Moses' Parting Blessing
33 1 This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of our Father, blessed the Israelites before his death.
Our Father Rides to Their Help
2 He said: Our Father came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones, flashing fire from his right hand. 3 Truly he loves the peoples all his holy ones are in your hand. They followed at your feet, each receiving direction from you. 4 Moses commanded us a law, a possession for the assembly of Jacob. 5 So he became King in Jeshurun, when the leaders of the people gathered, the tribes of Israel together. 6 Let Reuben live and not die nor let his people be few.
7 And this he said of Judah: Hear, our Father, the voice of Judah, and bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends himself; help him against his foes.
8 Of Levi he said: Your Thummim and your Urim belong to your faithful one, whom you tested at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah, 2 2 v8 The Urim and Thummim were sacred objects worn by the high priest to seek guidance from God. 9 who said of his father and mother, 'I do not regard them' he did not acknowledge his brothers or know his own children. For they kept your word and guarded your covenant. 10 They teach your judgments to Jacob and your law to Israel they place incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar. 11 Bless, our Father, his strength and accept the work of his hands. Crush the loins of those who rise against him, of those who hate him, that they rise no more.
12 Of Benjamin he said: The beloved of our Father dwells in safety beside him; he shelters him all day long, and Benjamin rests between his shoulders. 3 3 v12 Benjamin is called the beloved of our Father, sheltered all day long and carried close — the picture of a child held safe against the Father's heart.
13 Of Joseph he said: Blessed by our Father be his land, with the choicest gifts of heaven above, with the dew, and with the deep that lies beneath, 14 with the choicest fruits ripened by the sun and the rich yield of the months, 15 with the finest produce of the ancient mountains and the abundance of the everlasting hills, 16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the one set apart from his brothers. 17 His firstborn bull—majesty is his his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he gores the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim and such are the thousands of Manasseh.
18 Of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun, as you go out, and Issachar, in your tents. 19 They call peoples to the mountain there they offer right sacrifices for they draw out the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.
20 Of Gad he said: Blessed be the one who enlarges Gad! He lies down like a lion, tearing the arm and the crown of the head. 21 He chose the best for himself for there a commander's portion was reserved. He came with the leaders of the people he carried out the justice of our Father and his judgments for Israel.
22 Of Dan he said: Dan is a lion's cub that leaps out from Bashan.
23 Of Naphtali he said: Naphtali, satisfied with favor and full of the blessing of our Father, take possession of the sea and the south.
24 Of Asher he said: Most blessed of sons be Asher; let him be the favorite of his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil. 25 Your bars shall be iron and bronze and as your days so shall your strength be. 26 There is none like our Father, Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to help you and in his majesty through the skies. 27 The eternal our Father is your dwelling place and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drove out the enemy before you and said, 'Destroy!' 28 So Israel dwells in safety the fountain of Jacob is set apart in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop down dew. 29 Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by our Father, the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! Your enemies will come cringing to you and you will tread on their high places.