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Judah.--From Judah sprang David, the warrior king. Moses prays that Judah may be
heard and brought back triumphant unto his people, and that his "hands may be sufficient
for him".
Levi.--The conduct of Levi on the occasion of the worship of the golden calf, when he
spared neither his own brethren nor children in his zeal for the true worship of God, is
here dwelt upon with favour. To this tribe pertained the service of the Lord and the
teaching of the people.
Benjamin.--"The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety near Him"--that is, the
inheritance of Benjamin included the dwelling-place of the Most High. "He shall dwell
between His shoulders" refers possibly to the fact that "He" (that is God) would honour
the tribe of Benjamin by dwelling upon the mount of Zion.
Joseph.--Joseph included the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. His sign was
Taurus, the Bull, as Judah's was the Lion. The words of verse 17 ought to be rendered:
"His glory is like that of a first-born bull." "The goodwill of Him that dwell in the bush"
refers to Exod. 3: 2 and the purpose of the Lord in Israel's redemption.
Zebulun and Isaachar are put together. They were sons of the same mother, but
different in character. Zebulun carried on a trade in purple dye, a commerce that brought
them a great revenue. Isaachar's inheritance embraced the fertile plains of Jezreel,
Esdraelon and Megiddo; and this tribe settled down to its enjoyment. Among the exports
that are associated with Zebulun is that of glass, made from the sand at the mouth of the
river Belus.
Gad.--
"He appointed the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the law-giver,
was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people" (Deut. 33: 20, 21).
These words have been variously translated. The following paraphrase may be of
service:--
"He asked and obtained for himself the first portion of the land which Israel
conquered, namely, the territory of Sihon the Amorite, and he was settled there with full
possession at the consent of Moses the law-giver. There was a condition attached which
Gad fulfilled, by crossing the Jordan and helping his brethren in the other tribes to obtain
their own portion of the promised land."
"In a portion of the law-giver, was he seated" is sometimes translated: "the portion of
the hidden lawgiver." This is supposed to refer to the fact that somewhere in the territory
of Gad was buried in an unknown grave Moses the great law-giver.
Dan.--Dan is first of all compared to a lion's whelp. When he had become
full-grown, he leaped from Bashan and secured territory further North, including Laish
(Judges 18: 29).