John Calvin on Deuteronomy 32:51-52

51. Because ye trespassed against me. We perceive from his punishment how necessary to Moses was such a token of favor. “Que nous avons veu;” as we have seen. — Fr. For death in itself would not have been so bitter, but the cause, which is again alleged, grievously wounded the mind of the holy man, in that he saw himself to be excluded in God’s just vengeance from the common inheritance on account of his own guilt, which is more afflictive to the pious than a hundred, nay, innumerable deaths. Hence those mournful complaints of David and Hezekiah, and others elsewhere, when their life is taken from them by all angry God:

“the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.” (Isaiah 38:18; Psalm 6:5; Psalm 115:17.)

Surely it was not so formidable a thing for them to die, but that they would have calmly and cheerfully departed from the world when their time came; but what they deprecated was the awful judgment of God, at the thoughts of which they were alarmed. The same grief might have overwhelmed the mind of Moses, had it not been alleviated.

But since none, however eminent, have been altogether exempt from temporal punishments, let us learn to bear them patiently. God did not spare Moses; what wonder if our condition is no better than his? Moreover, in the opinion of men it was a trifling offense, for the sake of which he was so severely chastised; for, carried away by indignation, he had been so irritated against the people that he had attributed less power to God that was due to Him. Now, those errors, into which we fall through thoughtless impetuosity, are more easily pardoned; but hence it is manifest; how precious to God is His glory, when He does not suffer it to be obscured with impunity even by inadvertence. At the same time, also, we are taught that nothing is more irrational than to assume to ourselves the judgment respecting sins, and to weigh them in our own balance, when God is their only legitimate assessor.

But, although He declares that Moses and Aaron revolted, and were rebellious “to His mouth,” Numbers 27:11. “Against my commandment.” — A. V. still, lest it should be thought that they studiously refused credence to God’s word, a kind of qualification is added, viz., that they did not sanctify God in the midst, or before the eyes, of the children of Israel. Hence it. is plain that they were only condemned for the excessive violence of their passion, whereby they did not uphold God’s glory before the people with sufficient energy.

As to the rest, it may be looked for under Numbers 20.

Deuteronomy 33

Deuteronomy 33:1-29

1. And this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

1. Haec autem benedictio qua benedixit Moses vir Dei filiis Israel in morte sua.

2. And. he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

2. Et dixit, Jehova e Sinai prodiit, et ortus est e Seir ipsis, illuxit e monte Pharam, et venit cum decem millibus sanctitatis: a dextra ejus ignea lex illis:

3. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.

3. Utique diligit populos, onmes sancti in manibus tuis, et ipsi adhaeserunt pedibus tuis, ut sumerent ex eloquiis tuis.

4. Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

4. Legem praecepit nobis Moses in haereditatem coatus Israel.

5. And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

5. Et fuit in Recto rex, in colligendis capitibus populi, simulque tribubus Israel.

6. Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.

6. Vivat Ruben, et non moriatur, et (vel, quamvis) sit parvus numero.

7. And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.

7. Hoc etiam Judae, et dixit, Audi Jehova vocem Jehuda, et ad populum suum duc eum, manus ejus sufficiat el, dum auxilio fueris contra hostes ejus.

8. And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;

8. Ad Levi vero dixit: Perfectiones tuae et splendores tui fuerunt viro misericordi tuo, quem tentasti in Masa: et contendere fecisti eum ad aquas Meriba.

9. Who said unto his father, and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept; thy covenant.

9. Qui dixit patri suo et matri suae, Non vidi eum: et fratres suos non agnovit, et filios suos non cognovit: nam custodierunt eloquium tuum, et pactum tuum servarunt.

10. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt-sacrifice upon thine altar.

10. Docebunt judicia tua ipsum Jacob, et legem tuam Israelem: ponent suffitum in nares tuas: et holocaustum super altare tuum.

11. Bless, Lord, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.

11. Benedic Jehova substantiae ejus, et in opere manuum ejus complaceas tibi: transfige lumbos inimicorum ejus, et odio habentium eum: ne resurgant.

12. And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

12. Ad Benjamin dixit, Dilectus Jehovae habitabit confidenter juxta illum, tegens illurn tota die, et inter humeros ejus habitabit.

13. And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,

13. Ad Joseph vero dixit, Benedicta a Jehova terra ejus ab excellentia coeli, ob rorem, et ob voraginem cubantern deorsmn.

14. And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon.

14. Et ob praestantiam proventuum solis, et ob praestantiam fructuum lunae:

15. And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,

15. Et ob praestantiam cacuminis montium antiquorum, et ob praestantiam collium perpetuorum.

16. And for the precious things of the earth, and fullness thereof, and for the good-will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.

16. Et ob prastantiam terrae, et ob plenitudinem ejus: et beneplacitum habitatoris rubi veniat super caput Joseph, et super verticem separati a fratribus suis.

17. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth; and they are, the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

17. Primogeniti boris ejus decor erit ei, et cornua unicornis cornua ejus: ipsis populos cornupetes simul usque ad fines terrae. Atque haec sunt decem millia Ephraim, et ista millia Manasse.

18. And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.

18. Et ipsi Zebulon dixit, Laetare Zebulon quum egredieris, et Issachar in tabernaeulis tuis.

19. They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.

19. Populos ad montem vocabunt: et illic sacrificabunt sacrificia justitiae, quoniam affluentiam maris sugent, et tecti thesauri arenae.

20. 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.

20. Et ad Gad dixit, Benedictus qui dilatare fecit Gad: sicut leo habitabit, et rapiet brachium atque verticem.

21. And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgments with Israel.

21. Et vidit principium sibi, quod illic portio legislatoris tecta, veniet autem cum principibus populi: justitiam Jehovae faciet, et judicia ejus cum Israele.

22. And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.

22. Et ad Dan dixit, Dan ut catulus leonis saltabit e Basan.

23. And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord; possess thou the west and the south.

23. Et Nephthali dixit, O Nephthali satur beneplacito, et plene benedictione Jehovae, occidentem et meridiem posside.

24. And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.

24. Et Aser dixit, Benedictus prae filiis Aser, erit beneplacens fratribus suis, et tingens in oleo pedem suum.

25. Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

25. Ferrnm et, aes, calceamenta tua (vel, ferae tuae): et sicut dies tui fortitudo tua.

26. There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.

26. Non est similis Deo recti, qui equitat super coelos in auxilium tuum, et in magnificentia sua super nubes.

27. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee, and shall say, Destroy them.

27. Habitaculum est Deus aeternus: et subter brachia sempiterna, ejecit a facie tua inimicum, et dixit, Disperde.

28. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.

28. Et habitabit Israel confidenter solus (vel, suus) oculus Jacob: in terra frumenti et vini, etiam coeli ejus stillabunt rorem.

29. Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

29. Beatus es o Israel, quis similis tibi popule qui servaris in Jehova scuto auxilii tui, et gladio excellentiae tuae? humiliabuntur inimici tui, et tu super excelsa eorum calcabis.