Naphtali.--"The West."

The inheritance of the tribe

is clearly defined in

Josh. 19: 32-39.

The fact that the Mediterranean Sea was on the West Coast of the land of Canaan led

Israel to use the word "Sea" for the direction "West". In this instance, the word so

translated refers to the Sea of Galilee.

Asher.--"Let him dip his foot in oil." Asher's inheritance abounded in olive groves.

The margin reads, "Under thy shoes shall be iron and brass". The hills of Lebanon

abounded in minerals.  Iron is still found there, and copper is often spoken of in

connection with the Tyrians.

So with an ascription of praise to God--"there is none like unto God of Jeshurun"--

and Israel dwelling "in safety alone", and the "land of corn and wine" as the inheritance

of a people "saved by the Lord", the blessing of Moses the man of God comes to an end.

The closing chapter of the book records the ascent of the mountain by Moses, and the

vision he there received of all the land which the Lord had swore unto Abraham, Isaac

and Jacob. There he died, and was buried by the Lord--an honour accorded to Moses

alone. In full vigour the representative of the law died, a symbol of the law itself and its

lasting hold upon men until it, too, was removed by death. Moses was mourned by Israel

for thirty days. The closing words of Deuteronomy seem a fitting epitaph for that

unknown grave. Let us repeat them here, as we bid Moses farewell, and prepare to arise

and follow Joshua across Jordan into the land of promise:--