The blessing of Joseph is very striking, and deserves the closest attention, from the interest all true believers in CHRIST have in it. It is true, Joseph was separated from his brethren when sold into Egypt, and separated from his Father's home: but the spiritual illustration of this, and the typical reference it had to the person of the LORD JESUS, in all which Joseph was as an eminent a type of JESUS as almost any one character in the scripture, demands, that we should look much beyond Joseph the Son of Israel, for the real, spiritual meaning of this blessing of the man of GOD. Joseph, as the head of a tribe of Israel, was indeed much blessed with the precious things of heaven, and the precious things put forth by the sun, and by the moon: but it was the good will of him that dwelt in the bush, (even JESUS, who appeared to Moses at the bush), which sanctified and crowned the whole. But what I would more particularly desire the Reader to take notice of in this blessing of the man of GOD that he prayed all those mercies might be in the lot of Joseph, on account of his dweller in the bush. The words might be rendered, and perhaps ought strictly to have been so rendered, for the good will of him, my dweller in the bush. As if Moses meant to say, my dweller is him that dwelt there, when first he manifested himself to me, as my covenant head and Savior, who had undertaken, and in the fulness of time, would appear for the accomplishment of salvation. Hence the man of GOD, when in the full prospect of death, dwells so sweetly upon it, and seeks all blessings upon the head of Joseph, on this sole account. Here Reader! is the great secret of religion. If the good will of JESUS be in our mercies, this puts a sweetness, and gives an enjoyment to all. But if this be wanting, it is not all the precious things brought forth by the sun, or the precious things put forth by the moon, can give real comfort to the soul. Reader! pray be diligent in your seeking for this coronet mercy, to crown the whole in your experience.
Related Commentaries of Deuteronomy 33:13
Deuteronomy 33:13-17
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,
14 And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,
15 And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,
16 And for the precious things of the earth and fulness 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.
17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns:c 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.