Deuteronomy 33:12
And to Benjamin he said: The best beloved of the Lord shall dwell confidently in him: as in a bride chamber shall he abide all the day long, and between his shoulders shall be rest.
The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Et Benjamin ait : Amantissimus Domini habitabit confidenter in eo : quasi in thalamo tota die morabitur, et inter humeros illius requiescet.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- Καὶ τῷ Βενιαμεὶν εἶπεν Ἠγαπημένος ὑπὸ Κυρίου κατασκηνώσει πεποιθώς, καὶ ὁ θεὸς σκιάζει ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ὤμων αὐτοῦ κατέπαυσεν.
- Hebrew (WLC)
- לְבִנְיָמִ֣ן אָמַ֔ר יְדִ֣יד יְהֹוָ֔ה יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן לָבֶ֖טַח עָלָ֑יו חֹפֵ֤ף עָלָיו֙ כָּל הַיּ֔וֹם וּבֵ֥ין כְּתֵיפָ֖יו שָׁכֵֽן
Haydock's commentary
Shall dwell, &c. This seems to allude to the temple being built in the confines of the tribe of Benjamin, (Challoner) on the northern part of Jerusalem. The southern division of the city was in the territory of Juda; and hence Jerusalem is attributed to both, Josue xv. 63., and Judges i. 21. (Calmet)
He rest. The temple was situated on Mount Moria, which was higher than the rest of the city, as the head is above the shoulders. (Menochius)
Chaldean, "The majesty of the Lord shall dwell in his land." This was the sure ground of confidence to Benjamin. As long as God continued with his people, they had nothing to fear, no more than in a bride-chamber, being under the protection of the most High. (Haydock)
As Benjamin had been the object of his father's love, so God chose the first king out of his tribe; (Menochius) and by protecting his temple in a more particular manner, secured him. (Worthington)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.