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  Vezot HaBerachah
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Vezot HaBerachah

  
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 33:1
 33:2
33:1 First Reading
This is the blessing that Moses, man of God, bestowed on the Israelites just before his death.
Vezot haberachah asher berach Moshe ish ha'Elohim et-beney Yisra'el lifney moto.
33:2 He said:

God came from Sinai, shone forth to them from Seir, and made an appearance from Mount Paran. From the holy myriads, He brought the fire of a religion to them from His right Hand.
Vayomar Adonay miSinay ba vezarach miSe'ir lamo hofia mehar Paran ve'atah merivevot kodesh mimino esh dat lamo.



Commentary:

This is the blessing...
  See Genesis 49:1-27.

man of God
  See Psalms 90:1. Also see 1 Samuel 2:27, 9:6, 1 Kings 12:22,13:1, 2 Kings 1:13, 4:9, Nehemiah 12:24, 2 Chronicles 25:7 (cf. Sifri; Midrash HaGadol). This indicates that the blessing is from God (Paaneach Razah) and would be fulfilled (Ramban). Or, 'prophet of God' (Targum; Ibn Ezra; Ralbag), or, 'messenger of God' (Saadia).

just
  (Sifri; Ibn Ezra).

came
  Or, 'revealed Himself' (Targum; Saadia).

from Sinai
  Or, 'on Sinai' (Ibn Ezra; Bachya).

shone forth
  (Targum). Zarach. Or, 'appeared' (Septuagint; possibly as in ezrach).

Seir
  The territory of Esau (Genesis 14:6, 32:4, 36:8). See Judges 5:4. Some say that Seir is near Sinai (Emunoth VeDeyoth 3:8; Ibn Ezra; see note on Exodus 3:1). Others say that God appeared from the direction of Seir (Chizzkuni; cf. Sifri). Another opinion is that God appeared to them again at Seir after they left Sinai (Ramban; Ralbag; Abarbanel). See next note, 'Mount Paran'. Midrashically, this teaches that God offered the Torah to Esau before giving it to Israel (Sifri; Avodah Zarah 2b; Targum Yonathan; Rashi).

Mount Paran
  Near Seir (see Genesis 14:6). This was Ishmael's territory (Genesis 21:21). Paran was the Israelites first stop after Sinai (Numbers 10:12). Some say that this represents the revelation of Deuteronomy; see Deuteronomy 1:1 (Adereth Eliahu; Ophan Sheni; HaKethav VeHaKabbalah). Midrashically, this indicates that the Torah was offered to Ishmael (see above).

From the holy myriads...
  (Ibn Ezra; Sforno; HaKethav VeHaKabbalah). Or, 'He came from the holy myriads ...' (Ramban). 'He came to the holy myriads' (Ralbag); 'He brought to the holy myriads' (Saadia); 'He brought with Him myriads of holy beings' (Targum); 'He brought some of His holy myriads' (Sifri; Rashi); or, 'He came with the myriads of Kadesh' (Septuagint).

fire of a religion
  (Rashi; Ibn Ezra). Esh dath in Hebrew. Or, 'fire become law' (Hirsch); 'a law of fire' (Ramban), or 'a Torah of light' (Saadia). Some see eshdath as a single word, indicating a waterfall as in Numbers 21:15, Deuteronomy 3:17 (Eliahu Levitas; cf. Ibn Janach who rejects this), and hence, 'from His right hand a waterfall to them.' Or, 'from the fire at His right hand, a law to them' (Targum); or, 'at His right hand, His angels were with Him' (Septuagint). Or, 'Although He came with the holy myriads, His fiery law was given to them by His right hand' (Abarbanel).





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