Deuteronomy 33:6 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Let Reuben live, and not die Though Reuben deserve to be cut off, or greatly diminished and obscured, according to Jacob's prediction, (Genesis 49:4,) yet God will spare them, and give them a name and portion among the tribes of Israel. 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.” Let not his men be few As the word not is wanting in the Hebrew, we may render the clause more properly, Though his men be few. This best agrees with Jacob's prophecy, (Genesis 49:4,) that he should not excel, and yet live, that is, should still subsist, and be in some measure a flourishing tribe, though less numerous than some others. Le Clerc renders it, Let his dead men (מתיו, methaiv, mortales ejus) be few. Which prayer, he thinks, Moses put up for them, because this tribe appear to have been greatly diminished in the wilderness, see on Numbers 26:7. Here is no mention of Simeon; but this tribe is thought by some to be included in the blessing of Reuben, to whom Simeon was next in birth, and who stood most in need of the same blessing, for no tribe was more impaired in the wilderness than Simeon's. See on Numbers 26:14. Others think that tribe is included in the blessing of Judah, with whose possessions theirs were mixed, Joshua 19:1. And what makes this the more probable, is, that he was joined with Judah in those wars against the Canaanites, in which the divine aid is implored for Judah. But the Alexandrian MS. of the Septuagint reads this verse thus, Let Reuben live, and not die, and let the men of Simeon be many, or not few.