Deuteronomy 33:12 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The beloved of the Lord, i.e. this beloved tribe: so called partly in allusion to their father Benjamin, who was the beloved of his father Jacob; and partly because of the love and kindness of God towards this tribe, which appeared both in this, that they dwelt in the fattest and best part of the land, as Josephus affirms and especially in the following privilege. Shall dwell in safety by him, i.e. shall have his lot nigh unto God's temple, which was both a singular comfort and safeguard to him. The Lord may well be understood here, because he was expressed in the former member. Shall cover him all the day long; shall protect that tribe continually while they cleave to him. He shall dwell between his shoulders; the Lord shall dwell, i.e. his temple shall be placed, between his shoulders, i.e. in his portion, or between his borders, or sides, as the word shoulder is oft used, as Exodus 28:7 Numbers 34:11 Joshua 15:8,10 Eze 47:1,2. And this was truly the situation of the temple, on both sides whereof was Benjamin's portion; and though Mount Sion was in the tribe of Judah, yet Mount Moriah, on which the temple was built, was in the tribe of Benjamin.