Deuteronomy 33:22 - Meaning and Application

Here is the blessing of Dan, in Deuteronomy 33:22. Jacob had compared Dan to a serpent for skill and craft, but Moses compares him to a lion for courage and determination. Who could stand against people who had a serpent’s mind and a lion’s heart? He is compared to the lions that spring from Bashan, a mountain known for fierce lions that would come down to seize their prey in the plains.

This may point to Samson, who came from this tribe, and to his victories over the Philistines. The Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in the camp of Dan when he was still very young, like a lion’s cub, so that he attacked the Philistines suddenly and overpowered them by sheer strength, as a lion does its prey. One of his first great acts was tearing a lion apart. Or it may point more generally to this tribe’s success when part of them learned that Laish was secure, even though it was at the far edge of Canaan from them, and then attacked it and quickly took it over (Judges 18:27). The mountains of Bashan were not far from that city, so they likely came down from there to attack, which is why they are said to leap from Bashan.

Then comes the blessing of Naphtali, in Deuteronomy 33:23. Moses looks on this tribe with admiration and joy: “O Naphtali, you are happy, and you will be happy still.” Three things make up this tribe’s happiness. First, “be satisfied with favor.” Some understand this as the favor of people, their goodwill and kind words. Jacob had described this tribe as generally friendly and pleasant, like a loving deer, giving “goodly words” (Genesis 49:21). Moses now says they would have the love of their neighbors and be content with that favor.

But others, and rightly so, take this as the favor of God. That is the only favor that truly satisfies the soul and gives real joy to the heart. Those are truly happy who have God’s favor, and those will have it who set their hearts on it and count it enough when they have it. Second, “be full with the blessing of the Lord,” meaning not only the good things that come from blessing, like grain, wine, and oil, but the blessing itself, the grace of God given through his promise and covenant. Those who have that blessing may truly call themselves full, because nothing else is needed to make them happy.

The Jews say that Naphtali’s land was so fertile, and its crops so early, even though it lay to the north, that people from that tribe were often the first to bring their first fruits to the temple. So they received the priest’s blessing first, which was the Lord’s blessing. Capernaum, where Christ mostly lived during his ministry, was also in this tribe. Third, “be in possession of the sea and the south.” This may mean the sea lying south of their territory, the Sea of Galilee, which appears often in the Gospels. Naphtali’s land lay directly north of it, and this was a great advantage, as shown by the wealth of Capernaum and Bethsaida, which were in this tribe and on that shore. We can see how Moses was guided by prophecy in these blessings, because before the land was divided by lot, he already saw and foretold how it would be assigned.

Then comes the blessing of Asher, in Deuteronomy 33:24-25. Four things are prayed for and foretold about this tribe, whose very name carries the thought of blessedness, since Leah named its father Asher, saying, “Happy am I” (Genesis 30:13). First, the increase of their numbers. They were already a large tribe (Numbers 26:47), and Moses asks that they may become even larger. Children, especially covenant children, are blessings, not burdens.

Second, he asks for their good standing among their neighbors: “Let him be acceptable to his brothers.” It is a very desirable thing to have the love and goodwill of the people around us. We should pray to God for that, since he holds all hearts in his hand. We should also seek it by gentleness, humility, and a ready willingness, as we are able, to do good to everyone.

Third, he asks for the richness of their land. Above ground, “let him dip his foot in oil,” meaning they would have so much oil in their portion that they could, if they wished, wash their feet in it. That was not a common practice, but it pictures great abundance. Under ground, “your shoes shall be iron and brass,” meaning they would have great supplies of these metals, perhaps mines in their own land, so that both the surface and the depths of their territory would be rich. If not from their own land, then these goods would come to them through trade, since their lot was by the sea. The Chaldee paraphrasts take this in a figurative sense, as saying they would be strong and shining like iron and brass.

Fourth, Moses asks for the lasting strength of this tribe: “As your days, so shall your strength be.” Some explain this to mean that their strength in old age would be like the strength of their youth. They would not wear out or grow weak, but would renew their strength, as if not only their shoes, but even their bones, were made of iron and brass. In Scripture, a day often stands for the events of that day. Taken that way, this is a promise that God would kindly support them through whatever trials and troubles came their way.

This promise is sure for all the spiritual children of Abraham. God wisely measures out grace and comfort to fit the work and suffering he calls us to. If he appoints work, he gives strength to do it. If he appoints burdens, he gives strength to bear them. He never lets his people be tempted beyond what they are able to endure. He is faithful who made this promise and has caused us to hope in it.