translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: DEU

label: NET study note

text: Jeshurun is a term of affection referring to Israel, derived from the Hebrew verb יָשַׁר ( yashar , “be upright”). See note on the term in Deut 32:15 .


text: The following blessing is given to the tribes in order, although the tribe of Simeon is curiously missing from the list.


text: Thummim and Urim . These terms, whose meaning is uncertain, refer to sacred stones carried in a pouch on the breastplate of the high priest and examined on occasion as a means of ascertaining God’s will or direction. See Exod 28:30 ; Lev 8:8 ; Num 27:21 ; 1 Sam 28:6 . See also C. Van Dam, NIDOTTE 1:329-31.


text: Massah means “testing” in Hebrew; the name is a wordplay on what took place there. Cf. Exod 17:7 ; Deut 6:16; 9:22 ; Ps 95:8-9 .


text: Meribah means “contention, argument” in Hebrew; this is another wordplay on the incident that took place there. Cf. Num 20:13, 24 ; Ps 106:32 .


text: This statement no doubt alludes to the Levites’ destruction of their own fellow tribesmen following the golden calf incident ( Exod 32:25-29 ).


text: This apparently refers to Joseph’s special status among his brothers as a result of his being chosen by God to save the family from the famine and to lead Egypt.


text: Ephraim and Manasseh were the sons of Joseph who became founders of the two tribes into which Joseph’s descendants were split ( Gen 48:19-20 ). Jacob’s blessing granted favored status to Ephraim; this is probably why Ephraim is viewed here as more numerous than Manasseh.


text: He will leap forth from Bashan . This may refer to Dan’s conquest of Laish, a region just to the west of Bashan ( Judg 18:27-28 ).


text: Dip his foot in olive oil . This is a metaphor for prosperity, one especially apt in light of the abundance of olive groves in the area settled by Asher. The Hebrew term refers to olive oil, which symbolizes blessing in the OT. See R. Way, NIDOTTE 4:171-73.