Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Deuteronomy 33:20 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
De 33:20	Strong Concordance	And of Gad [01410] he said [0559], Blessed [01288] be he that enlargeth [07337] Gad [01410]: he dwelleth [07931] as a lion [03833], and teareth [02963] the arm [02220] with [0637] the crown of the head [06936].
	King James	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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
of Gad he said--Its possessions were larger than they would have been had they lain west of Jordan; and this tribe had the honor of being settled by Moses himself 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, they faithfully kept their engagement to join the "heads of the people" [Deu 33:21] in the invasion of Canaan.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

of Gad he said--Its possessions were larger than they would have been had they lain west of Jordan; and this tribe had the honor of being settled by Moses himself 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, they faithfully kept their engagement to join the "heads of the people" [Deu 33:21] in the invasion of Canaan.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
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 Ch1 5:18-22; Ch1 12:8 ff, and the acts of Jehu, the Gadite, in 2 Kings 9; 10.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
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. ראה, with an accusative and ל, signifies to look out something for oneself (Gen 22:8; Sa1 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, חלקת שׁם כּי, 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. מחקק, 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. מחקק חלקת, 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 מחקק חלקת 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.). ספוּן, from ספן, 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). יתא, imperfect Kal for יאהת or יאתּה; see Ges. 76, 2, c., and Ewald, 142, c. "With Israel:" in fellowship with (the rest of) Israel.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

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. ראה, with an accusative and ל, signifies to look out something for oneself (Gen 22:8; Sa1 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, חלקת שׁם כּי, 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. מחקק, 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. מחקק חלקת, 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 מחקק חלקת 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.). ספוּן, from ספן, 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). יתא, imperfect Kal for יאהת or יאתּה; see Ges. 76, 2, c., and Ewald, 142, c. "With Israel:" in fellowship with (the rest of) Israel.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Enlargeth - That bringeth him out of his straits amid 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.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad - As deliverance out of distress is termed enlarging, (see Psa 4:1), this may refer to God's deliverance of the tribe of Gad out of that distress mentioned Gen 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, Ch1 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, Ch1 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.

Top

²¹ And he provided [07200] the first part [07225] for himself, because there, in a portion [02513] of the lawgiver [02710], was he seated [05603]; and he came [0857] with the heads [07218] of the people [05971], he executed [06213] the justice [06666] of the LORD [03068], and his judgments [04941] with Israel [03478].

¹⁹ Gad [01410], a troop [01416] shall overcome [01464] him: but he shall overcome [01464] at the last [06119].

¹¹ And Leah [03812] said [0559], A troop [01409] cometh [0935]: and she called [07121] his name [08034] Gad [01410].

⁸ And of the Gadites [01425] there separated [0914] themselves unto David [01732] into the hold [04679] to the wilderness [04057] men [01368] of might [02428], and men [0582] of war [06635] fit for the battle [04421], that could handle [06186] shield [06793] and buckler [07420], whose faces [06440] were like the faces [06440] of lions [0738], and were as swift [04116] as the roes [06643] upon the mountains [02022];

¹⁸ The sons [01121] of Reuben [07205], and the Gadites [01425], and half [02677] the tribe [07626] of Manasseh [04519], of valiant men [02428], men [0582] able to bear [05375] buckler [04043] and sword [02719], and to shoot [01869] with bow [07198], and skilful [03925] in war [04421], were four [0702] and forty [0705] thousand [0505] seven [07651] hundred [03967] and threescore [08346], that went out [03318] to the war [06635].
¹⁹ And they made [06213] war [04421] with the Hagarites [01905], with Jetur [03195], and Nephish [05305], and Nodab [05114].
²⁰ And they were helped [05826] against them, and the Hagarites [01905] were delivered [05414] into their hand [03027], and all that were with them: for they cried [02199] to God [0430] in the battle [04421], and he was intreated [06279] of them; because they put their trust [0982] in him.
²¹ And they took away [07617] their cattle [04735]; of their camels [01581] fifty [02572] thousand [0505], and of sheep [06629] two hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] thousand [0505], and of asses [02543] two thousand [0505], and of men [0120] [05315] an hundred [03967] thousand [0505].
²² For there fell [05307] down many [07227] slain [02491], because the war [04421] was of God [0430]. And they dwelt [03427] in their steads until the captivity [01473].

¹ Then Joshua [03091] called [07121] the Reubenites [07206], and the Gadites [01425], and the half [02677] tribe [04294] of Manasseh [04519],
² And said [0559] unto them, Ye have kept [08104] all that Moses [04872] the servant [05650] of the LORD [03068] commanded [06680] you, and have obeyed [08085] my voice [06963] in all that I commanded [06680] you:
³ Ye have not left [05800] your brethren [0251] these many [07227] days [03117] unto this day [03117], but have kept [08104] the charge [04931] of the commandment [04687] of the LORD [03068] your God [0430].
⁴ And now the LORD [03068] your God [0430] hath given rest [05117] unto your brethren [0251], as he promised [01696] them: therefore now return [06437] ye, and get [03212] you unto your tents [0168], and unto the land [0776] of your possession [0272], which Moses [04872] the servant [05650] of the LORD [03068] gave [05414] you on the other side [05676] Jordan [03383].

¹² And the children [01121] of Reuben [07205], and the children [01121] of Gad [01410], and half [02677] the tribe [07626] of Manasseh [04519], passed over [05674] armed [02571] before [06440] the children [01121] of Israel [03478], as Moses [04872] spake [01696] unto them:
¹³ About forty [0705] thousand [0505] prepared [02502] for war [06635] passed over [05674] before [06440] the LORD [03068] unto battle [04421], to the plains [06160] of Jericho [03405].

²⁶ And he said [0559], Blessed [01288] be the LORD [03068] God [0430] of Shem [08035]; and Canaan [03667] shall be [01961] his servant [05650].

³³ And he smote [05221] them from Aroer [06177], even till thou come [0935] to Minnith [04511], even twenty [06242] cities [05892], and unto the plain [058] of the vineyards [03754] [064], with a very [03966] great [01419] slaughter [04347]. Thus the children [01121] of Ammon [05983] were subdued [03665] before [06440] the children [01121] of Israel [03478].

¹⁹ Gad [01410], a troop [01416] shall overcome [01464] him: but he shall overcome [01464] at the last [06119].

¹ To the chief Musician [05329] on Neginoth [05058], A Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. Hear [06030] me when I call [07121], O God [0430] of my righteousness [06664]: thou hast enlarged [07337] me when I was in distress [06862]; have mercy [02603] upon me, and hear [08085] my prayer [08605].