What is the meaning behind Deuteronomy 32:8-10?

Question

When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the LORD’s portion is His people, Jacob His allotted inheritance. He found him in a desert land, in a barren, howling wilderness; He surrounded him, He instructed him, He guarded him as the apple of His eye

I've recently been doing quite a bit of bible study. One of the terms I've researched is "Sons of God" and its usage in the old testament. The general consensus appears to be that usually when this is used it is referring to spiritual beings - Angels in heaven. Such as its usage in Job 1, Job 2.

I've read multiple different versions of Deuteronomy 32:8 most of which include the term "sons of God" - others which include "sons of Israel". Some which even reference Caanite Gods. I can't make sense of the passage using "sons of Israel" My reading of it seems to make more sense if this was talking about "sons of God" as in spiritual beings working for the most high god (Angels). The passage would then mean: That God divided mankind into groups / tribes / countries .... so that the number of groups equaled the number of angels in heaven. He then gave each Angel in heaven one of the groups of people as an inheritance they were assigned to watch over and protect. Abraham, Isaac, Jacobs blood line is then said to be the group that were given to Yahweh (the lord) as his inheritance.

Is this the correct understanding of this passage ?

Answer 1

What is the meaning behind Deuteronomy 32:8?

In the Torah, Devarim (Deuteronomy) 32:8 states: “When the Most High gave nations their lot, when He separated the sons of man, He set up the boundaries of peoples according to the number of the children of Israel.” ( בְּהַנְחֵ֤ל עֶלְיוֹן֙ גּוֹיִ֔ם בְּהַפְרִיד֖וֹ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָ֑ם יַצֵּב֙ גְּבֻלֹ֣ת עַמִּ֔ים לְמִסְפַּ֖ר בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל)

1. Sons of Man (בְּנֵ֣י אָדָ֑ם) is the literal English translation of the Hebrew “Beni Adam”.

2. Children/Sons of Israel (בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל) is the literal English translation of the Hebrew “Beni Yisrael”.

• Regarding "Sons of God", The Hebrew term [בְּנֵ֤י הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙] 'Beni-HaElohim' used in [Genesis 6:4] refers to the Nephilim (נְּפִלִ֞ים) as "sons of the gods".

In Iyov (Job) 1:1, we see the Hebrew word “Beni Elohim” used to describe Angels not Sons/Children of God: “Now the day came about, and the angels of God came to stand beside the Lord, and the Adversary, too, came among them” (וַיְהִ֣י הַיּ֔וֹם וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים לְהִתְיַצֵּ֖ב עַל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיָּב֥וֹא גַם־הַשָּׂטָ֖ן בְּתוֹכָֽם)

Angels of the-God (בְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים) in Job 1:1 a canonized verse of the Hebrew Tanakh does demonstrate the Hebrew word “Beni” (בְּנֵ֣י) represents three concepts : Sons/Children/Angels.

• Angels of God (מַלְאֲכֵ֣י אֱלֹהִ֔ים) are shown to be messengers “Malaki” from God in Genesis 28:12 to share news of blessings to Yisrael.

Judges 13:1-3 makes the distinction that the Sons/Children of Yisrael (בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל) receive God’s Word and the Angel of YHVH (מַלְאַךְ־יְהֹוָ֖ה) delivers God’s Word.

In Conclusion, We could deduce that Job 1:1 demonstrates a mistranslation of “Beni Ha-Elohim” as Angels of God (מַלְאֲכֵ֣י אֱלֹהִ֔ים) instead of “Sons of the-God”, since the Sons/Children of God (בְּנֵ֤י הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙) referenced also in Genesis 6:4 were “Nobles” who gathered to receive God’s Word instead of deliver His Word like a messenger “Malak YHVH” (Angel of the Lord) referenced in Judges 13:3.

Answer 2

What is the meaning behind Deuteronomy 32:8-10?

Deuteronomy 32:8-10 (NKJV)

8 When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the [a]children of Israel. 9 For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance. 10 “He found him in a desert land And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the [b]apple of His eye.

When in the wilderness, the Israelites were warned not to violate the boundaries of other nations, such as Moab and Ammon. Genesis 15:13-21

Deuteronomy 2:4-5 (NASB)

4 And command the people, saying, “You will pass through the territory of your brothers the sons of Esau who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful; 5 do not [a]provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, even as little as a [b]footstep because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.

Deuteronomy 2:18-19 (NASB)

18 ‘Today you shall cross over Ar, the border of Moab. 19 When you come opposite the sons of Ammon, do not harass them nor provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot as a possession.’

Exodus 23:31 (NASB)

31 I will fix your boundary from the [a]Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River Euphrates; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.

The Most High swore when he reserved for Abraham's descendants, the Israelites, the land in the Middle East that he had promised to Abraham's. Moses says on this:

Deuteronomy 32:8-10 (YLT)

8 In the Most High causing nations to inherit, In His separating sons of Adam -- He setteth up the borders of the peoples By the number of the sons of Israel. 9 For Jehovah's portion [is] His people, Jacob [is] the line of His inheritance.

God cares and is sensitive for their welfare when he speaks of his servants as "the pupil" of his eye, metaphorically representing their preciousness in his sight and his quickness to act on their behalf when touched by the enemy.

Deuteronomy 32:10

10 He findeth him in a land -- a desert, And in a void -- a howling wilderness, He turneth him round -- He causeth him to understand -- He keepeth him as the apple of His eye.