(NIV) 1 This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. 2 He said:

“The LORD came from Sinai

and dawned over them from Seir;

he shone forth from Mount Paran.

He came with myriads of holy ones

from the south, from his mountain slopes.

3 Surely it is you who love the people;

all the holy ones are in your hand.

At your feet they all bow down,

and from you receive instruction,

4 the law that Moses gave us,

the possession of the assembly of Jacob.

5 He was king over Jeshurun

when the leaders of the people assembled,

along with the tribes of Israel.

Deuteronomy 33:1-5

Today, on reading this passage of Scripture, I found the symbolism in these following verses full of imagery and wonder. Previously, my reading of Moses’ song was one of him giving instruction and blessing to each of the tribes of Israel, but I had not seen how lovingly and compassionately he portrayed Yahweh, the God of Israel and Moses’ God. To understand more fully the truth of the first five verses of this chapter, I had to research the significance of names mentioned therein - Sinai, Seir, Paran, Jeshurun. Here is some of this imagery I received from my research:

Mount Sinai - In the Old Testament, many mountains had altars or temples and each mountain had a temple or an altar to a unique and specific god. Mount Sinai was no different. It was from this mountain that God spoke to Moses and gave Israel His commandments and His covenant to them. That is significant. It is a holy mountain to the Jews.

When I researched the meaning of the word “Sinai” in Strong’s Dictionary, the word “Sinai” means “Sin, glare like white chalk”. The word “sin” is capitalized as though it is singular. Singular form of the word “sin” indicates the source or origin of all other “sins” (plural). We call that original sin in theological circles today. Does this symbolize God coming down from the mountain of Sin and with the “glare” of His glory washing it with white chalk so it becomes “white as snow” if we were to use the words of Isaiah? I picture God cleansing Sin and washing us white as He descends from Mount Sinai. As Moses spoke, could this picture of Mount Sinai have been in the Israelites mind as well?

Seir - Where “Seir” is geographically is debated amongst scholars today, but I like what Strong’s Dictionary has to say about this word. It says, “hairy, shaggy, covered with trees; [poss.] the place of the goats or the place of Esau [Ge 25:25 BDB]; small forest, rich forest”:

This is a place of trees with shaggy and hairy animals. It represents a dense, rich forest. What comes from the forest? Wood for shelter and fire. Animals for food. Plants for food and medicine. What great provision God provides!

Mount Paran - Paran is the word for “plain”. How is that connected with a mountain, I do not know. In Numbers it calls Paran the “Desert of Paran” where the Israelites went after leaving Mount Sinai. A desert can be named a “plain” or a “plain” could be a plateau as are the elevated plains to the east of Israel, or the elevated plains of western Canadian prairies.

What comes from a plain? Food. Add water to any desert or plain and you have abundance of crops which can feed hundreds if not thousands of people. Once again, God’s provision and riches.

East and South - In Ancient East times, one faced east because that was the direction of God, and south (which is on the right hand) is the direction where power and strength come from.

Here is Moses saying “the myriads of holy ones, coming from the south”. In other words, he is saying that God’s army is coming in great strength and power. I can just picture Moses facing east, the direction from which God comes from, and looking to his right as the holy ones arrive. We could say today, if we look to God, his army of strength and power will be ours.

Jeshurun - This is an endearing word for Israel, like Daddy is an endearing word for father, or Mum is an endearing word for mother, or “honey” is an endearing word for wife.

Here is the imagery, as I see it:

God comes down from the place of Sin bright as white chalk and washes us white as snow. He dawns bright red over the rich forest where shelter, food, and wildness are provided from His hand. He shines over the plains of our lives where food feeds the multitudes. His army comes from the south providing us with power and strength to live a full life. He lovingly comes to His people calling them Jeshurun like a father calling his children “lamb chops” or whatever word of endearment is meaningful to you. We are enfolded in His embrace. Surely He must love us. Surely we need to bow down to Him, worship Him, and obey His commands.