Deuteronomy 33

Before God’s prophet Moses died, he blessed the Israelites.

This is what he said, “God came from Mount Sinai, he came to Israel like the sun rising over Mount Seir, his light shone from near Mount Paran. He came with ten thousand holy angels, and there was a flaming fire at his right side. \* 3 God truly loves his people and protects all his special people. So they worship him and listen to his instructions. 4 {They said that} I gave them laws to obey, laws that would forever be for the descendants of Jacob. \* 5 So God became the king of his precious people when all the tribes and their leaders had gathered together.

I say this about the tribe of Reuben, I desire that their tribe will never disappear, but that they will never become numerous. \*

I say this about the tribe of Judah, God, listen to them {when they call out for help}. When they are fighting a battle, help them against the enemy, and bring them back home safely. \*

I say this about the tribe of Levi, God’s {sacred lots called} Thummim and Urim belong to the tribe that stayed loyal to him after he tested them at Massah and where they quarreled with him at Meribah spring. \* 9 They did what you told them to do by faithfully keeping the solemn agreement between God and the Israelites. Obeying God was much more important to them than their parents, siblings, or children. \* 10 They teach God’s decrees and laws to the Israelites, they will burn incense for him to enjoy and will completely burn the offerings {that the people bring} on God’s altar. \* 11 God, make them prosper and accept all that they do. Crush their attackers’ ability to have children, so those that hate them will never be able to fight against them again. \*

I say this about the tribe of Benjamin, God loves them; he keeps them safe. He protects them continually, and he lives among their hills. \*

I say this about the tribes of Joseph, I desire that God will bless their land by giving them dew from the sky, and water from deep in the ground \* 14 to produce for them wonderful fruit that the sun makes ripe, wonderful crops in the right months, 15 and wonderful things produced on their ancient hills and mountains. 16 Indeed, may he give them plenty of wonderful things from all that the earth produces and may {God who} lived in the {burning} bush be kind to them. I desire that God will bless the tribes of Joseph in all those ways, because he was the leader over his brothers {when they were in Egypt}. \* 17 There are ten thousand upon ten thousand people in the tribe of Ephraim and thousands upon thousands of people in the tribe of Manasseh which will be as strong as a bull; with their weapons they will wound their enemies like a wild ox gores other animals with its horns. Together they will push other people groups to the most distant places on the earth. \*

I say this about the tribes of Zebulun {and Issachar}, I desire that the people of Zebulun will prosper whenever they go {across the seas}, and that the people of Issachar will prosper while they stay at home {and take care of their cattle and crops}. 19 They will invite people {from the other Israelite tribe}s to the mountain {where they worship God by} offering correct sacrifices to him. They will become rich from {the work that they do on} the seas and from {using} the sand along the sea {to make things}. \*

I say this about the tribe of Gad, Praise God, the one who made their territory large. The people of their tribe will attack their enemies fiercely like a lion that crouches, waiting to tear off the arm or the scalp of some animal. \* 21 They chose the best part of the land for themselves; they got a share big enough for a leader. When the leaders of the tribes of Israel gathered together, the tribe of Gad did the righteous things God commanded Israel to do. \*

I say this about the tribe of Dan, The people of the tribe of Dan are like a young lion; they leap out from their caves in the region of Bashan to attack their enemies. \*

I say this about the tribe of Naphtali, God has blessed and been very kind to the people of the tribe of Naphtali; their land extends far south from the Sea of Chenneroth. \*

I say this about the tribe of Asher, May God bless the descendants of Asher more than he will bless the other tribes. I desire that they have a lot of olive trees that will produce a lot of olives to make olive oil. 25 Their towns will have high walls with gates that have bronze and iron bars. They will be strong as long as they live.” \* 26 {Then Moses said to all the Israelites,} “You Israelites, there is no god like your God, who travels swiftly through the heavens to rescue you. \* 27 God, who lives forever, is the one who gives you refuge; it is as though he puts his everlasting arms under you to support you. He will drive out your enemies while you advance; he has told you to destroy all of them. \* 28 So you Israelite people will live safely; no one will disturb you descendants of Jacob; in the land {where you will live}, there will be plenty of grain and wine, and plenty of dew will fall from the sky. \* 29 You people of Israel are very fortunate. There is certainly no nation like your nation, whom God has rescued {from being slaves in Egypt}. He will be like a shield to protect you and like a powerful sword to enable you to defeat your enemies. Your enemies will come to you begging for you to act mercifully toward them, but you will thoroughly overcome them.” \*