The
Video version is available at: https://youtu.be/GfCGrhPB6YU
Reading
– Deuteronomy 32:48-33:5; 34:1-12
By
Dan and Brenda Cathcart
In
the last Torah portion, God told the children of Israel that they would turn
away from Him, and, as a result, be exiled from the Promised Land that they
hadn’t even entered yet! However, God also reassures them that the land would
be there waiting for them to possess once more. All they had to do was return
to Him will all their heart and soul. As this Torah portion begins, Moses sings
a song of prophecy over the children of Israel reinforcing this message. With
his death imminent, Moses, then, turns to individual blessings over each of the
tribes of Israel. His introduction and conclusion to the blessings remind
Israel of their covenant relationship with God.
The
words that Moses spoke to the children of Israel on the plains of Moab before
entering the land took place over the period of one month. Moses began speaking
to them on the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year from the
time they left Egypt. As the eleventh month came to a close, Moses spoke a
formal blessing over the tribes of Israel. The blessings are in the center of a
chiastic structure. The outer layer is the announcement that Moses would die on
that day. Moving in one layer, are the introduction and conclusion of the
blessing. The inner layer is the blessing to all the tribes.
Starting
with the outer layer, God told Moses that the day had come that Moses would
die. God instructs Moses to go to Mount Nebo where he could see into the
Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 32:48-50 NKJV 48 Then the
LORD spoke to Moses that very same day, saying: 49 "Go up this mountain of
the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view
the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession; 50
"and die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people,
just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people;
God
told Moses to go to Mount Nebo, a mountain of the Abarim. The word Abarim,
number 5682 in Strong’s Concordance, means the “regions beyond.” It comes from
the word “ay-ber” meaning a “region across.” The children of Israel were camped
in the region beyond the Jordan near Jericho, literally, across from the
Promised Land. The root word for “ay-ber,” is “aw-bar,” number 5674, meaning to
cross over. The children of Israel would cross over into the Promised Land, but
Moses would not cross over with them. God, instead, allowed Moses to see the
entire land that Israel would possess. The details of what Moses saw are
included in the paired passages of this outer layer of the chiasm. It also confirms
that Moses would not cross over into the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 34:1-4 NKJV 1 Then Moses
went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is
across from Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead as far as
Dan, 2 all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah
as far as the Western Sea, 3 the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho,
the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "This
is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'I will
give it to your descendants.' I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but
you shall not cross over there."
The
phrase “the Western Sea” obviously refers to the Mediterranean Sea, however,
examining the Hebrew words reveals a possible deeper meaning. The literal
translation of this phrase would be “the utmost sea.” The Hebrew word
translated as either western or utmost is the word “akh-ar-one,” number 314,
meaning hinder, late, last, western, after, or to come. The Hebrew word for
“sea” is “yam” spelled with the Hebrew letters yood and mem. The Hebrew word
for “day” is “yom” which is spelled with the same two Hebrew letters. In modern
Hebrew, vowel markings indicate which of the two words is meant, but before
vowel markings, the only way to distinguish between these words was the
context. In the context of seeing the land, the phrase is correctly translated
as the western or utmost sea. The deeper meaning of the text refers to the
possibility that Moses saw what would happen “at the last day.” The Stone Edition Chumash states that the
Sages understood this alternate meaning.
The Sages teach: Read this phrase (as
far as the western sea) as though it did not state, the last sea but, the
last day. God showed Moses all that would happen to Israel in the future until
the last day when the dead will rise again.[i]
There
is a precedent for God showing those He favors with a vision of the last day.
When Abraham offered up Isaac, we read that he looked up and saw the place
where God wanted him to bring Isaac. Yeshua refers to this event stating that
Abraham saw Yeshua’s day.
John 8:56 NKJV 56 "Your father
Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."
In
another instance, Jacob, just before he died, blessed his twelve sons who would
become, of course, the twelve tribes. He said that his blessing would reveal
what would happen in the last days.
Genesis 49:1 NKJV 1 And Jacob called
his sons and said, "Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall
you in the last days:
So,
as Moses began to bless the twelve tribes of Israel, we can look at all of his
words as referring to the last days. This especially applies to Moses’
introduction and conclusion of the blessing in which Moses sees God as ruling
over Israel. The introduction begins with Moses seeing God’s presence with them
at Mt. Sinai and throughout their journey in the wilderness. Prophetically,
Moses sees this event as if it is fulfilled in the last days. The introduction
begins with the children of Israel in the presence of their God at Mt. Sinai
and on their journeys in the wilderness.
Deuteronomy 33:1-2 NKJV 1 Now this is
the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel
before his death. 2 And he said: "The LORD came from Sinai, And dawned on
them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came with ten thousands
of saints; From His right hand Came a fiery law for them.
The
presence of the LORD descended on Sinai in fire and smoke.
Exodus 19:18 NKJV 18 Now Mount Sinai
was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke
ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
He
was with them as they left Sinai and camped in the wilderness of Paran.
Numbers 10:12 NKJV 12 And the children
of Israel set out from the Wilderness of Sinai on their journeys; then the
cloud settled down in the Wilderness of Paran.
Even
when they wandered in the wilderness around Mount Seir and, finally, turned
toward the Promised Land, God was with them.
Deuteronomy 2:1-3 NKJV 1 "Then we
turned and journeyed into the wilderness of the Way of the Red Sea, as the LORD
spoke to me, and we skirted Mount Seir for many days. 2 "And the LORD
spoke to me, saying: 3 'You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn
northward.
We
think of God appearing by Himself on Mt. Sinai, but Moses said a company of His
holy ones were with God. He described God as being accompanied by “ten
thousands of His saints.” David describes the scene at Mt. Sinai as God being
surrounded by His chariots.
Psalms 68:17 NKJV 17 The chariots of
God are twenty thousand, Even thousands of thousands; The Lord is among them as
in Sinai, in the Holy Place.
Stephen
says the children of Israel received the Torah through the hands of angels.
Acts 7:53 NKJV 53 "who have
received the law by the direction of angels."
Paul
also states that the angels had a role in transmitting the Torah.
Galatians 3:19 NKJV 19 and it (the
Torah) was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.
Moses
stated that God extended His right hand and gave them a “fiery Torah.” When God
spoke His Words at Mt. Sinai, they came with thunderings and lightnings. The
Jewish sages say that tongues of fire touched on each person standing at the
base of Mt. Sinai. The prophet Jeremiah compares God’s word to a powerful fire.
Jeremiah 23:29 NKJV 29 "Is not My
word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the
rock in pieces?
Daniel’s
description of God’s throne is very much like Moses’ description of God’s
presence on Mt. Sinai.
Daniel 7:9-10 NKJV 9 "I watched
till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment
was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was
a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; 10 A fiery stream issued And came
forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand
times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were
opened.
The
NKJV Study Bible comments on Moses’ description in Deuteronomy 33 of
God’s presence.
Came from… dawned… shone forth: These
verbs reminded the Israelites of the awe-inspiring revelation of God in all of
His glory. God came down to Israel and revealed His covenant and law to them at
Mt. Sinai. Poetically, Moses referred to Seir and Paran located to the
northeast of Mt. Sinai. With these references, Moses implied that God’s
revelation took place throughout the whole wilderness journey.[ii]
God’s
presence must have been both frightening and awe-inspiring. The children of
Israel were so terrified when they heard God’s voice from the mountain, that
they feared God was going to kill them. However, far from wanting to kill them,
God’s act of giving the Torah to the children of Israel was an act of love.
Deuteronomy 33:3-4 NKJV 3 Yes, He
loves the people; All His saints are in Your hand; They sit down at Your feet;
Everyone receives Your words. 4 Moses commanded a law for us, A heritage of the
congregation of Jacob.
The
word “loves” in this passage is not the usual Hebrew word we translate as love.
In this verse, and only in this verse, it is “khaw-bab,” number 2245, meaning
to hide or cherish. We can see God holds His people close to Him, cherishing
them, and hiding them under His protection. The next phrase continues that
thought; God holds His holy ones in His hand. They sit down at the feet of the
Father and, not only hear His words, but receive it! This is a far cry from the
fear with which the children of Israel received God’s Words at Mt. Sinai!
When
Yeshua was here on Earth, many people flocked to Him to hear His words. One of
His followers, Mary, put aside her duties as hostess and sat down at Yeshua’s
feet.
Luke 10:38-39 NKJV 38 Now it happened
as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named
Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who
also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.
One
day, everyone will sit at Yeshua’s feet and joyfully receive His words.
Isaiah 2:3 NKJV 3 Many people shall
come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the
house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His
paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD
from Jerusalem.
Moses
calls this the heritage of the congregation of Jacob! We see that, at Mt. Sinai
and, again at the last days, the LORD will be king in Jeshurun.
Deuteronomy 33:5 NKJV 5 And He was
King in Jeshurun, When the leaders of the people were gathered, All the tribes
of Israel together.
Jeshurun
is an affectionate name for Israel used only a few times in the Bible. The name
Jeshurun, number 3484, means upright. God’s people are described as those who
are upright! At Mt. Sinai, when the children of Israel received the Torah, God
saw them as upright and they acknowledged Him as King!
However,
the first use of the term Jeshurun for Israel was not in praise but in
judgment. In the song of Moses where he describes how Israel will turn away
from God, he uses the term Jeshurun indicating that those who were called by
God as upright, had turned away from God.
Deuteronomy 32:15 NKJV 15 "But
Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, You are obese! Then
he forsook God who made him, And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
The
only other place Jeshurun is used in the Bible is in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah
reminds Israel that God chose them and calls them upright.
Isaiah 44:1-2 NKJV 1 "Yet hear
now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen. 2 Thus says the LORD
who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: 'Fear not, O
Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
When
God once again gathers His people, as Moses said, “all the tribes of Israel
together,” then God will once again be King in Jeshurun!
This
concludes the introduction of the blessings that Moses speaks over the twelve
tribes. After Moses delivers the blessings, his conclusion picks up right where
he left off in the introduction. Moses reiterates that God is King in Jeshurun.
There is no God like Him!
Deuteronomy 33:26 NKJV 26 "There
is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in
His excellency on the clouds.
David
writes that God is the king of all the earth who rides the heavens.
Psalms 68:32-34 NKJV 32 Sing to God,
you kingdoms of the earth; Oh, sing praises to the Lord, Selah 33 To Him who
rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed, He sends out His
voice, a mighty voice. 34 Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over
Israel, And His strength is in the clouds.
The
summary continues; it repeats the themes of the introduction but in reverse
order according to the chiastic structure. Remember, the introduction stated
that God holds His holy ones in His hand. In his conclusion, Moses reiterates
that God’s protection is over His people.
Deuteronomy 33:27-28 NKJV 27 The
eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will
thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, 'Destroy!' 28 Then Israel
shall dwell in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new
wine; His heavens shall also drop dew.
In
those days, Israel will rightly deserve the name Jeshurun. She will be a
righteous kingdom. Jeremiah writes of the time when Jerusalem will be called
righteous.
Jeremiah 33:15-16 NKJV 15 'In those
days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of
righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 16 In
those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is
the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.'
Moses
had declared that there is no God like the God of Jeshurun. Now he states that
there is no nation like the nation comprised of those who have been saved by
the LORD.
Deuteronomy 33:29 NKJV 29 Happy are
you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, The shield of your
help And the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, And you
shall tread down their high places."
God’s
majesty, which was once displayed over Mt. Sinai, would now be displayed over
all Israel! Isaiah writes that in that day, everyone will dwell safely under
the shekinah of God’s protection.
Isaiah 4:5-6 NKJV 5 then the LORD will
create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a
cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all
the glory there will be a covering. 6 And there will be a tabernacle for shade
in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from
storm and rain.
The
Jewish sages say that Moses saw what would happen in the last days at the time
of the resurrection of the dead. Paul, also, tells us what will happen at the
time of the resurrection of the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:22-25 NKJV 22 For as
in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in
his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His
coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father,
when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must
reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.
After
Moses concluded the blessing over the twelve tribes, he went up on Mt. Nebo to
die. The concluding words of Deuteronomy state that there has not arisen a
prophet like Moses.
Deuteronomy 34:10 NKJV 10 But since
then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew
face to face,
There
was not a prophet like Moses who spoke to God face to face until Yeshua came.
He is the one who was prophesied to come like Moses. He is the Son of David who
will rule on David’s throne. He is God’s anointed leader; His sent One. God’s
covenant with Israel that they will possess the land is still in force and will
be fulfilled when Yeshua returns. God was, is and will be King in Jeshurun!
Study
Questions:
Teaching Questions
- The
description of Moses’ death is the outer layer of the chiasm where we
learn that he died on a mountain of the Abarim. The meaning of Abarim
comes from the word “ay-ber,” meaning to cross over. It is the root word
of the word “Hebrew.” In what ways did the Hebrews “cross over?” In what
was can we say Moses “crossed over” even though he didn’t enter the
Promised Land? Why is Moses’ death the outside layer of the chiasm?
(Bonus: How do we “cross over?”)
- The middle layer of the chiasm is the declaration of God as King
in Jeshurun. How can this be understood as both a description of the
events at Sinai and on the wilderness journey as well as a description of
the last day?
3.
The word “loves” in Deuteronomy 33:3 is
“Khaw-bab” meaning to hide or cherish. How can that be understood as “love?”
How is this realized in the last day?
General Portion Questions
- The Song of Moses, Deuteronomy 32: is primarily an indictment
against Israel. What are the charges? What is the judgment? How does the
song reinforce that God is King in Jeshurun?
- The blessings of the tribes are in the center of the chiasm.
Counting the center by the middle verse, the middle line, and the middle
tribe (Note that Zebulon and Issachar are grouped together in the
blessing), the blessing on Joseph is in the middle. Our premise is that
Moses saw the last day. What does the blessing on Joseph reveal about the
last day? What is the central theme of the chiasm?
- What other insights
did you gain from this teaching? What indicators are there in this Torah
Portion that point to Messiah Yeshua?
Bonus: What
are the parallels between the children of Israel at the brink of entering the
Promised Land and Yeshua’s gathering of the believers at His second coming?
©
2023 Moed Ministries International. All rights reserved.
[i] The
Stone Edition Chumash. General Editors Rabbi Nosson Scherman and Rabbi Meir
Zolotowitz. Mesorah Publications, Ltd. ©1998, 2000. Page 1121.
[ii] NKJV
Study Bible. General Editor Earl D. Radmacher. Thomas Nelson, Inc. ©1997,
2007. Page 322.
