Deuteronomy 33: Moses' final blessing on Israel

Deuteronomy 32 (part II): Moses' Death Foretold
Deuteronomy 33: Moses' Final Blessing on Israel

Moses' Death Foretold: Deuteronomy 33.48-52
As promised, God allows Moses to see the promised land before he dies. Moses is told to ascend Mount Nebo in Moab to view Canaan. Moses will die there on the mountain. Neither he nor Aaron will enter the promised land because of the incident a Meribath-kadesh, an apparent breach of faith with the Lord.

Moses' Final Blessing on Israel: Deuteronomy 33.1-29-
The blessings are all in verse, and as such exhibit all the classic characteristics of biblical poetry. Note that Simeon does not appear here. There are only ten blessings; Zebulun and Issachar are lumped together.

Introduction
As a literary convention, an invocation calls on a divine being for help in composition. Moses' final blessing begins with something that is not quite an invocation. It presents an image of the Lord first and foremost, but the Lord is not called upon to help the biblical author compose this work.

The Lord is presented coming down from Sinai with "myriads of holy ones...a host of his own" that aid the Israelites in battle. This is how the Lord wins in battle; a heavenly militia that accompanies him and therefore attacks with his chosen people, Israel.

With the codification and revelation of the law, says the verses, the "united tribes of Israel" forms as well.

Then begin the blessings. I paraphrase:

Reuben
The continuance of the tribe, though its members are hew.

Judah
Strengthen his hands, and help him against adversaries.

Levi
The Levites obey the Lord and should be blessed for this. The Lord is called upon to "crush the loins of his adversaries....so that they do not rise again." [It is quite clear that the bible associates genitalia with power.]

Benjamin
The beloved of the Lord is completely wrapped up in God.

Joseph
Blessed and bountiful land is called for. Joseph was the favored child of not only Jacob but God as well, and therefore his section of the poem is longest, while Levi, whose family comprises the servants of the Lord, receives the second-longest section.

Zebulun and Issachar
These tribes live in the mountains, where they offer proper sacrifice. Also, "they suck the affluence of the seas / and the hidden treasures of the sand."

Gad
Gad's tribe will be enlarged. Gad is like a lion, and takes the best portion for himself.

Dan
Dan's blessing is the shortest: "Dan is a Lion's whelp / that leaps forth from Bashan."

Naphtali
Blessed by the Lord, Naphtali possesses the west and south

Asher
The Asherites are well-protected and strong, the favorite of their brothers.

Conclusion
The blessing concludes with an image of YHWH Sabaoth protecting the people, acting as sword and shield to deliver Jacob's descendants to "a land of grain and wine, / where the heavens drop down dew."