Deuteronomy 33
Commentary from 6 fathers
And this [is] the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
ΚΑΙ αὕτη ἡ εὐλογία ἣν ηὐλόγησε Μωυσῆς ἄνθρωπος τοῦ Θεοῦ τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραὴλ πρὸ τῆς τελευτῆς αὐτοῦ·
И҆ сїѐ благослове́нїе, и҆́мже благословѝ мѡѷсе́й человѣ́къ бж҃їй сы́ны і҆и҃лєвы пре́жде сконча́нїѧ своегѡ̀,
And he spared his people, and all his sanctified ones [are] under thy hands; and they are under thee; and he received of his words
καὶ ἐφείσατο τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἡγιασμένοι ὑπὸ τὰς χεῖράς σου· καὶ οὗτοι ὑπὸ σέ εἰσι, καὶ ἐδέξατο ἀπὸ τῶν λόγων αὐτοῦ
и҆ пощадѣ̀ лю́ди своѧ̑: и҆ всѝ ѡ҆свѧще́ннїи под̾ рꙋка́ми твои́ми, и҆ сі́и под̾ тобо́ю сꙋ́ть.
the law which Moses charged us, an inheritance to the assemblies of Jacob.
νόμον, ὃν ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν Μωυσῆς, κληρονομίαν συναγωγαῖς ᾿Ιακώβ.
И҆ прїѧ̀ ѿ слове́съ є҆гѡ̀ зако́нъ, є҆го́же заповѣ́да на́мъ мѡѷсе́й, наслѣ́дїе со́нмꙋ і҆а́кѡвлю:
And he shall be prince with the beloved one, when the princes of the people are gathered together with the tribes of Israel.
καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ ἠγαπημένῳ ἄρχων, συναχθέντων ἀρχόντων λαῶν ἅμα φυλαῖς ᾿Ισραήλ.
и҆ бꙋ́детъ въ возлю́бленнѣмъ кнѧ́зь, собра́вшымсѧ кнѧзє́мъ людски̑мъ кꙋ́пнѡ съ племены̀ і҆и҃левыми.
Let Ruben live, and not die; and let him be many in number.
ζήτω Ῥουβὴν καὶ μὴ ἀποθανέτω καὶ ἔστω πολὺς ἐν ἀριθμῷ.
Да живе́тъ рꙋви́мъ, и҆ да не ᲂу҆́мретъ, и҆ сѷмеѡ́нъ да бꙋ́детъ мно́гъ число́мъ.
Moses wished by his priestly power to absolve Reuben from his transgression and sin, in that he had lain with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, so that when his brothers should rise, he might not be cut off from their number. So he said in the beginning of his blessing, “Reuben shall live and not die and shall be in the number.”
Demonstration 8.8
And this [is the blessing] of Juda; Hear, Lord, the voice of Juda, and do thou visit his people: his hands shall contend for him, and thou shalt be a help from his enemies.
καὶ αὕτη ᾿Ιούδα. εἰσάκουσον, Κύριε, φωνῆς ᾿Ιούδα, καὶ εἰς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ εἰσέλθοισαν· αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ διακρινοῦσιν αὐτῷ, καὶ βοηθὸς ἐκ τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτοῦ ἔσῃ.
И҆ сїѐ і҆ꙋ́дѣ: ᲂу҆слы́ши, гдⷭ҇и, гла́съ і҆ꙋ́динъ и҆ въ лю́ди є҆гѡ̀ вни́ди: рꙋ́цѣ є҆гѡ̀ побо́рютъ по не́мъ, и҆ помо́щникъ на врагѝ є҆гѡ̀ да бꙋ́деши.
And to Levi he said, Give to Levi his manifestations, and his truth to the holy man, whom they tempted in the temptation; they reviled him at the water of strife.
καὶ τῷ Λευὶ εἶπε· δότε Λευὶ δήλους αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀλήθειαν αὐτοῦ, τῷ ἀνδρὶ τῷ ὁσίῳ, ὃν ἐπείρασαν αὐτὸν ἐν πείρᾳ, ἐλοιδόρησαν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ ὕδατος ἀντιλογίας·
И҆ леѵі́ю речѐ: дади́те леѵі́ю ꙗ҆влє́ннаѧ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ и҆́стинꙋ є҆гѡ̀ мꙋ́жꙋ преподо́бнꙋ, є҆го́же и҆скꙋси́ша и҆скꙋше́нїемъ, ᲂу҆кори́ша є҆го̀ ᲂу҆ воды̀ прерѣка́нїѧ:
Who says to his father and mother, I have not seen thee; and he knew not his brethren, and he refused to know his sons: he kept thine oracles, and observed thy covenant.
ὁ λέγων τῷ πατρὶ καὶ τῇ μητρί· οὐχ ἑώρακά σε, καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐπέγνω καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ἀπέγνω· ἐφύλαξε τὰ λόγιά σου καὶ τὴν διαθήκην σου διετήρησε.
глаго́лѧй ѻ҆тцꙋ̀ своемꙋ̀ и҆ ма́тери свое́й: не ви́дѣхъ тебѐ: и҆ бра́тїи своеѧ̀ не позна̀, и҆ сынѡ́въ свои́хъ не ᲂу҆вѣ́дѣ: сохранѝ словеса̀ твоѧ̑ и҆ завѣ́тъ тво́й соблюдѐ:
That man desires to know God more closely who, out of love for piety, does not want to know those he knew according to the flesh. Divine knowledge suffers a grave loss if it is shared with fleshly knowledge. Each one ought to stand apart from his relatives and neighbors if he wishes to be joined more truly to the Father of all. Those he manfully neglects for the sake of God he loves more firmly, to the extent that he ignores the passing attachment of carnal relationship. In the world of time, indeed, we should be more helpful to those we are related to more closely than to others, since this flame grows into a fire when fuel is supplied. But the fire first burns where it is kindled. We ought to acknowledge the bond of earthly relationship but ignore it when it blocks the journey of the mind. This happens when the faithful soul, on fire with devotion to God, does not despise what is joined to it below, rightly orders these relations within itself and transcends them by its love of what is highest. So we ought to see to it by resourceful concern lest such love should make its entry for the sake of the flesh and turns the heart’s progress away from the right path. It could weaken the power of higher love and press the rising mind down by loading a weight on it. Thus one ought to sympathize with his relatives’ needs in such a way that, through compassion, he does not allow the effect of his decision to be blocked. The emotions of the mind should fill the heart but not turn it away from its spiritual vocation. For holy men do not love their carnal relatives by failing to give them what they need, but by love of spiritual things they conquer that love in themselves, insofar as they temper it with the reins of discretion. Through this love, at least in a small measure, they will not stray from the right path. Cows are figures that suggest these men to us. As the cows move to the high place before God’s ark, they walk with eagerness and a determined pace, while their calves have been left in the stable. For Scripture has it, “walking on and lowing, giving forth bellows from within, and yet not turning their steps away from the path, they have set out.”
Exposition of the Old and New Testament, Deuteronomy 27
They shall declare thine ordinances to Jacob, and thy law to Israel: they shall place incense in [the time of] thy wrath continually upon thine altar.
δηλώσουσι τὰ δικαιώματά σου τῷ ᾿Ιακὼβ καὶ τὸν νόμον σου τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ· ἐπιθήσουσι θυμίαμα ἐν ὀργῇ σου διὰ παντὸς ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριόν σου.
ꙗ҆вѧ́тъ ѡ҆правда̑нїѧ твоѧ̑ і҆а́кѡвꙋ и҆ зако́нъ тво́й і҆и҃лю: возложа́тъ ѳѷмїа́мъ во гнѣ́вѣ твое́мъ всегда̀ на ѻ҆лта́рь тво́й:
Bless, Lord, his strength, and accept the works of his hands; break the loins of his enemies that have risen up against him, and let not them that hate him rise up.
εὐλόγησον, Κύριε, τὴν ἰσχὺν αὐτοῦ καὶ τά ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ δέξαι· κάταξον ὀσφὺν ἐχθρῶν ἐπανεστηκότων αὐτῷ, καὶ οἱ μισοῦντες αὐτὸν μὴ ἀναστήτωσαν.
блгⷭ҇вѝ, гдⷭ҇и, крѣ́пость є҆гѡ̀ и҆ дѣла̀ рꙋкꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀ прїимѝ: поразѝ чрє́сла воста́вшихъ на него̀ врагѡ́въ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ненави́дѧщїи є҆го̀ да не воста́нꙋтъ.
And to Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in confidence, and God overshadows him always, and he rested between his shoulders.
καὶ τῷ Βενιαμὶν εἶπεν· ἠγαπημένος ὑπὸ Κυρίου κατασκηνώσει πεποιθώς, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς σκιάζει ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ὤμων αὐτοῦ κατέπαυσε.
И҆ венїамі́нꙋ речѐ: возлю́бленный гдⷭ҇емъ ᲂу҆пова́ѧй всели́тсѧ (въ не́мъ), и҆ бг҃ъ ѡ҆сѣнѧ́етъ є҆го̀ во всѧ̑ дни̑, и҆ посредѣ̀ ра́менъ є҆гѡ̀ почѝ.
And to Joseph he said, His land [is] of the blessing of the Lord, of the seasons of sky and dew, and of the deeps of wells below,
καὶ τῷ ᾿Ιωσὴφ εἶπεν· ἀπ᾿ εὐλογίας Κυρίου ἡ γῆ αὐτοῦ, ἀπὸ ὡρῶν οὐρανοῦ καὶ δρόσου καὶ ἀπὸ ἀβύσσων πηγῶν κάτωθεν
И҆ і҆ѡ́сифови речѐ: ѿ блгⷭ҇ве́нїѧ гдⷭ҇нѧ землѧ̀ є҆гѡ̀, ѿ красо́тъ небе́сныхъ и҆ росы̀, и҆ ѿ бе́зднъ и҆сто́чникѡвъ ни́зꙋ,
and of the fruits of the changes of the sun in season, and of the produce of the months,
καὶ καθ᾿ ὥραν γενημάτων ἡλίου τροπῶν καὶ ἀπὸ συνόδων μηνῶν,
и҆ во вре́мѧ плодѡ́въ со́лнечныхъ ѡ҆браще́нїй, и҆ ѿ схожде́нїй мчⷭ҇ныхъ,
from the top of the ancient mountains, and from the top of the everlasting hills,
ἀπὸ κορυφῆς ὀρέων ἀρχῆς καὶ ἀπὸ κορυφῆς βουνῶν ἀενάων
и҆ ѿ верха̀ го́ръ нача́ла, и҆ ѿ верха̀ холмѡ́въ вѣ́чныхъ,
and of the fullness of the land in season: and let the things pleasing to him that dwelt [ὀφθέντι: was seen] in the bush come on the head of Joseph, and on the crown [of him who was] glorified above his brethren.
καὶ καθ᾿ ὥραν γῆς πληρώσεως. καὶ τὰ δεκτὰ τῷ ὀφθέντι ἐν τῇ βάτῳ ἔλθοισαν ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν ᾿Ιωσήφ, καὶ ἐπὶ κορυφῆς δοξασθεὶς ἐπ᾿ ἀδελφοῖς.
и҆ по вре́мени землѝ и҆сполне́нїѧ: и҆ прїѧ̑тнаѧ ꙗ҆ви́вшемꙋсѧ въ кꙋпинѣ̀, да прїи́дꙋтъ на главꙋ̀ і҆ѡ́сифꙋ, и҆ на версѣ̀ просла́вивыйсѧ въ бра́тїи.
His beauty [is as] the firstling of his bull, his horns [are] the horns of a unicorn; with them he shall thrust the nations at once, even from the end of the earth: these [are] the ten thousands of Ephraim, and these [are] the thousands of Manasse.
πρωτότοκος ταύρου τὸ κάλλος αὐτοῦ, κέρατα μονοκέρωτος τὰ κέρατα αὐτοῦ· ἐν αὐτοῖς ἔθνη κερατιεῖ ἅμα ἕως ἀπ᾿ ἄκρου γῆς. αὗται μυριάδες ᾿Εφραΐμ, καὶ αὗται χιλιάδες Μανασσῆ.
Перворо́дный ю҆нца̀ добро́та є҆гѡ̀, ро́зи є҆диноро́га ро́зи є҆гѡ̀: и҆́ми ꙗ҆зы́ки и҆збоде́тъ вкꙋ́пѣ да́же до кра́ѧ землѝ: сїѧ̑ тьмы̑ є҆фре́мѡвы, и҆ сїѧ̑ ты́сѧщи манассі̑ины.
Ten thousand, he said, Ephraim, and thousands of Manasseh (Deut. XXXIII, 17), that is, he should rule over both the Jews and the Gentiles, and acquire for himself the fullness of the Church from both peoples.
On the Blessings of the Patriarchs, Chapter XI
And to Zabulon he said, Rejoice, Zabulon, in thy going out, and Issachar in his tents.
καὶ τῷ Ζαβουλὼν εἶπεν· εὐφράνθητι, Ζαβουλών, ἐν ἐξοδίᾳ σου καὶ ᾿Ισσάχαρ ἐν τοῖς σκηνώμασιν αὐτοῦ.
И҆ завꙋлѡ́нꙋ речѐ: возвесели́сѧ, завꙋлѡ́не, во и҆схо́дѣ твое́мъ, и҆ і҆ссаха́ре, въ селе́нїихъ твои́хъ:
They shall utterly destroy the nations, and ye shall call [men] there, and there offer the sacrifice of righteousness; for the wealth of the sea shall suckle thee, and so shall the marts of them that dwell by the sea-coast.
ἔθνη ἐξολοθρεύσουσι, καὶ ἐπικαλέσεσθε ἐκεῖ καὶ θύσετε ἐκεῖ θυσίαν δικαιοσύνης, ὅτι πλοῦτος θαλάσσης θηλάσει σε καὶ ἐμπόρια παράλιον κατοικούντων.
ꙗ҆зы́ки потребѧ́тъ: и҆ призове́те та́мѡ, и҆ пожре́те та́мѡ же́ртвꙋ пра́вды: ꙗ҆́кѡ бога́тство морско́е воздои́тъ тѧ̀, и҆ кꙋ̑пли ѿ ꙗ҆зы̑къ при мо́ри живꙋ́щихъ.
And to Gad he said, Blessed [be] he that enlarges Gad: as a lion he rested, having broken the arm and the ruler.
καὶ τῷ Γὰδ εἶπεν· εὐλογημένος ἐμπλατύνων Γάδ· ὡς λέων ἐνεπαύσατο, συντρίψας βραχίονα καὶ ἄρχοντα.
И҆ га́дꙋ речѐ: блгⷭ҇ве́нъ разширѧ́ѧй га́да: ꙗ҆́кѡ ле́въ почѝ, сокрꙋши́вый мы́шцꙋ и҆ кнѧ́зѧ:
And he saw his first-fruits, that there the land of the princes gathered with the chiefs of the people was divided; the Lord wrought righteousness, and his judgment with Israel.
καὶ εἶδεν ἀπαρχὴν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐμερίσθη γῆ ἀρχόντων συνηγμένων ἅμα ἀρχηγοῖς λαῶν· δικαιοσύνην Κύριος ἐποίησε καὶ κρίσιν αὐτοῦ μετὰ ᾿Ισραήλ.
и҆ ви́дѣ нача́тки своѧ̑, ꙗ҆́кѡ та́мѡ раздѣли́сѧ землѧ̀, кнѧзе́й со́бранныхъ вкꙋ́пѣ съ нача̑льники людски́ми: пра́вдꙋ гдⷭ҇ь сотворѝ и҆ сꙋ́дъ сво́й со і҆и҃лемъ.
And to Dan he said, Dan [is] a lion’s whelp, and shall leap out of Basan.
καὶ τῷ Δὰν εἶπε· Δὰν σκύμνος λέοντος καὶ ἐκπηδήσεται ἐκ τοῦ Βασάν.
И҆ да́нꙋ речѐ: да́нъ, скѵ́менъ льво́въ, и҆ и҆зско́читъ ѿ васа́на.
Moses blessed this tribe, saying: Dan is a lion's cub that shall leap forth from Bashan (Deut. XXXII, 22), that is, from confusion. Hence, according to the Greek translation, we should understand that Dan himself became a serpent sitting on the way. Dan means judgement. And therefore, this tribe underwent a grave risk of judgement, as the serpent, Antichrist, slipped in and wounded it with his venoms.
On the Blessings of the Patriarchs, Chapter VII
And to Nephthali he said, Nephthali [has] the fulness of good things; and let him be filled with blessing from the Lord: he shall inherit the west and the south.
καὶ τῷ Νεφθαλὶ εἶπε· Νεφθαλὶ πλησμονὴ δεκτῶν καὶ ἐμπλησθήτω εὐλογίας παρὰ Κυρίου· θάλασσαν καὶ λίβα κληρονομήσει.
И҆ нефѳалі́мꙋ речѐ: нефѳалі́мъ насыще́нїе прїѧ́тныхъ, и҆ да насы́титсѧ блгⷭ҇ве́нїемъ ѿ гдⷭ҇а: мо́ре и҆ ю҆́гъ наслѣ́дитъ.
And to Aser he said, Aser [is] blessed with children; and he shall be acceptable to his brethren: he shall dip his foot in oil.
καὶ τῷ ᾿Ασὴρ εἶπεν· εὐλογημένος ἀπὸ τέκνων ᾿Ασὴρ καὶ ἔσται δεκτὸς τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ. βάψει ἐν ἐλαίῳ τὸν πόδα αὐτοῦ·
И҆ а҆си́рꙋ речѐ: блгⷭ҇ве́нъ ѿ {па́че} ча̑дъ а҆си́ръ, и҆ бꙋ́детъ прїѧ́тенъ бра́тїи свое́й: ѡ҆мо́читъ въ є҆ле́й но́гꙋ свою̀:
But the Church has oil wherewith she dresses the wounds of her children, lest the hardness of the wound spread deeply; she has oil which she has received secretly. With this oil Asher washed his feet as it is written: "A blessed son is Asher, and he shall be acceptable to his brothers, and shall dip his feet in oil." With this oil, then, the Church anoints the necks of her children, that they may take up the yoke of Christ; with this oil she anointed the Martyrs, that she might cleanse them from the dust of this world; with this oil she anointed the Confessors, that they might not yield to their labours, nor sink down through weariness; that they might not be overcome by the heat of this world; and she anointed them in order to refresh them with the spiritual oil.
Letter 41, Section 20
His sandal shall be iron and brass; as thy days, so [shall be] thy strength.
σίδηρος καὶ χαλκὸς τὸ ὑπόδημα αὐτοῦ ἔσται, ὡς αἱ ἡμέραι σου ἡ ἰσχύς σου.
желѣ́зо и҆ мѣ́дь сапо́гъ є҆гѡ̀ бꙋ́детъ, и҆ а҆́ки дни̑ твоѧ̑ крѣ́пость твоѧ̀.
Moses says this with regard to the holy church. Shoe in Holy Scripture means the office of preaching, as is written, “Feet have been shod in preparation for the gospel of peace.” Since iron means virtue and bronze means perseverance, a man’s shoes are said to be iron and bronze when his preaching is strengthened with incisiveness and persistence. With iron he penetrates opposing evils, and with bronze he preserves the good he had patiently proposed.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament, Deuteronomy 28
There is not [any such] as the God of the beloved; he who rides upon the heaven [is] thy helper, and the magnificent One of the firmament.
οὔκ ἐστιν ὥσπερ ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ ἠγαπημένου· ὁ ἐπιβαίνων ἐπὶ τὸν οὐρανὸν βοηθός σου καὶ ὁ μεγαλοπρεπὴς τοῦ στερεώματος.
Нѣ́сть ꙗ҆́коже бг҃ъ возлю́бленнагѡ: восходѧ́й на нб҃о помо́щникъ тво́й, и҆ великолѣ́пый въ тве́рди:
And the rule of God shall protect thee, and [that] under the strength of the everlasting arms; and he shall cast forth the enemy from before thy face, saying, Perish.
καὶ σκεπάσει σε Θεοῦ ἀρχὴ καὶ ὑπὸ ἰσχὺ βραχιόνων ἀενάων καὶ ἐκβαλεῖ ἀπὸ προσώπου σου ἐχθρὸν λέγων· ἀπόλοιο.
и҆ покры́етъ тѧ̀ бж҃їе нача́ло, и҆ под̾ крѣ́постїю мы́шцей вѣ́чныхъ: и҆ ѿжене́тъ ѿ лица̀ твоегѡ̀ врага̀, гл҃ѧ: да поги́бнеши:
We have always thought of God as being not only 'in' 'above', but also 'below' us: as the depth of ground. We can imaginatively speak of Father 'in heaven' yet also of the everlasting arms that are 'beneath'. We do not understand why the Bishop is so anxious to canonize the one image and forbid the other. We admit his freedom to use which he prefers. We claim our freedom to use both.
Must Our Image of God Go?, from God in the Dock
And Israel shall dwell in confidence alone on the land of Jacob, with corn and wine; and the sky [shall be] misty with dew upon thee.
καὶ κατασκηνώσει ᾿Ισραὴλ πεποιθὼς μόνος ἐπὶ γῆς ᾿Ιακώβ, ἐπὶ σίτῳ καὶ οἴνῳ, καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς αὐτῷ συνεφφὴς δρόσῳ.
и҆ всели́тсѧ і҆и҃ль ᲂу҆пова́ѧ є҆ди́нъ на землѝ і҆а́кѡвли въ вїнѣ̀ и҆ пшени́цѣ: и҆ не́бо є҆мꙋ̀ ѡ҆́блачно росо́ю.
Blessed [art] thou, O Israel; who [is] like to thee, O people saved by the Lord? thy helper shall hold his shield over thee, and [his] sword [is] thy boast; and thine enemies shall speak falsely to thee, and thou shalt tread upon their neck.
μακάριος σύ, ᾿Ισραήλ· τίς ὅμοιός σοι λαὸς σωζόμενος ὑπὸ Κυρίου; ὑπερασπιεῖ ὁ βοηθός σου, καὶ ἡ μάχαιρα καύχημά σου· καὶ ψεύσονταί σε οἱ ἐχθροί σου, καὶ σὺ ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτῶν ἐπιβήσῃ.
Блаже́нъ є҆сѝ, і҆и҃лю: кто̀ подо́бенъ тебѣ̀, лю́дїе спаса́емїи ѿ гдⷭ҇а; защи́титъ помо́щникъ тво́й, и҆ ме́чь хвала̀ твоѧ̀: и҆ солжꙋ́тъ тебѣ̀ вразѝ твоѝ, и҆ ты̀ на вы́ю и҆́хъ настꙋ́пиши.
And he said, The Lord is come from Sina, and has appeared from Seir to us, and has hasted out of the mount of Pharan, with the ten thousands of Cades; on his right hand [were] his angels with him.
καὶ εἶπε· Κύριος ἐκ Σινὰ ἥκει καὶ ἐπέφανεν ἐκ Σηεὶρ ἡμῖν καὶ κατέσπευσεν ἐξ ὄρους Φαρὰν σὺν μυριάσι Κάδης, ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ ἄγγελοι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ.
и҆ речѐ: гдⷭ҇ь ѿ сїна́и прїи́де, и҆ ꙗ҆ви́сѧ ѿ сиі́ра на́мъ, и҆ приспѣ̀ ѿ горы̀ фара́ни, и҆ прїи́де со тьма́ми ст҃ы́хъ, ѡ҆деснꙋ́ю є҆гѡ̀ а҆́гг҃ли съ ни́мъ,