tribes in this blessing is unusual. Kalland provided a chart of six lists of the tribes that appear in Genesis, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua, each of which contains a different order. [Note: Kalland, p. 222.] Evidently God based this list on a combination of the past and future histories of each tribe.Reuben (Deuteronomy 33:6) was the first-born but did not enjoy greatness among the tribes because of his sin. He lost his father’s birthright and blessing.Judah... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:20-25
Gad, Dan, Naphtali, Asher. The blessings on these tribes are connected with— I. PROWESS . ( Deuteronomy 33:20 , Deuteronomy 33:21 .) The chivalrous heroic spirit, which, as well as in bloodier conflicts, finds scope for its exercise in the battles of the cross, has here its appropriate recognition. A first portion is reserved for it. II. ACTIVITY . Dan's characteristic was agility. In Genesis, the dart of the serpent ( Genesis 49:17 ); here, the leap of the lion's whelp... read more