Study Desk

But the Lord’s portion is his people,Jacob, his own inheritance.

He found him in a desolate land,in a barren, howling wilderness;he surrounded him, cared for him,and protected him as the pupil of his eye.

He watches over his nest like an eagleand hovers over his young;he spreads his wings, catches him,and carries him on his feathers.

Then Jeshurun became fat and rebelled—you became fat, bloated, and gorged.He abandoned the God who made himand scorned the Rock of his salvation.

They provoked his jealousy with different gods;they enraged him with detestable practices.

When the Lord saw this, he despised them,angered by his sons and daughters.

The Lord will indeed vindicate his peopleand have compassion on his servantswhen he sees that their strength is goneand no one is left—slave or free.

Rejoice, you nations, concerning his people,for he will avenge the blood of his servants.He will take vengeance on his adversaries;he will purify his land and his people.

Then you will die on the mountain that you go up, and you will be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people.

This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave the Israelites before his death.

Let Reuben live and not diethough his people become few.

He said about his father and mother,“I do not regard them.”He disregarded his brothersand didn’t acknowledge his sons,for they kept your wordand maintained your covenant.

Lord, bless his possessions,and accept the work of his hands.Break the back of his adversaries and enemies,so that they cannot rise again.

with the choice gifts of the landand everything in it;and with the favor of himwho appeared in the burning bush.May these rest on the head of Joseph,on the brow of the prince of his brothers.

His firstborn bull has splendor,and horns like those of a wild ox;he gores all the peoples with themto the ends of the earth.Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim,and such are the thousands of Manasseh.

He chose the best part for himself,because a ruler’s portion was assigned there for him.He came with the leaders of the people;he carried out the Lord’s justiceand his ordinances for Israel.

There is none like the God of Jeshurun,who rides the heavens to your aid,the clouds in his majesty.

So Israel dwells securely;Jacob lives untroubledin a land of grain and new wine;even his skies drip with dew.

He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab facing Beth-peor, and no one to this day knows where his grave is.

Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not left him.