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Selected Verse: Deuteronomy 33:6 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| De 33:6 |
Strong Concordance |
Let Reuben [07205] live [02421], and not die [04191]; and let not his men [04962] be few [04557]. |
| |
King James |
Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| Let Reuben live, and not die--Although deprived of the honor and privileges of primogeniture, he was still to hold rank as one of the tribes of Israel. He was more numerous than several other tribes (Num 1:21; Num 2:11). Yet gradually he sank into a mere nomadic tribe, which had enough to do merely "to live and not die." Many eminent biblical scholars, resting on the most ancient and approved manuscripts of the Septuagint, consider the latter clause as referring to Simeon; "and Simeon, let his men be few," a reading of the text which is in harmony with other statements of Scripture respecting this tribe (Num 25:6-14; Num 1:23; Num 26:14; Jos 19:1). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Let not his men be few - literally, "a number," i. e., "a small number," such as could be easily counted (compare Gen 34:30 note). While the verse promises that the tribe shall endure and prosper, yet it is so worded as to carry with it a warning. The Reubenites, occupied with their herds and flocks, appear, soon after the days of Joshua, to have lost their early energy, until in later times its numbers, even when counted with the Gadites and the half of Manasseh, were fewer than that of the Reubenites alone at the census of Num. 1 (Compare Ch1 5:18 with Num 1:20.) No judge, prophet, or national hero arose out of this tribe.
The tribe of Simeon, which would according to the order of birth come next, is not here named. This omission is explained by reference to the words of Jacob concerning Simeon Gen 49:7. This tribe with Levi was to he "scattered in Israel." The fulfillment of this prediction was in the case of Levi so ordered as to carry with it honor and blessing; but no such reversal of punishment was granted to Simeon. Rather had this latter tribe added new sins to those which Jacob denounced (compare Num 26:5 note). Accordingly, though very numerous at the Exodus, it had surprisingly diminished before the death of Moses (compare Num 1:22-23 with Num 26:12-14); and eventually it found territory adequate for its wants within the limits of another tribe, Judah. Compare Jos 19:2-9. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
| The blessings upon the tribes commence with this verse. "Let Reuben live and not die, and there be a (small) number of his men." The rights of the first-born had been withheld from Reuben in the blessing of Jacob (Gen 49:3); Moses, however, promises this tribe continuance and prosperity. The words, "and let his men become a number," have been explained in very different ways. מספּר in this connection cannot mean a large number (πολὺς ἐν ἀριθμῷ, lxx), but, like מספּר מתי (Deu 4:27; Gen 34:30; Jer 44:28), simply a small number, that could easily be counted (cf. Deu 28:62). The negation must be carried on to the last clause. This the language will allow, as the rule that a negation can only be carried forward when it stands with emphatic force at the very beginning (Ewald, 351) is not without exceptions; see for example Pro 30:2-3, where three negative clauses follow a positive one, and in the last the לא is omitted, without the particle of negation having been placed in any significant manner at the beginning. - Simeon was the next in age to Reuben; but he is passed over entirely, because according to Jacob's blessing (Gen 49:7) he was to be scattered abroad in Israel, and lost his individuality as a tribe in consequence of this dispersion, in accordance with which the Simeonites simply received a number of towns within the territory of Judah (Jos 19:2-9), and, "having no peculiar object of its own, took part, as far as possible, in the fate and objects of the other tribes, more especially of Judah" (Schultz). Although, therefore, it is by no means to be regarded as left without a blessing, but rather as included in the general blessings in Deu 33:1 and Deu 33:29, and still more in the blessing upon Judah, yet it could not receive a special blessing like the tribe of Reuben, because, as Ephraim Syrus observes, the Simeonites had not endeavoured to wipe out the stain of the crime which Jacob cursed, but had added to it by fresh crimes (more especially the audacious prostitution of Zimri, Num 25). Even the Simeonites did not become extinct, but continued to live in the midst of the tribe of Judah, so that as late as the eighth century, in the reign of Hezekiah, thirteen princes are enumerated with their families, whose fathers' houses had increased greatly (Ch1 4:34.); and these families effected conquests in the south, even penetrating into the mountains of Seir, for the purpose of seeking fresh pasture (Ch1 4:39-43). Hence the assertion that the omission of Simeon is only conceivable from the circumstances of a later age, is as mistaken as the attempt made in some of the MSS of the Septuagint to interpolate the name of Simeon in the second clause of Deu 33:6. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Let Reuben live - Though Reuben deserve to be cut off or greatly diminished and obscured, according to Jacob's prediction, Gen 49:4, yet God will spare them and give them a name and portion among the tribes of Israel, and bless them with increase of their numbers. All the ancient paraphrasts refer this to the other world, so far were they from expecting temporal blessings only. Let Reuben live in life eternal, says Onkelos, and not die the second death. Let Reuben live in this world, so Jonathan and the Jerusalem Targum, and not die that death which the wicked die in the world to come. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Let Reuben live, and not die - Though his life and his blessings have been forfeited by his transgression with his father's concubine, Gen 49:3, Gen 49:4; and in his rebellion with Korah, Num 16:1-3, etc., let him not become extinct as a tribe in Israel. "It is very usual," says Mr. Ainsworth, "in the Scripture, to set down things of importance and earnestness, by affirmation of the one part, and denial of the other; Isa 38:1 : Thou shalt die, and not live; Num 4:19 : That they may live, and not die; Psa 118:17 : I shall not die, but live; Gen 43:8 : That we may live, and not die; Jer 20:14 : Cursed be the day - let not that day be blessed; Jo1 2:4 : He is a liar, and the truth is not in him; Jo1 2:27 : Is truth, and no lie; Joh 1:20 : He confessed, and denied not; Sa1 1:11 : Remember me, and not forget thy handmaid; Deu 9:7 : Remember, forget not; Deu 32:6 : O foolish people, and unwise. In all these places it is evident that there is a peculiar emphasis in this form of expression, as if he had said, Let him not only not die, but let him live in great and increasing peace and prosperity. Do not only not forget me, but keep me continually in remembrance. He denied not, but confessed Fully and Particularly. O foolish people - silly and stupid, and unwise - destitute of all true wisdom."
And let not his men be few - It is possible that this clause belongs to Simeon. In the Alexandrian copy of the Septuagint the clause stands thus: Και Συμεων εστω πολυς εν αριτμῳ, and let Simeon be very numerous, but none of the other versions insert the word. As the negative particle is not in the Hebrew, but is supplied in our translation, and the word Simeon is found in one of the most ancient and most authentic copies of the Septuagint version; and as Simeon is nowhere else mentioned here, if not implied in this place, probably the clause anciently stood: Let Reuben live, and not die; but let the men of Simeon be few. That this tribe was small when compared with the rest, and with what it once was, is evident enough from the first census, taken after they came out of Egypt, and that in the plains of Moab nearly forty years after. In the first, Simeon was 59,300; in the last, 22,200, a decrease of 37,100 men! |
1 And the second [08145] lot [01486] came forth [03318] to Simeon [08095], even for the tribe [04294] of the children [01121] of Simeon [08095] according to their families [04940]: and their inheritance [05159] was within [08432] the inheritance [05159] of the children [01121] of Judah [03063].
14 These are the families [04940] of the Simeonites [08099], twenty [06242] and two [08147] thousand [0505] and two hundred [03967].
23 Those that were numbered [06485] of them, even of the tribe [04294] of Simeon [08095], were fifty [02572] and nine [08672] thousand [0505] and three [07969] hundred [03967].
6 And, behold, one [0376] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478] came [0935] and brought [07126] unto his brethren [0251] a Midianitish woman [04084] in the sight [05869] of Moses [04872], and in the sight [05869] of all the congregation [05712] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478], who were weeping [01058] before the door [06607] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150].
7 And when Phinehas [06372], the son [01121] of Eleazar [0499], the son [01121] of Aaron [0175] the priest [03548], saw [07200] it, he rose up [06965] from among [08432] the congregation [05712], and took [03947] a javelin [07420] in his hand [03027];
8 And he went [0935] after [0310] the man [0376] of Israel [03478] into the tent [06898], and thrust [01856] both [08147] of them through, the man [0376] of Israel [03478], and the woman [0802] through [0413] her belly [06897]. So the plague [04046] was stayed [06113] from the children [01121] of Israel [03478].
9 And those that died [04191] in the plague [04046] were twenty [06242] and four [0702] thousand [0505].
10 And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],
11 Phinehas [06372], the son [01121] of Eleazar [0499], the son [01121] of Aaron [0175] the priest [03548], hath turned [07725] my wrath [02534] away [07725] from the children [01121] of Israel [03478], while he was zealous [07065] for my sake [07068] among [08432] them, that I consumed [03615] not the children [01121] of Israel [03478] in my jealousy [07068].
12 Wherefore say [0559], Behold, I give [05414] unto him my covenant [01285] of peace [07965]:
13 And he shall have it, and his seed [02233] after [0310] him, even the covenant [01285] of an everlasting [05769] priesthood [03550]; because [0834] he was zealous [07065] for his God [0430], and made an atonement [03722] for the children [01121] of Israel [03478].
14 Now the name [08034] of the Israelite [0376] that was slain [05221], even that was slain [05221] with the Midianitish woman [04084], was Zimri [02174], the son [01121] of Salu [05543], a prince [05387] of a chief [01] house [01004] among the Simeonites [08099].
11 And his host [06635], and those that were numbered [06485] thereof, were forty [0705] and six [08337] thousand [0505] and five [02568] hundred [03967].
21 Those that were numbered [06485] of them, even of the tribe [04294] of Reuben [07205], were forty [0705] and six [08337] thousand [0505] and five [02568] hundred [03967].
2 And they had in their inheritance [05159] Beersheba [0884], or Sheba [07652], and Moladah [04137],
3 And Hazarshual [02705], and Balah [01088], and Azem [06107],
4 And Eltolad [0513], and Bethul [01329], and Hormah [02767],
5 And Ziklag [06860], and Bethmarcaboth [01024], and Hazarsusah [02701],
6 And Bethlebaoth [01034], and Sharuhen [08287]; thirteen [07969] [06240] cities [05892] and their villages [02691]:
7 Ain [05871], Remmon [07417], and Ether [06281], and Ashan [06228]; four [0702] cities [05892] and their villages [02691]:
8 And all the villages [02691] that were round about [05439] these cities [05892] to Baalathbeer [01192], Ramath [07414] of the south [05045]. This is the inheritance [05159] of the tribe [04294] of the children [01121] of Simeon [08095] according to their families [04940].
9 Out of the portion [02256] of the children [01121] of Judah [03063] was the inheritance [05159] of the children [01121] of Simeon [08095]: for the part [02506] of the children [01121] of Judah [03063] was too much [07227] for them: therefore the children [01121] of Simeon [08095] had their inheritance [05157] within [08432] the inheritance [05159] of them.
12 The sons [01121] of Simeon [08095] after their families [04940]: of Nemuel [05241], the family [04940] of the Nemuelites [05242]: of Jamin [03226], the family [04940] of the Jaminites [03228]: of Jachin [03199], the family [04940] of the Jachinites [03200]:
13 Of Zerah [02226], the family [04940] of the Zarhites [02227]: of Shaul [07586], the family [04940] of the Shaulites [07587].
14 These are the families [04940] of the Simeonites [08099], twenty [06242] and two [08147] thousand [0505] and two hundred [03967].
22 Of the children [01121] of Simeon [08095], by their generations [08435], after their families [04940], by the house [01004] of their fathers [01], those that were numbered [06485] of them, according to the number [04557] of the names [08034], by their polls [01538], every male [02145] from twenty [06242] years [08141] old [01121] and upward [04605], all that were able to go forth [03318] to war [06635];
23 Those that were numbered [06485] of them, even of the tribe [04294] of Simeon [08095], were fifty [02572] and nine [08672] thousand [0505] and three [07969] hundred [03967].
5 Reuben [07205], the eldest [01060] son of Israel [03478]: the children [01121] of Reuben [07205]; Hanoch [02585], of whom cometh the family [04940] of the Hanochites [02599]: of Pallu [06396], the family [04940] of the Palluites [06384]:
7 Cursed [0779] be their anger [0639], for it was fierce [05794]; and their wrath [05678], for it was cruel [07185]: I will divide [02505] them in Jacob [03290], and scatter [06327] them in Israel [03478].
20 And the children [01121] of Reuben [07205], Israel's [03478] eldest son [01060], by their generations [08435], after their families [04940], by the house [01004] of their fathers [01], according to the number [04557] of the names [08034], by their polls [01538], every male [02145] from twenty [06242] years [08141] old [01121] and upward [04605], all that were able to go forth [03318] to war [06635];
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].
30 And Jacob [03290] said [0559] to Simeon [08095] and Levi [03878], Ye have troubled [05916] me to make me to stink [0887] among the inhabitants [03427] of the land [0776], among the Canaanites [03669] and the Perizzites [06522]: and I being few [04962] in number [04557], they shall gather themselves together [0622] against me, and slay me [05221]; and I shall be destroyed [08045], I and my house [01004].
4 Unstable [06349] as water [04325], thou shalt not excel [03498]; because thou wentest up [05927] to thy father's [01] bed [04904]; then defiledst thou [02490] it: he went up [05927] to my couch [03326].
6 Do ye thus requite [01580] the LORD [03068], O foolish [05036] people [05971] and unwise [02450]? is not he thy father [01] that hath bought [07069] thee? hath he not made [06213] thee, and established [03559] thee?
7 Remember [02142], and forget [07911] not, how thou provokedst the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] to wrath [07107] in the wilderness [04057]: from [04480] the day [03117] that thou didst depart out [03318] of the land [0776] of Egypt [04714], until ye came [0935] unto this place [04725], ye have been rebellious [04784] against [05973] the LORD [03068].
11 And she vowed [05087] a vow [05088], and said [0559], O LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], if thou wilt indeed [07200] look [07200] on the affliction [06040] of thine handmaid [0519], and remember [02142] me, and not forget [07911] thine handmaid [0519], but wilt give [05414] unto thine handmaid [0519] a man [0582] child [02233], then I will give [05414] him unto the LORD [03068] all the days [03117] of his life [02416], and there shall no razor [04177] come [05927] upon his head [07218].
20 And [2532] he confessed [3670], and [2532] denied [720] not [3756]; but [2532] confessed [3670], [3754] I [1473] am [1510] not [3756] the Christ [5547].
27 But [2532] the anointing [5545] which [3739] ye [5210] have received [2983] of [575] him [846] abideth [3306] in [1722] you [5213], and [2532] ye need [5532] [2192] not [3756] that [2443] any man [5100] teach [1321] you [5209]: but [235] as [5613] the same [846] anointing [5545] teacheth [1321] you [5209] of [4012] all things [3956], and [2532] is [2076] truth [227], and [2532] is [2076] no [3756] lie [5579], and [2532] even as [2531] it hath taught [1321] you [5209], ye shall abide [3306] in [1722] him [846].
4 He that saith [3004], I know [1097] him [846], and [2532] keepeth [5083] not [3361] his [846] commandments [1785], is [2076] a liar [5583], and [2532] the truth [225] is [2076] not [3756] in [1722] him [5129].
14 Cursed [0779] be the day [03117] wherein I was born [03205]: let not the day [03117] wherein my mother [0517] bare [03205] me be blessed [01288].
8 And Judah [03063] said [0559] unto Israel [03478] his father [01], Send [07971] the lad [05288] with me, and we will arise [06965] and go [03212]; that we may live [02421], and not die [04191], both we, and thou, and also our little ones [02945].
17 I shall not die [04191], but live [02421], and declare [05608] the works [04639] of the LORD [03050].
19 But thus do [06213] unto them, that they may live [02421], and not die [04191], when they approach [05066] unto the most [06944] holy things [06944]: Aaron [0175] and his sons [01121] shall go in [0935], and appoint [07760] them every [0376] one [0376] to his service [05656] and to his burden [04853]:
1 In those days [03117] was Hezekiah [02396] sick [02470] unto death [04191]. And Isaiah [03470] the prophet [05030] the son [01121] of Amoz [0531] came [0935] unto him, and said [0559] unto him, Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], Set thine house [01004] in order [06680]: for thou shalt die [04191], and not live [02421].
1 Now Korah [07141], the son [01121] of Izhar [03324], the son [01121] of Kohath [06955], the son [01121] of Levi [03878], and Dathan [01885] and Abiram [048], the sons [01121] of Eliab [0446], and On [0203], the son [01121] of Peleth [06431], sons [01121] of Reuben [07205], took [03947] men:
2 And they rose up [06965] before [06440] Moses [04872], with certain [0582] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478], two hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] princes [05387] of the assembly [05712], famous [07148] in the congregation [04150], men [0582] of renown [08034]:
3 And they gathered themselves together [06950] against Moses [04872] and against Aaron [0175], and said [0559] unto them, Ye take too much [07227] upon you, seeing all the congregation [05712] are holy [06918], every one of them, and the LORD [03068] is among [08432] them: wherefore then lift ye up [05375] yourselves above the congregation [06951] of the LORD [03068]?
4 Unstable [06349] as water [04325], thou shalt not excel [03498]; because thou wentest up [05927] to thy father's [01] bed [04904]; then defiledst thou [02490] it: he went up [05927] to my couch [03326].
3 Reuben [07205], thou art my firstborn [01060], my might [03581], and the beginning [07225] of my strength [0202], the excellency [03499] of dignity [07613], and the excellency [03499] of power [05794]: