And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.
The verse belongs to Moses' farewell utterances to the encamped host of Israel, his prophetic blessing invoked upon the twelve tribes. It stands as part of the beautiful poem in Deuteronomy 33, paired with the beautiful poem in Deuteronomy 32, after Moses' final charge and before the record of the death of Moses the man of God. It is one of two marvelous songs of Moses concerning Israel that close the book. The chapter enshrines blessed truths about God and prophecies concerning the tribes in songs the people were taught to sing through future generations, recalling God's mercy and goodness.
The blessings depict the fruits and outcome of character foreshown in each tribe, and are rich in symbol, in emblem, in historic reference, in tender petition, in triumphant faith, and in exultant beatific anticipation. The blessing of the tribes is the parallel to Jacob's dying prophecy and is to be read, outlined, and compared with it tribe by tribe with attention to the meaning and fitness of each tribal symbol. In Judah's case the comparison shows that the only royalty of worth in God's sight and the only law remain with Judah until Shiloh comes. Although the kingdom divided at the close of Solomon's reign into Israel or Ephraim and Judah, by the time of Christ Ephraim was absorbed in Judah so the sceptre did not depart from Judah.
Jeshurun is a poetic title for the people of Israel meaning the upright or the chosen, from a Hebrew root meaning to be righteous, which the Vulgate renders as most upright. The verse describes one who was king in Jeshurun, that is Israel, when its leaders and tribes were gathered together, and identifies that king as the Lord, not Moses. The preceding verses speak of the Lord, and since Israel had no earthly king before Saul, the verse describes the Lord as Israel's king before the monarchy began. The throne above the ark of the covenant represents this kingship and the Lord's covenant presence and faithfulness when Israel's leaders and tribes assembled. The verse does not establish that Moses was both king and priest.
The verse also is understood to call Moses king of Jeshurun, Israel, and to present him as its ruler. Applied to Moses, the verse shows that he passed through adversity and was made king in Jeshurun, so that his affliction preceded his exaltation. Moses as king points to Jesus Christ as the greater King, King of kings and Lord of lords, and Prince of the kings of the earth.
The verse belongs to Moses' farewell utterances to the encamped host of Israel, his prophetic blessing invoked upon the twelve tribes. It stands as part of the beautiful poem in Deuteronomy 33, paired with the beautiful poem in Deuteronomy 32, after Moses' final charge and before the record of the death of Moses the man of God. It is one of two marvelous songs of Moses concerning Israel that close the book. The chapter enshrines blessed truths about God and prophecies concerning the tribes in songs the people were taught to sing through future generations, recalling God's mercy and goodness.
The blessings depict the fruits and outcome of character foreshown in each tribe, and are rich in symbol, in emblem, in historic reference, in tender petition, in triumphant faith, and in exultant beatific anticipation. The blessing of the tribes is the parallel to Jacob's dying prophecy and is to be read, outlined, and compared with it tribe by tribe with attention to the meaning and fitness of each tribal symbol. In Judah's case the comparison shows that the only royalty of worth in God's sight and the only law remain with Judah until Shiloh comes. Although the kingdom divided at the close of Solomon's reign into Israel or Ephraim and Judah, by the time of Christ Ephraim was absorbed in Judah so the sceptre did not depart from Judah.
Jeshurun is a poetic title for the people of Israel meaning the upright or the chosen, from a Hebrew root meaning to be righteous, which the Vulgate renders as most upright. The verse describes one who was king in Jeshurun, that is Israel, when its leaders and tribes were gathered together, and identifies that king as the Lord, not Moses. The preceding verses speak of the Lord, and since Israel had no earthly king before Saul, the verse describes the Lord as Israel's king before the monarchy began. The throne above the ark of the covenant represents this kingship and the Lord's covenant presence and faithfulness when Israel's leaders and tribes assembled. The verse does not establish that Moses was both king and priest.
The verse also is understood to call Moses king of Jeshurun, Israel, and to present him as its ruler. Applied to Moses, the verse shows that he passed through adversity and was made king in Jeshurun, so that his affliction preceded his exaltation. Moses as king points to Jesus Christ as the greater King, King of kings and Lord of lords, and Prince of the kings of the earth.