The L-rd, your G‑d, has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as the stars of the heavens in abundance. May the L-rd G‑d of your forefathers add to you a thousandfold as many as you are, and may He bless you, as He spoke concerning you! (Deuteronomy 1:10-11)

The Midrash explains that G‑d blessed the Israelites to be like the stars. Just as each star has a place, every Jew has a particular role to play in the unfolding of Jewish history. Each black and white figure is important, but the synthesis occurs when they are connected, creating a harmonious picture.

In his opening address to the people, Moses recalls how almost 40 years previously it was hard for him to take care of such a large community, one as numerous as the stars, and he then asks that G‑d bless them and increase their numbers a thousand fold. There is a feeling of wonderment in the painting as Moses blesses the people to become thousands of times more numerous—a blessing of superabundance.

The painting captures the sense of celebration as Moses assembles the people for his final statements to the nation before his impending death. As the people are gathered on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, on the verge of finally entering the Promised Land, there is a feeling of anticipation, communicated here in the painting through the simple palette of black and white. The overall scheme of deep dark blacks and whites with tones of greys reflects a wide range of feeling. Just as the tones of a musical system are at times melodic and harmonic, and at other times discordant, Moses begins to recall the full spectrum of victories and setbacks of the people's sojourn in the wilderness, but first he blesses them to be like the stars.