Deuteronomy 33:8
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The Urim and Thummim, the sacred lots used for divine guidance, are entrusted to Levi's "holy one." This isn't just about a priestly artifact; it signifies that the tribe set apart for God's service would be uniquely connected to divine wisdom and truth. However, the verse pointedly recalls their testing at Massah and Meribah, reminding us that even those closest to God face challenges and can falter, yet God's commitment to them endures.
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;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses delivers his final blessings to the tribes of Israel, much like a father imparting wisdom before his death. After blessing Reuben and Judah, he turns his attention to Levi, the priestly tribe, highlighting their unique role and God's covenant with them. This blessing acknowledges both their sacred duties and the challenges they faced, referencing specific instances of testing and conflict with the people.
Why does Moses single out the tribe of Levi for such a unique blessing, especially after their ancestors Simeon and Levi were rebuked for their violence?
This passage is Moses’ final blessing on the tribes of Israel. For Levi, he brings forth a powerful image: God's sacred instruments, the Urim and Thummim, are entrusted to them. These weren't just decorative items; they were used to discern God's will.
Divine Approval
Think of it like this: God is handing over the keys to His wisdom. He says, in essence, 'Let My light and My truth be with Levi.' This signifies God’s deep trust in this tribe, setting them apart for sacred service.
A Past Forgiven
But the text also reminds us of their past! They were tested at Massah and Meribah. This refers to moments where Israel—and perhaps even the Levites' ancestors—failed to trust God. Yet, instead of condemning Levi, Moses highlights God’s faithfulness in continuing to bless and use them. It’s a powerful reminder that God can forgive and restore, using even those who have stumbled.
What does it mean that Levi was 'tested at Massah' and 'strove with' God at Meribah? These sound like moments of failure, not blessing!
The mention of Massah and Meribah is crucial. These were places where the Israelites grumbled and tested God’s patience, demanding water in the wilderness.
God's Gracious Testing
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Here's the twist: While the people tested God, the text implies God was testing Levi (specifically referring to Aaron and his descendants, who represented Levi). It wasn't about finding fault, but about strengthening their faith under pressure.
Contention and Consecration
The phrase 'strove with' or 'contended with' might sound negative, but in this context, it points to God's rigorous process of refining His chosen servants. God didn't abandon them; He used these difficult moments to establish their role and purify their devotion. This shows that God’s blessings often come through trials, not in their absence.
Understand the original words
tummim · Hebrew Noun
Sacred objects used by the High Priest to discern the will of God, kept in the breastpiece of judgment; they represent the priestly role of seeking divine guidance for the nation.
urim · Hebrew Noun
Sacred objects used by the High Priest, often paired with the Thummim, to inquire of the LORD and receive divine direction or confirmation of God's will.
chasid · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A faithful, loyal, or pious one; someone who experiences God's covenant love (hesed) and responds with devotion to God.
Massah · Hebrew Noun
A place name meaning 'testing' or 'trial,' where the Israelites grumbled against God and Moses, serving as a reminder of human failure and God's providence.
Meribah · Hebrew Noun
A place name meaning 'strife' or 'contention,' where the people argued with Moses and tested God by doubting His presence among them.
This blessing on Levi is deeply tied to their unique role as priests and mediators, a role tested and affirmed through difficult moments like the murmuring at Massah and Meribah, highlighting God's faithfulness even when His chosen servants faltered.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israelites Murmur at Rephidim (Massah and Meribah)
During their wilderness journey, the Israelites, facing thirst, demanded water from Moses and God. This event, recorded in Exodus 17 and Numbers 20, led to God providing water through a rock but also resulted in God contending with Moses and Aaron, who were excluded from the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
Aaron and his Descendants Consecrated as Priests
Following the incident at Meribah and the golden calf rebellion, God specifically consecrated the tribe of Levi, and especially Aaron's lineage, to the priesthood. This set them apart for sacred service and purification rites.
c. 1406 BC
Moses' Final Blessing to the Tribes
As the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land, Moses pronounced prophetic blessings on each tribe, summarizing their future character and destiny. This includes his specific words for the tribe of Levi.
This passage describes the Urim and Thummim as sacred objects placed within the high priest's breastplate, directly linking them to the priestly office mentioned in Deuteronomy.
Numbers 20:2-13This narrative details the incident at the waters of Meribah where the people quarreled with Moses and Aaron, providing the historical context for God testing and contending with Levi's representatives.
1 Samuel 14:41This verse shows the Urim being used in seeking divine guidance, illustrating the function of these sacred items in discerning God's will, which was a key role for the Levites.
Hebrews 7:24-26This passage highlights Jesus Christ as the perfect and eternal High Priest, offering a theological fulfillment of the Levitical priesthood and its associated sacred duties represented by the Urim and Thummim.
Malachi 2:4-7This prophecy speaks about the covenant of Levi and the importance of the priests teaching God's law faithfully, underscoring the responsibility and sacred trust placed upon the Levites that is alluded to in Deuteronomy.
calvinDeuteronomy 33:1-29: "And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death."
And for the precious things of the earth, and fullness thereof, and for the good-will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.
Et ob prastantiam terrae, et ob plenitudinem ejus: et beneplacitum habitatoris rubi veniat super caput Joseph, et super ver…
pooleDeuteronomy 33:8: "And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;"
Thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one; the Thummim and the Urim , which are thine , O Lord, by special institution and consecration; by which he understands the ephod, in which they were put, Exodus 28:30 , by a synecdoche, and the high priesthood, to which they were appropriated, by a metonymy; and withal…
The Urim and Thummim, the sacred lots used for divine guidance, are entrusted to Levi's "holy one." This isn't just about a priestly artifact; it signifies that the tribe set apart for God's service would be uniquely connected to divine wisdom and truth. However, the verse pointedly recalls their testing at Massah and Meribah, reminding us that even those closest to God face challenges and can falter, yet God's commitment to them endures.
Moses delivers his final blessings to the tribes of Israel, much like a father imparting wisdom before his death. After blessing Reuben and Judah, he turns his attention to Levi, the priestly tribe, highlighting their unique role and God's covenant with them. This blessing acknowledges both their sacred duties and the challenges they faced, referencing specific instances of testing and conflict with the people.
Moses delivers his final blessings to the tribes of Israel, much like a father imparting wisdom before his death. After blessing Reuben and Judah, he turns his attention to Levi, the priestly tribe, highlighting their unique role and God's covenant with them. This blessing acknowledges both their sacred duties and the challenges they faced, referencing specific instances of testing and conflict with the people.
"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;" — The Urim and Thummim, the sacred lots used for divine guidance, are entrusted to Levi's "holy one." This isn't just about a priestly artifact; it signifies that the tribe set apart for God's service…
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Last reviewed October 2026