Blessed above sons be Asher: or “May God bless the tribe of Asher more than all the other tribes.” Sons here are the twelve sons of Jacob, that is, the twelve tribes. Another way to express this is “People of the tribe of Asher, may the LORD love you and be kinder to you than to the other tribes.”

Be the favorite of his brothers: that is, God’s favorite among the twelve brothers—not his brothers’ favorite.

Let him dip his foot in oil: this is a picture of prosperity; it is talking about olive oil, not petroleum, and means an abundance of productive olive trees. The tribe of Asher occupied rich land along the Mediterranean coastline. A possible model for this line is “May your olive trees bear abundantly [or, have many olives]”; but some translators will wish to keep the poetic picture: “May your olive trees bear so many olives that you will have enough oil even to dip your feet in.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Your bars shall be iron and bronze: this is quite unintelligible. It speaks of a strong defense. A “bar” is a long and strong piece of wood or iron that is used to keep a door or a gate closed against anyone who wants to enter to do harm. New International Version has “The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze.” Bible en français courant offers a better model: “He is secure behind his doors with bars of iron and bronze.”

As your days, so shall your strength be: in the context strength is security, not might. So New Jerusalem Bible has “and your security [be] as lasting as your days,” that is, “may you be secure all your life,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “and [may] your security last all your days.” See also Good News Translation. As commentators point out, the Hebrew word translated strength is otherwise unknown in Hebrew; but the context seems clear enough, and the Septuagint translates “your strength.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

In verses 26-29 Moses addresses the people of Israel with a final outburst of praise to God.

For Jeshurun as a name for Israel, see 32.15.

There is none like God: the comparison is not with human beings but with the gods of other peoples, “There is no god like your God” (see Good News Translation). If “your” will be understood as not including Moses, it will be better to say “our.”

Who rides through the heavens to your help: the verb “to ride” suggests a vehicle of some sort; in this context it’s the clouds, or a cloud, on which God rides (see Psa 18.9-10; 68.4; 104.3; Isa 19.1). If needed this may be stated in the translation: “who rides the clouds across the sky like a chariot.”

Through the heavens … through the skies: these are parallel and the same in meaning; but instead of skies the Hebrew word means “clouds” (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible; see 2 Sam 22.12).

In his majesty: here we should understand majesty in terms of strength, power. See Exo 15.7.

Good News Translation makes a slight rearrangement of the last two lines, to good effect. Contemporary English Version also rearranges the lines:

the clouds are his chariot
as he rides across the skies
to come and help us.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The eternal God is your dwelling place: this is a picture of safety and security; so New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh have “your refuge.” The eternal God may also be expressed as “God who never dies [or, who lives forever].”

Underneath are the everlasting arms: that is, God’s arms are placed to maintain, support, save his people. BÍBLIA para todos Edição Comum “his power is your support forever” is clear but loses the beauty of the metaphor. Contemporary English Version has “he carries us in his arms.”

He thrust out the enemy before you: as the people of Israel invaded the land of Canaan, Yahweh drove out their enemies.

And said, Destroy: see 1.27. God commanded the Israelites to kill their enemies (see 7.2, 24).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

So Israel dwelt in safety: it may be better to use the present tense. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, for example, says “Thus Israel dwells in safety” (see also Good News Translation).

The fountain of Jacob: Israel and Jacob are parallel and refer to the same group. But the Hebrew word translated fountain is written the same as one meaning “abode” (see Isa 13.22), and New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and Revised English Bible make the change: “Untroubled is Jacob’s abode.” It is recommended that this be followed. Should the translator decide to stay with the Hebrew text, fountain is a figure of speech meaning “descendants” (Good News Translation).

Alone: here this means “undisturbed,” not bothered or threatened by anyone, since the Israelites had expelled all the inhabitants of Canaan.

A land of grain and wine: this speaks of bumper crops of wheat and barley, and productive vineyards. So Contemporary English Version has “and you will have plenty of grain and wine.”

His heavens drop down dew: the verb occurs only here and at 32.2. It may be better to say “the heavens” (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version and others), or “sky” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Here end Moses’ words to the people of Israel.

Happy are you, O Israel! The translator must decide whether it is better to say “Israel” or “people of Israel.” Here happy has the meaning of “fortunate.” So “People of Israel, you are so fortunate” is a good alternative model.

Grammatically Revised Standard Version Who is like you … is a question, demanding a question mark at the end of the sentence. This is a rhetorical question whose answer is “No one.” It is better to render it as an emphatic declaration, “There is no other people like you…,” followed by the reasons for this affirmation. See a similar kind of statement in 4.7.

A people saved by the LORD: this can be a reference to their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, or more generally to their being protected and guarded by Yahweh during their forty years’ trek through the wilderness. If it is the latter we may say “Yahweh has continually protected you.”

The shield … the sword: a shield is a defensive weapon, a sword an offensive weapon. God both defended the Israelites and attacked their enemies. Some translators will prefer to use similes; for example, “Like a shield he protects you, and like a sword he kills your enemies.”

Your help: or “to help you,” that is, “to defend you.”

Your triumph: or “to win the victory for you.”

Shall come fawning to you: the form of this verb occurs only here in the Old Testament. It means to act submissively, or else to try to gain favor by flattery. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Revised English Bible translate “cringing.” Good News Translation has “begging for mercy,” and Contemporary English Version has “will bow in fear.”

Tread upon their high places: this can mean to walk triumphantly over their land (see “high places” in 32.13). The phrase can be understood to mean the pagan shrines of those people. But the opinion of most is that “their backs” is meant (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible; the Septuagint translates “their neck”).

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• People of Israel,
how fortunate you are!
The LORD has continually guarded you.
Like a shield he protects you,
and like a sword he kills your enemies.
Your enemies will come and beg you not to kill them,
but you will trample on their backs.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The plains of Moab: see 1.5; Num 36.13.

To Mount Nebo: see 32.45. This is on the east side of the Jordan River, opposite the city of Jericho.

To the top of Pisgah: see 3.17. Either two traditions have been joined together here, or else Pisgah is taken to be the highest peak of Nebo. Good News Translation follows the second interpretation, understanding Pisgah to be a separate peak of Mount Nebo, whereas Contemporary English Version understands Mount Nebo to be a separate peak on Mount Pisgah. Translators may follow either Good News Translation or Contemporary English Version.

Opposite Jericho: see 32.49.

Showed him all the land: on both sides of the Jordan River.

Gilead: a territory on the east side of the Jordan River (see 2.36), its south end reaching the northern tip of the Dead Sea.

As far as Dan: the town of Dan was the northernmost town in the territory of the tribe of Dan, north of Lake Galilee.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Contemporary English Version introduces the verse with the following: “He let Moses see the territories that would soon belong to….” For the location of the regions and places mentioned in verses 1-3, see the map on page xii.

Naphtali: the northern region west of the Jordan River.

Ephraim and Manasseh: south of Naphtali.

Judah: the southernmost region on the west side of the Jordan.

The Western Sea: that is, the Mediterranean (see 11.24).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .