John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 33:11

"Bless, Jehovah, his substance, And accept the work of his hands: Smite through the loins of them that rise up against him, And of them that hate him, that they rise not again." — Deuteronomy 33:11 (ASV)

Bless, Lord, his substance. This supplication appears to have been intended tacitly to provide against the poverty that awaited the Levites, if God had not supplied them with food from some other source besides the produce of the soil; for they were deprived of a share in the general inheritance, and God alone was their property. So that their condition would not be painful to them, Moses therefore offers them consolation and tells them to expect from God abundance for their support, while he promises that His blessing will serve them in place of the most abundant produce, as it is said in Psalm 132:15: “I will abundantly bless her provision, and satisfy her priests³¹⁷ with bread.”

What follows, that “the work of his hands may be acceptable to God,” may be explained either generally of the labor that is bestowed to obtain food, or of the service and ministry of the tabernacle. But since God engaged the Levites in sacred occupations, it seems indirectly to promise them that such exercises would be no less profitable to them than if they were entirely occupied in pursuing gain. The rest were allowed to use their industry to advance their domestic interests, while the Levites, to perform their duties properly, were obliged to neglect their private affairs. Then, so that they would not be afraid of destitution, Moses reminds them that they could also expect an earthly reward from God for their spiritual labors.

The third point appears to be purposely introduced—that “God would smite through or transfix their enemies”—because pious teachers are greatly exposed to envy, ill-will, and persecution. For the complaint that Jeremiah makes (Jeremiah 15:10), that he was “a man of strife,” is applicable to all the prophets and ministers of God, since the world can hardly bear its affections to be slain by the spiritual sword of God’s word, and so many contentions arise.

Besides, Satan, to render their doctrine contemptible, continually harasses them by any means he can and arms his forces to war against them, so that the pastors of the Church need God’s special aid.

This point, then, is particularly worthy of observation: although many adversaries always threaten God’s servants, besiege them, provoke them to conflict—in a word, are always plotting their destruction—still God’s aid will be at hand, by which they may be made invincible, as it was said to Jeremiah:

“They shall fight against thee,
but they shall not prevail against thee” (Jeremiah 1:19).

The words I have translated “lest they rise again,” others render “lest they rise against them”; and, although I do not reject this, it still seems less appropriate. For Moses did not wish to exempt the Levites from the annoyances of combat, but only to promise them victory, since God would overwhelm and destroy their enemies.³¹⁸

³¹⁷ A. V., “poor.” ., “poor.” C.’s memory seems here to have failed him, and to have imported the word “priests” from the following verse.memory seems here to have failed him, and to have imported the word “priests” from the following verse.

³¹⁸ Addition in Fr., ”voire en sorte qu’ils demeurerent couchez tous plats;” that is to say, in such sort as they should remain altogether east down.., ”voire en sorte qu’ils demeurerent couchez tous plats;” that is to say, in such sort as they should remain altogether east down.