Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes

1This is the blessing that Moses (drawn out) the man of God {Elohim} pronounced upon the Israelites (God prevails) before his death. 2He said:

“The LORD {YHWH} came from Sinai (thorny)

and dawned upon us [upon them]a from Seir (shaggy);

He shone forth from Mount Paran (place of caverns)

and came with myriads of holy ones,

with flaming fire at His right hand.b

3Surely You love the people;

all the holy ones are in Your hand,

and they sit down at Your feet (they follow in Your steps);c

each receives Your words—

4the law that Moses (drawn out) gave us,

the possession of the assembly of Jacob (he grasps the heel).

5So the LORD became King in Jeshurun (upright one)d

when the leaders of the people gathered,

when the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God) came together.

6Let Reuben (behold a son) live and not die,

nor (but let)e his men be few.”

7And concerning Judah (praised) he said:

“O LORD {YHWH}, hear the cry of Judah

and bring him to his people.

With his own hands he defends his cause,

but may You be a help against his foes.”

8Concerning Levi (joined to) he said:

“Give Your Thummim to Levi (perfection)

and Your Urim (lights) to Your godly one,f

whom You tested at Massah (testing)g

and contested at the waters of Meribah (quarreling).h

9He said of his father and mother,

‘I do not consider them.’

He disregarded his brothers

and did not know his own sons,

for he kept \they kept/i Your word

and maintained Your covenant.

10He will teach Your ordinances to Jacob (he grasps the heel)

and Your law to Israel (he wrestles with God);

he will set incense before You

and whole burnt offerings on Your altar.

11Bless his substance, O LORD {YHWH},

and accept the work of his hands.

Smash the loins of those who rise against him,

and of his foes so they can rise no more.”

12Concerning Benjamin (son of the right hand) he said:

“May the beloved of the LORD {YHWH}

rest secure in Him;

God shields [He shields]j him all day long,

and upon His shoulders he rests.”

13Concerning Joseph (YHWH has added) he said:

“May his land be blessed by the LORD {YHWH}

with the precious dew from heaven above

and the deep waters that lie beneath,

14with the bountiful harvest from the sun

and the abundant yield of the seasons,

15with the best of the ancient mountains

and the bounty of the everlasting hills,

16with the choice gifts of the land and everything in it,

and with the favor of Him who dwelt in the burning bush.

May these rest on the head of Joseph (YHWH has added)

and crown the brow of the prince of his brothers.

17His majesty is like a firstborn bull,

and his horns are like those of a wild ox.

With them he will gore the nations,

even to the ends of the earth.

Such are the myriads of Ephraim (doubly fruitful),

and such are the thousands of Manasseh (causing to forget).”

18Concerning Zebulun (exalted) he said:

“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys,

and Issachar (there is recompense), in your tents.

19They will call the peoples to a mountain;

there they will offer sacrifices of righteousness.

For they will feast on the abundance of the seas

and the hidden treasures of the sand.”

20Concerning Gad (troop) he said:

“Blessed is he who enlarges

the domain of Gad!

He lies down like a lion

and tears off an arm or a head.

21He chose the best land for himself,

because a ruler’s portion was reserved for him there.

He came with the leaders of the people;

he administered the LORD’s {YHWH} justice

and His ordinances for Israel (he wrestles with God).”

22Concerning Dan (He has judged) he said:

“Dan is a lion’s cub,

leaping out of Bashan (fruitful).”

23Concerning Naphtali (wrestling) he said:

“Naphtali is abounding with favor,

full of the blessing of the LORD {YHWH};

he shall take possession

of the sea (the west)k and the south.”

24And concerning Asher (happy) he said:

“May Asher be the most blessed of sons;

may he be the most favored among his brothers

and dip his foot in oil.

25May the bolts of your gate be iron and bronze,

and may your strength match your days.”

26“There is none like the God of Jeshurun (upright one),

who rides the heavens to your aid,

and the clouds in His majesty.

27The eternal God {Elohe} is your dwelling place,

and underneath are the everlasting arms.

He drives out the enemy before you,

giving the command, ‘Destroy him!’

28So Israel (he wrestles with God) dwells securely;

the fountain of Jacob (he grasps the heel) lives untroubled

in a land of grain and new wine,

where even the heavens drip with dew.

29Blessed are you, O Israel (he wrestles with God)!

Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD {YHWH}?

He is the shield that protects you,

the sword in which you boast.

Your enemies will cower before you,

and you shall trample their high places.”