SEV Biblia, Chapter 33:12
¶ Y a Benjamín dijo: El amado del SEÑOR habitará confiado cerca de él; lo cubrirá siempre, y entre sus hombros morará.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 33:12
Verse 12. Of Benjamin-the beloved of the Lord] Alluding to his being particularly beloved of his father Jacob, Gen. xlix. 27, &c. Shall dwell in safety by him] That is, by the Lord, whose temple, which is considered as his dwelling-place, was in the tribe of Benjamin, for a part of Jerusalem belonged to this tribe.
Shall cover him all the day] Be his continual protector; and he shall dwell between his shoulders-within his coasts, or in his chief city, viz., Jerusalem, where the temple of God was built, on his mountains Zion and Moriah, here poetically termed his shoulders.
Some object to our translation of the Hebrew dydy yedid by the term beloved, and think the original should be divided as it is in the Samaritan, dy dy yad yad, the hand, even the hand of the Lord shall dwell for safety or protection, wyl[ alaiv, upon him. This makes a good sense, and the reader may choose.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. [And] of Benjamin he said , etc.] The tribe of Benjamin, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem; which is taken notice of next to Levi, because, as the priesthood was in the tribe of Levi, the temple in which the priests officiated was in the tribe of Benjamin, or near it; and is observed next but one to Judah, and before his elder brother Joseph, because his tribe lay between Judah and Joseph, ( Joshua 18:11); and Levi having no inheritance in the land: the beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him ; this is commonly understood of the tribe of Benjamin, beloved by the Lord, as the head of the tribe was by his father Jacob; the first king of Israel being of that tribe, and the temple built in it, or on the edge of it, and its land the most fat and fertile of the land of Canaan, as Josephus observes; and may be said to “dwell by him”, the Lord, because the tabernacle of the Lord was so near that tribe, and so to dwell “in safety” under his protection, and which was the means of preserving it from apostasy, when ten tribes revolted: though the Messiah may be intended, the Son of God, and man of God’s right hand, the antitype of Benjamin, the beloved of the Lord, and dear son of his love; his Benjamin, who is now in human nature exalted at his right hand: and this may denote his inhabitation in the flesh, and dwelling by or near Benjamin, being born at Bethlehem in the tribe of Judah, bordering on Benjamin, and frequently had his abode in Jerusalem, which was in the tribe of Benjamin, ( Joshua 18:28); and where he was in safety amidst his enemies, they not having power to lay hold on him until his hour was come: [and the Lord] shall cover him all the day long ; for ever, as Jarchi notes, because that, after Jerusalem was chosen, the divine Majesty dwelt in no other place: this may be understood either of the Messiah covering Benjamin and protecting him, as he is the covert of all his Benjamites and beloved ones, from all their enemies, from all evils and dangers, from all storms and tempests, and everything troublesome and distressing, (see Isaiah 32:2); or the Lord’s covering his beloved One the Messiah; as he did in his infancy, from the designs of Herod upon his life, and from the attempts of others before his time was come; he hid him in the shadow of his hand, ( Isaiah 49:2); and he shall dwell between his shoulders ; either the Lord shall dwell between the shoulders of Benjamin; the temple in which the Lord dwelt was built on Mount Moriah, in the tribe of Benjamin, in the highest part of his land, as Jarchi notes; the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase the words, “in his border the Shechinah (or the glory of the Shechinah of the Lord) shall dwell,” for if the temple was not within the tribe of Benjamin, yet it was certainly on the borders of it: or Benjamin shall dwell between the shoulders of the Lord, being bore up and supported by him: Christ dwells in the hearts of his people, and over them as an head, and they dwell upon his shoulders, on which the care and government of them lies, ( Isaiah 9:6); in the Talmud this passage is applied to the days of the Messiah.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-23 - The order in which the tribes are here blessed, is not the same as is observed elsewhere. The blessing of Judah may refer to the whole trib in general, or to David as a type of Christ. Moses largely blesses the tribe of Levi. Acceptance with God is what we should all aim at, an desire, in all our devotions, whether men accept us or not, 2Co 5:9 This prayer is a prophecy, that God will keep up a ministry in his church to the end of time. The tribe of Benjamin had their inheritanc close to mount Zion. To be situated near the ordinances, is a preciou gift from the Lord, a privilege not to be exchanged for any worldl advantage, or indulgence. We should thankfully receive the earthl blessings sent to us, through the successive seasons. But those goo gifts which come down from the Father of lights, through the rising of the Sun of righteousness, and the pouring out of his Spirit like the rain which makes fruitful, are infinitely more precious, as the token of his special love. The precious things here prayed for, are figure of spiritual blessing in heavenly things by Christ, the gifts, graces and comforts of the Spirit. When Moses prays for the good will of Hi that dwelt in the bush, he refers to the covenant, on which all ou hopes of God's favour must be founded. The providence of God appoint men's habitations, and wisely disposes men to different employments for the public good. Whatever our place and business are, it is our wisdo and duty to apply thereto; and it is happiness to be well please therewith. We should not only invite others to the service of God, but abound in it. The blessing of Naphtali. The favour of God is the onl favour satisfying to the soul. Those are happy indeed, who have the favour of God; and those shall have it, who reckon that in having i they have enough, and desire no more.
Original Hebrew
לבנימן 1144 אמר 559 ידיד 3039 יהוה 3068 ישׁכן 7931 לבטח 983 עליו 5921 חפף 2653 עליו 5921 כל 3605 היום 3117 ובין 996 כתפיו 3802 שׁכן׃ 7931
