Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 33:20
And of Gad he said, Blessed [be] he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.
20. foreigner ] See on Deu 15:3.
that the Lord thy God thine hand unto ] See on Deu 12:7.
the land whither thou goest in, etc.] See on Deu 7:1, Deu 8:1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
20 And of Gad he said:
Blessed be the Broadener of Gad,
Like a lion he haunts
And tears the arm, yea the scalp.
21 And he saw to the best for himself,
[For there was the lot of the leader (?)]
Yet he went with the heads of the people,
He wrought the just will of the Lord,
And his judgements along with Israel.
On Gad’s territory see Deu 3:16 f. (mingled with that of Reuben); and Jos 13:24-28, where he extends from Aroer on Arnon northward through Moab and all the cities of Gilead to Lidebir (just S. of the Yarmk) unto the uttermost part of the sea of Chinnereth: truly the broadest of the tribal territories, the lot of the leader (?), as this oracle describes it. On the obscure oracle upon Gad in Gen 49:19, little more than a play upon his name, see Ryle’s notes in this series. It is not possible to deduce a date from this oracle; see on Deu 33:20.
20. he that enlargeth, etc.] Jehovah. The reference is usually interpreted of the recovery of Gad’s territory from the Syrians, 2Ki 14:25 f., and as proof of a date for the poem between that and the conquest by Tiglath Pileser (1Ch 5:26). But it may as well be a reference to the original allotment of so vast a territory to Gad, Jos 13:24 ff.
dwelleth ] So Sam. Haunts is more appropriate. LXX .
as a lioness ] Cp. 1Ch 12:8: Gadites whose faces were like the faces of lions.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
i. e., Blessed be God who shall grant to Gad a spacious territory. Compare the blessing of Shem Gen 9:26.
With the crown – Rather, yea, the crown. The warlike character of this tribe is shown by their leading the van in the long campaigns of Joshua (compare Jos 4:12-13; Jos 22:1-4). Compare also 1Ch 5:18-22; 1Ch 12:8 ff, and the acts of Jehu, the Gadite, in 2 Kings 9; 10.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Deu 33:20-21
Blessed be He that enlargeth Gad.
Gad
We are able to form a more than usually distinct idea of the personal character which pertained to Gad, and which he transmitted to his descendants. Scripture hints and Jewish traditions bear one another out in suggesting that this man was wild and turbulent and headstrong above his brethren; and that, being by no means content with the peaceful occupations of pastoral life which belonged to his family, he threw himself with ardour into the fierce forays which then, as now, kept the land of Canaan in a state of chronic warfare and unsettlement. It was to this feature that Jacob probably referred in his dying prophecy, in which he introduces a characteristic play upon the name which Leah had bestowed–
Gad, a plundering troop is plundering him,
But he is plundering at their heels.
— Gen 49:19.
When the children of Israel went out of Egypt, Gad marched and encamped, not as we might have expected with his whole brother Asher, but with Reuben and with Simeon, two tribes which closely resembled his own in character and occupation. All these three retained the nomad habits of their fathers earlier life in a marked degree, and had not, like some other Hebrew tribes, settled down in Egypt into the ways of an organised and civilised nation. They still preferred to live in tents as did the unreclaimed Ishmaelites of the desert. All their wealth consisted in huge flocks and herds of cattle. All their sympathies were with the freebooting mode of life which lies on the border line between civilisation and barbarism. Thus, when Canaan was settled, although Simeon parted from his former companions and sought his fortunes alone in the dry south land of Judah, Gad and Reuben kept their alliance fast, and took possession of the country east of Jordan, where alone there was room for their immense flocks, and opportunity for predatory raids. In this alliance Reuben seems to have willingly yielded the first place to his younger brother, whose character was evidently stronger than his own; and it is curious to notice how invariably Gad speaks and acts as the leader in all the transactions that attended this settlement. We recognise the same masterful character in all the men who rise up before us in the after history of the Bible as members of the tribe of Gad; namely, Jephthah, the eleven heroes who joined David at the most critical period of his fortunes, and Elijah the Tishbite, in whose rude strength and fearlessness we seem to behold the Gadite type in its best development, and to recognise the noblest aspect of the comparison which Moses had instituted in his blessing between this tribe and the shaggy forest lord which is mightiest among beasts, and turneth not away for any. (T. G. Rooke, B. A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 20. Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad] As deliverance out of distress is termed enlarging, (see Ps 4:1), this may refer to God’s deliverance of the tribe of Gad out of that distress mentioned Ge 49:19, and to the enlargement obtained through means of Jephthah, Jdg 11:33, and probably also to the victories obtained by Gad and Reuben over the Hagarites, 1Ch 5:18-20.
He dwelleth as a lion] Probably the epithet of lion or lion-like was applied to this tribe from their fierce and warlike disposition. And on this supposition, 1Ch 12:8, will appear to be a sufficient comment: And of the Gadites there were-men of might, men of war for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were LIKE THE FACES OF LIONS, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains. Tearing the arm or shoulder with the crown of the head seems simply to mean that no force should be able to prevail over them, or stand against them; as the arm or shoulder signifies dominion, and the crown of the head, sovereign princes.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
By praising God for enlarging Gad he supposeth the ground of these praises, that God would enlarge Gad, i.e. either.
1. Enlarge his territories; which seems needless, because they had a very large portion now when Moses uttered these words. Or,
2. Bring him out of his straits and troubles, which he was likely to be oft engaged in, because he was encompassed with potent enemies. And in this sense the phrase is used Psa 4:1; compare Psa 31:8; 118:5. One instance of the fulfilling hereof we have Jdg 11.
He dwelleth as a lion, i.e. safe and secure from his enemies, and terrible to them when they rouse and molest him. See 1Ch 5:18, &c.; 1Ch 12:8.
Teareth the arm with the crown of the head, i.e. utterly destroys his enemies; both the head, the seat of the crown, their dignity and principality, and the arm, the subject of strength and instrument of action; both chief princes, and their instruments and subjects.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20, 21. of Gad he saidItspossessions were larger than they would have been had they lain westof Jordan; and this tribe had the honor of being settled by Moseshimself in the first portion of land conquered. In the forest region,south of the Jabbok, “he dwelt as a lion” (compare Gen 30:11;Gen 49:19). Notwithstanding, theyfaithfully kept their engagement to join the “heads of thepeople” [De 33:21] in theinvasion of Canaan.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And of Gad he said,…. The tribe of Gad, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem:
blessed [be] he that enlargeth Gad; that is, the Lord, to whom the praise and glory were to be given, who had appointed to Gad a large inheritance on the other side Jordan, and had settled him in it, and which became larger by the conquest of the Hagarites, and others, 1Ch 5:18;
he dwelleth as a lion; bold and courageous, secure, and without fear of any of his enemies, though near him, on his borders, as the Moabites and Ammonites were; of the same spirit and temper were the men of the tribe of Gad in the times of David, 1Ch 12:8;
and teareth the arm with the crown of the head, at once, just as a lion tears its prey; which figurative phrases are expressive of this tribe conquering and destroying strong and mighty men, signified by the “arm”, in which the strength of a man lies, and of kings and governors, pointed at by the “crown of the head”; as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; which was done in the times of Joshua, when with and under him they subdued and destroyed the kings and princes of the land of Canaan.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Gad. – “ Blessed be He that enlargeth Gad: like a lioness he lieth down, and teareth the arm, yea, the crown of the head. And he chose his first-fruit territory, for there was the leader’s portion kept; and he came to the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord, and his rights with Israel.” Just as in the blessing of Noah (Gen 9:26) the God of Shem is praised, to point out the salvation appointed by God for Shem, so here Moses praises the Lord, who enlarged Gad, i.e., who not only gave him a broad territory in the conquered kingdom of Sihon, but furnished generally an unlimited space for his development (vid., Gen 26:22), so that he might unfold his lion-like nature in conflict with his foes. On the figure of a lioness, see Gen 49:9; and on the warlike character of the Gadites, the remarks on the blessing of Jacob upon Gad (Gen 49:19). The second part of the blessing treats of the inheritance which Gad obtained from Moses at his own request beyond Jordan. , with an accusative and , signifies to look out something for oneself (Gen 22:8; 1Sa 16:17). The “first-fruit” refers here to the first portion of the land which Israel received for a possession; this is evident from the reason assigned, , whilst the statement that Gad chose the hereditary possession is in harmony with Num 32:2, Num 32:6, Num 32:25., where the children of Gad are described as being at the head of the tribes, who came before Moses to ask for the conquered land as their possession. The meaning of the next clause, of which very different explanations have been given, can only be, that Gad chose such a territory for its inheritance as became a leader of the tribes. , he who determines, commands, organizes; hence both a commander and also a leader in war. It is in the latter sense that it occurs both here and in Jdg 5:14. , the field, or territory of the leader, may either be the territory appointed or assigned by the lawgiver, or the territory falling to the lot of the leader. According to the former view, Moses would be the mechokek . But the thought, that Moses appointed or assigned him his inheritance, could be no reason why Gad should choose it for himself. Consequently can only mean the possession which the mechokek chose for himself, as befitting him, or specially adapted for him. Consequently the mechokek was not Moses, but the tribe of Gad, which was so called because it unfolded such activity and bravery at the head of the tribes in connection with the conquest of the land, that it could be regarded as their leaders. This peculiar prominence on the part of the Gadites may be inferred from the fact, that they distinguished themselves above the Reubenites in the fortification of the conquered land ( Num 32:34.). , from , to cover, hide, preserve, is a predicate, and construed as a noun, “a thing preserved.” – On the other hand, the opinion has been very widely spread, from the time of Onkelos down to Baumgarten and Ewald, that this hemistich refers to Moses: “ there is the portion of the lawgiver hidden,” or “the field of the hidden leader,” and that it contains an allusion to the fact that the grave of Moses was hidden in the inheritance of Gad. But this is not only at variance with the circumstance, that a prophetic allusion to the grave of Moses such as Baumgarten assumes is apparently inconceivable, from the simple fact that we cannot imagine the Gadites to have foreseen the situation of Moses’ grave at the time when they selected their territory, but also with the fact that, according to Jos 13:20, the spot where this grave was situated ( Deu 34:5) was not allotted to the tribe of Gad, but to that of Reuben; and lastly, with the use of the word chelkah , which does not signify a burial-ground or grave. – But although Gad chose out an inheritance for himself, he still went before his brethren, i.e., along with the rest of the tribes, into Canaan, to perform in connection with them, what the Lord demanded of His people as a right. This is the meaning of the second half of the verse. The clause, “he came to the heads of the people,” does not refer to the fact that the Gadites came to Moses and the heads of the congregation, to ask for the conquered land as a possession (Num 32:2), but expressed the thought that Gad joined the heads of the people to go at the head of the tribes of Israel (comp. Jos 1:14; Jos 4:12, with Num 32:17, Num 32:21, Num 32:32), to conquer Canaan with the whole nation, and root out the Canaanites. The Gadites had promised this to Moses and the heads of the people; and this promise Moses regarded as an accomplished act, and praised in these words with prophetic foresight as having been already performed, and that not merely as one single manifestation of their obedience towards the word of the Lord, but rather as a pledge that Gad would always manifest the same disposition. “To do the righteousness of Jehovah,” i.e., to do what Jehovah requires of His people as righteousness – namely, to fulfil the commandments of God, in which the righteousness of Israel was to consist (Deu 6:25). , imperfect Kal for or ; see Ges. 76, 2, c., and Ewald, 142, c. “ With Israel: ” in fellowship with (the rest of) Israel.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verses 20, 21:
Compare this text with Gen 49:19.
Gad was a warlike tribe. He was successful in obtaining his portion or inheritance from the warrior nations on the west of Jordan He saw the excellent lands there suited for cattle, and he took it for himself.
“Lawgiver,” chaquq, “to grave, decree,” one who ordains or appoints. The term is applied to Gad, referring to the energy this tribe displayed in the conquest of their Land.
“He executed the justice of the Lord,” that is, he did as Jehovah required of him.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
20. And of Gad he said. In the blessing of the tribe of Gad, mention is only made of the hereditary portion, which it had obtained without casting of lots. He therefore celebrates the blessing of God, because He had accorded to the Gadites an ample dwelling-place; for the word “enlargeth” refers to the extent of their possession. But inasmuch as in that extremity of the land beyond Jordan, they were on a hostile border, he declares that they would be warlike, and hence compares them to a lion, which tears its prey sometimes from the head, and sometimes from the arm. Since, then, that position would not be so peaceful as any other region in the midst of Canaan, he declares that they should be safe and sound, through their own audacity. And although it is not a very pleasant condition to be harassed by constant wars, still, in such a disagreeable case, God’s grace was not to be despised, which made them formidable to their enemies, and of great valor, whereby they might not only repel hostile invasions, but be willing of themselves to make predatory expeditions. If any should object that license for rapine was quite unsuitable for God’s children, the solution is obvious, that reference is not here made to what was lawful, or what was desirable and praiseworthy, but that a consolation was offered them by way of protection against the incursions and annoyances of their enemies. Besides, the lust for booty is not made permissible, but praise is merely given to their courage in overcoming their enemies.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(20) Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad.The mountains of Gilead shut him in.
He dwelleth as a lion.See 1Ch. 12:8, for eleven Gadites, whose faces were as the faces of lions.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20, 21. Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad The territory of Gad was east of the Jordan. At the time of the pronouncing of this blessing the warlike character of the tribe was seen. It had gained a broad territory.
He dwelleth as a lion This expression was applied to the tribe on account of their warlike disposition. Comp. 1Ch 12:8, where the Gadites are described as men of might and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions.
Teareth the arm with the crown of the head More literally rendered, Teareth the arm, yea, the crown of the head.
Deu 33:20
And of Gad he said,
Blessed be he who enlarges Gad:
He dwells as a lioness,
And tears the arm, yes, the crown of the head.
And he provides the first part for himself,
For there was the commander’s (or ‘lawgiver’s) portion reserved;
And he came at the heads of the people;
He executed the righteousness of Yahweh,
And his ordinances with Israel.
God will enlarge Gad and prosper them. They will be a triumphant predator, seizing the arms of the enemy, and tearing their heads, as a lion seizes its prey. By their prominence in leadership they will be looking first after their own interests, and then after the interests of all the tribes, and will be prominent in the confederacy. They will always be among the leaders, and will have a concern for the carrying out of the righteousness of Yahweh, and the bringing about of His ordinances. Compare Gen 49:19 where Gad also reveals his strength.
It is clear that by this time these traits were especially noticeable in the tribe of Gad. All the tribes would have altered through the years, years firstly of prosperity and then of oppression. Some would have made more use of the first, and may have responded better to the second. Some would even be in parts of the Delta possibly not so much affected by the oppression. Moses would by this time have gathered much about the futures of these tribes from what he had observed about them and their leadership.
There may also be reference to Gad’s part in the future conquest, ‘coming at the heads of the peoples’ as befitted a warrior tribe, having themselves already first settled in Transjordan with Moses’ blessing. Gad was chosen to replace Levi, combining with the Leah tribes in having a major protective position in the advance through the wilderness (Num 1:24; Num 2:14-15).
The historical presence of Gad in Transjordan is confirmed on the Moabite Stone where Gad is mentioned by Mesha, the king of Moab.
Ver. 20, 21. And of Gad he said This warlike tribe, having applied to Moses for the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and obtained it, is not improperly compared by him to a lion resting after he is satiated with his prey. Moses seems indirectly to commend their prudence in having chosen so large and so good a tract of land for themselves; and concludes with reminding them of the conditions on which their grant of it was founded, viz “That, after they had built cities for their wives, their children, and their flocks, they should lead the armies of the Israelites, and not return to their houses, until they had completed the conquest of the devoted inhabitants of Canaan.” Conformably to the ideas given in this general argument, Durell renders the passage thus;Ver. 20. Blessed is Gad with a large country:he hath rested as a lion,and hath torn the shoulder with the head:for he provided the first part for himself.21. When there, in the decreed portion, he was secured;then he went with the heads of the people;he executed the righteousness of the Lord,and his judgments with Israel.” That Gad’s was a large country will appear to any one who examines it. That the tribe answered to the allegory of a lion resting after being satiated with his prey, will appear from 1Ch 5:18; 1Ch 12:8. See Gen 49:9. Tearing the arm, or the shoulder, with the head, implies the destruction of princes with their power; for princes are the arms of the state, and kings the head. What the righteousness of the Lord and his judgments were, the context plainly points out; namely, the extirpation of the seven nations of Canaan, whose sins, being grown to maturity, called aloud for the hand of justice to root them out before they spread their baneful influence farther.
It was said of Gad, by Jacob his Father, that a troop should overcome him, but that he should overcome at the last. Gen 49:19 . And is not Gad, a figure of all GOD’S people, who are variously exercised: and as it should seem frequently overcome by troops of sins, troops of oppressors, troops of enemies from the world, the flesh, and the devil? but yet, concerning whom, victory is not doubtful, for they shall certainly at last overcome every foe, by the blood of the LAMB. Rev 12:11 .
Deu 33:20 And of Gad he said, Blessed [be] he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.
Ver. 20. He dwelleth as a lion. ] That should make his party good with the enemy, upon whom he bordereth, and by whom he is often invaded. See Gen 49:19 Jdg 11:5 ; Jdg 11:13 1Ch 12:8 .
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Deu 33:20-21
20Of Gad he said,
Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad;
He lies down as a lion,
And tears the arm, also the crown of the head.
21Then he provided the first part for himself,
For there the ruler’s portion was reserved;
And he came with the leaders of the people;
He executed the justice of the Lord,
And His ordinances with Israel.
Deu 33:20 Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad This seems to be a reference to YHWH.
He lies down as a lion The word is lioness (BDB 522, cf. Gen 49:9; Num 24:9; Job 4:11). The lioness was the one who hunted and provided food for the male lion and cubs. Gad was referred to as the lioness. The tribe of Gad was blessed because of their faithfulness in battle (cf. Gen 49:19).
Deu 33:21 This verse is a play on Gad or a valiant warrior (in the metaphor of a lion). He chose part of the land on the eastern side of Jordan to inherit, but he and the Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh were the first military group to go into battle in the Promised Land (cf. Jos 4:12-13; Jos 22:1-3).
For there the ruler’s portion was reserved The Hebrew meaning is uncertain!
And he came with the leaders of the people This may refer to these three tribes asking Moses and the elders for permission to settle on the eastern side of Jordan.
with = likewise, or, yea.
Blessed: Gen 9:26, Gen 9:27, Jos 13:8, Jos 13:10, Jos 13:24-28, 1Ch 4:10, 1Ch 12:8, 1Ch 12:37, 1Ch 12:38, Psa 18:19, Psa 18:36
he dwelleth: 1Ch 5:18-21, 1Ch 12:8-14
teareth: Mic 5:8
Reciprocal: Gen 30:11 – she Gen 46:16 – sons of Gen 49:19 – General Num 23:24 – as a great Psa 7:2 – like Jer 2:16 – have broken the crown
Deu 33:20. Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad That bringeth him out of his straits and troubles, which he was often engaged in, because he was encompassed with potent enemies. As a lion Safe and secure from his enemies, and terrible to them when they rouse and molest him. Teareth the arm Utterly destroys his enemies, both the head, the seat of the crown, their dignity and principality, and the arm, the subject of strength and instrument of action; both chief princes, and their subjects.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments