Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes
And this is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the sons of Israel before his death.
And he said: “The LORD came from Sinai, and dawned from Seir upon them; he shone forth from Mount Paran, and came from ten thousands of holy ones — from his right hand a fiery law for them.
Indeed, he loves the peoples; all his holy ones are in your hand. And they — they sit down at your feet; each receives of your words.
An instruction Moses commanded us, a possession for the assembly of Jacob.
And he became king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people gathered, the tribes of Israel together.
Let Reuben live and not die; but let his men be few.”
And this for Judah; and he said: “Hear, O LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him to his people. With his own hands he contends for himself; and be a help against his foes.”
And of Levi he said: “Your Thummim and your Urim belong to your loyal man, whom you tested at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah —
who said of his father and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him,’ and did not acknowledge his brothers, and did not know his own sons. For they kept your saying, and they guard your covenant.
They shall teach your judgments to Jacob, and your instruction to Israel. They shall put incense before your nostrils, and whole offerings on your altar.
Bless, O LORD, his strength, and accept the work of his hands. Shatter the loins of those who rise against him, and of those who hate him, that they rise no more.”
Of Benjamin he said: “The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in security beside him; he shelters him all the day, and dwells between his shoulders.”
And of Joseph he said: “Blessed of the LORD is his land — with the choice gifts of the heavens, with the dew, and with the deep that crouches beneath;
and with the choice yield of the sun, and with the choice produce of the months;
and with the best of the ancient mountains, and with the choice gifts of the everlasting hills;
and with the choice gifts of the earth and her fullness, and the favor of him who dwelt in the bush. Let it come on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the one set apart from his brothers.
The firstborn of his ox — majesty is his; and his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he shall gore the peoples, all together, to the ends of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.”
And of Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and Issachar, in your tents.
They shall call peoples to the mountain; there they shall sacrifice sacrifices of righteousness. For they shall suck the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the sand.”
And of Gad he said: “Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad. Like a lioness he dwells; and he tears arm, even crown of head.
And he chose the first part for himself, for there the portion of a ruler was reserved. And he came with the heads of the people; the righteousness of the LORD he carried out, and his judgments with Israel.”
And of Dan he said: “Dan is a lion’s cub, that leaps out from Bashan.”
And of Naphtali he said: “Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD — possess the sea and the south.”
And of Asher he said: “Most blessed of sons is Asher. Let him be favored by his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil.
Iron and bronze are your bolts; and as your days, so your strength.
There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens as your help, and the clouds in his majesty.
A dwelling place is the God of old, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he drove out the enemy from before you, and said, ‘Destroy!’
And Israel dwells in security; the fountain of Jacob alone, in a land of grain and new wine; his heavens also drop down dew.
Happy are you, Israel! Who is like you — a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and the sword of your majesty! And your enemies shall come cringing to you, and you shall tread on their high places.”