Dt. 33: Bless You Boys!

Deuteronomy 33:29 "Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places."

Deuteronomy 33 is a blessing in poetic form of each of the tribes of Israel. Moses' famous last words, it would appear. He's winding down his life, as God has told him already that his death is near, and he would be gathered to his people. Death apparently takes a person to some other place.
Each tribe gets a slightly different blessing. Mostly they have to do with life.

Reuben - to live and not die.

Judah - that God would be his help against his foes

Levi - that God would bless his skills, for all Levi has done to advance God's precepts. To be pleased with the work of his hands (the priesthood), and strike down his foes.

Benjamin - to be shielded, and rest between the LORD's shoulders. I guess that means to carry
Benjamin on His back, literally.

Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) - bless his land with dew from above, and waters from below, from the sun and moon...the best that creation can give, essentially. A prince among his brothers is Joseph.

Zebulun - rejoice in going out

Issachar - rejoice in staying home. Both apparently will be blessed by offering sacrifices on the mountains, be good fisherman, and find treasures in the sand...find good in the extreme adversity?

Gad - An enlarged domain, the best land...for carrying out God's will.

Dan - A lion's cub, springing out of Bashan. Probably referring to the beatdown Israel administered to those kings in that area at the end of Numbers and beginning of Deuteronomy.

Naphtali - abounding with favor...thats an awesome blessing. He will inherit southward to the lake...Galilee?

Asher - will be strong, and rich (bathing his feet in oil).

These are all well and good, but I can't help but wonder if these are contingent on Israel keeping the covenant. All of the above are blessings...I wonder if they are just things Moses wishes for each, or if each will come to fruition? I have read the curses. I have read the blessings. And I have read what God has told Moses will happen to Israel.

Israel has God. The God. The God who is everywhere to help. The God who is a refuge...everlasting, and clearing away the enemy. Israel can choose this safety, this secure spring, where all good things are waiting for them. Will they be able to keep the covenant?