How was Moses' blessings able to override Jacob's, especially when dealing with the Levites?

 

 

 

 

 

The book of Deuteronomy is a rather difficult to read, follow and comprehend.  Moses recounts 40 years of what many literary scholars have deemed an epic adventure.  There are very little narrative moments encountered and then all of sudden... bam!  You reach the end and realize the new promised and blessed beginning has the potential  of becoming a curse.  Of course, the curse is only if the Israelites do not obey the laws as set forth by Yahweh.  Essentially, I was drawn to the beautiful poetic blessing of the people of Israel by Moses.   As I began, to read through the blessings a most profound thought occurred.  The tribe of Simeon is left out completely but Levi is given a bountiful blessing.  Why was the tribe of Levi blessed and Simeon not?  Weren't these two cursed within the blessing by their father Jacob? 

 

 

 

Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords.  Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company.  For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.  Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel!  I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.  (Genesis 49:5-7)

 

As I researched the potential reasoning behind the sudden change of heart on the behalf of Levi, I discovered something very interesting.  First, we must remember that Moses was the brother of Aaron and Miriam, whose mother, Jochebed, was the daughter of Levi, whom was separated from his people 3 months after his birth. 

 

 

 

 We must also remember Moses' quick outburst of anger and violence when he killed the Egyptian.  The attributes of violence his grandfather spoke of were still there.  The significance; however, lies in his shame and fear after killing the Egyptian and being reminded by his brethren that he had committed an act of violence.  This is also the reasoning within the story for his preeminence over the tribes of Israel.  Moses simply displayed what I like to call, heart over matter.  Moses was the beginning of Levi's curse having the potential to become a blessing.  Even more enlightenment for the Levites came when they "...sided with Moses over the sin of the golden calf at Mount Sinai; however, even then they used their swords as weapons of violence in slaughtering about three thousand that day (Exodus 32: 26-29)."   (Jaymack.net) 

It is (Exodus32:29) that stands  alone to constitute the violence within the situation. 

 And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”

 

Because of their loyalty, they remained divided and scattered among the people, sons and brothers.  However, this same loyalty is the reasoning for their newly appointed job as priests.  Seemingly, the original division of Levi and his brother Simeon by their father Jacob served a greater purpose within God's plan. (Thirdmill.com)  God needed them scattered among the people, '...so that they could teach God's precepts and laws to Israel."  (Thirdmill.com)  In order to do that the Levites are charged with the upkeep of the Temple and the many rituals and ceremonies.  This was no easy feat; therefore, God also gave them "...all the tenth of Israel as their inheritance."  (Guidedbiblestudies.com)  

 

 Meanwhile, the Simeonites seemed to dissipate rapidly overtime, "at the second wilderness census of Israel, 63% of the tribe perished and they became the smallest tribe. Numbers 26:14 records their new number as being 22,200 people in number."  (dailyfamilyministries.com)  For the tribe of Simeon there arose no one as an intercessor and not one account was recorded that would even justify Yahweh having a change of heart.  The original curse for this tribe remained and they eventually were absorbed into the tribe of Judah.  There is no later record of them in the history of Israel. (Ligonier.org)

 

 

This in short reminds me of two children who are terrors when they are together.  The wisdom comes in the separation.  One apologizes from the heart, redeems himself and is forgiven and allowed to interact with his peers again.  The other, feels as if he is the one whom has been wronged and does nothing to change his attitude or behavior and continually digs a deeper hole for himself.  That same redemptive quality displayed by the 1st child is also the reason why Moses, a Levite, was able to bestow or rather turn a curse into a blessing for the Tribe of Levi.  In return, Moses' words were that of poetic Justice.

 

 

 

 

 And of Levi he said,

“Give to Levi your Thummim,
and your Urim to your godly one,
whom you tested at Massah,
with whom you quarreled at the waters of Meribah;
who said of his father and mother,
‘I regard them not’;
he disowned his brothers
and ignored his children.
For they observed your word
and kept your covenant.
They shall teach Jacob your rules
and Israel your law;
they shall put incense before you
and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
Bless, O LORD, his substance,
and accept the work of his hands;
crush the loins of his adversaries,
of those who hate him, that they rise not again.”

(Deuteronomy 33:8-11 ESV)