Deuteronomy 33:8 - Meaning and Application

When Moses blesses the tribe of Levi, he speaks at greater length. He does this not mainly because Levi was his own tribe, but because it was God’s tribe. The blessing especially points to the high priest and to the priests and Levites who served under him.

The high priest is here called God’s holy one, because his office was holy. That was shown by the words “Holiness to the Lord” written on his forehead. Moses seems to admit that God could justly have removed Aaron and his family because of Aaron’s sin at Meribah (Exodus 17:7). Yet God may also have had that very trial in view when he gave Aaron the priesthood, even though the earlier record does not mention it. The Chaldee paraphrasts say that Aaron was tested and proved faithful, and therefore was not rejected (Numbers 20:2).

Moses prays that the priesthood would remain with Aaron’s line: “Let your Thummim and your Urim be with him” (Deuteronomy 33:8). These were special gifts connected with guidance from God, and they were given for some great service (Malachi 2:5). Moses is saying, “Lord, do not take this office away from him.” Though the prayer was spoken here, the Urim and Thummim were later lost in the captivity and never restored in the second temple.

This prayer finds its fullest answer in Jesus Christ, God’s Holy One and our great high priest, of whom Aaron was a picture. Christ has always been with the Father, and with him the Urim and Thummim remain forever, because he is the wonderful and everlasting counselor. Some understand the words in a more general sense. Thummim means integrity, and Urim means light, or illumination. Then the prayer becomes, “Lord, let your holy one be both upright and wise.” That is a good prayer for gospel ministers, that they may have clear minds and honest hearts. Light and sincerity make a complete minister.

Moses then turns to the lower priests and Levites (Deuteronomy 33:9-11). He praises their zeal for God when they sided with Moses, and so with God, against the worshipers of the golden calf (Exodus 32:26 and following). When they carried out judgment against the leaders of that sin, they did it without favoritism. Even if the guilty were their closest relatives, they did not spare them if they were idolaters. We should always let our duty to God and his glory come before every human bond.

Those who keep themselves clean from the common sins of their time and place, and who also speak up against evil, will receive special honor. Moses may also have had the sons of Korah in mind, who would not join their father in his rebellion (Numbers 26:11). He may also have thought of Phinehas, who carried out justice and stopped the plague. The work of priests and Levites also meant much constant service at God’s altar, and that left them often away from their families. They could not care for their homes as carefully or provide for them as other Israelites could. They accepted this steady self-denial so that they might keep God’s word and hold to the covenant of priesthood.

Those called to holy service must hold loosely to the earthly ties and interests that are dearest to them. They must choose to please their best friend, meaning God, above all else (Acts 20:24; Acts 21:13). The Lord Jesus himself would not let his mother and brothers pull him away from his work when they tried to do so (Matthew 12:48).

Moses then confirms their calling to serve in holy things, which was their reward for zeal and faithfulness (Deuteronomy 33:10). They were to deal with the people on God’s behalf. They would teach Jacob God’s judgments and Israel’s laws, both by preaching in worship gatherings and by explaining the law (Nehemiah 8:7-8), and by judging hard cases brought before them (2 Chronicles 17:8-9). The priests were to keep this knowledge for the people’s use, and the people were to ask the law from their mouths (Malachi 2:7). Even Haggai the prophet brought a question of conscience to the priests (Haggai 2:11 and following). Preaching is needed not only when churches are first planted, but also to preserve and build them up after they are established (Ezekiel 44:23-24).

They were also to deal with God on behalf of the people, by burning incense to honor God and by offering sacrifices for sin and for the people’s acceptance with him. This was the work of the priests, while the Levites assisted them. Those who wanted benefit from their incense and offerings had to listen carefully and obey their teaching.

Moses also prays for them (Deuteronomy 33:11). First, he asks God to bless their substance, that is, their support and income. The provision given to them was generous and came to them easily, but they could not enjoy it unless God blessed it. Since God himself was their portion, they might rightly expect a special blessing on what belonged to them. Some read the word as “their strength” or “their virtue,” meaning, “Lord, grow your grace in them and make them better fit for their work.”

Second, Moses asks God to accept their service: “Accept the work of his hands, both for himself and for the people he serves.” Being accepted by God is the goal we should all seek in every act of worship, whether people approve of us or not (2 Corinthians 5:9). It is the most valuable blessing we can ask for, for ourselves or for others.

Third, Moses asks God to defend them against every enemy. “Strike through the loins of those who rise against him.” He assumes that God’s ministers will have many enemies. Some will hate them because they are faithful. Some will envy their support and try to steal it through sacrilege. Others will oppose them in carrying out their office and refuse to submit to the priests’ judgment. Some will even try to destroy the office itself. Moses asks God to defeat such plans and turn the harm back on those who began it.

This prayer also points forward as a prophecy. God will surely deal with those who oppose his ministers, and he will preserve a ministry in his church to the end of time, no matter how hard the powers of hell work against it. Saul rose up against the Lord’s priests (1 Samuel 22:18), and that added to the full measure of his sin.