14 Issachar is a strong donkey

lying down between the saddlebags.B

15 He saw that his resting place was good

and that the land was pleasant,

so he leaned his shoulder to bear a load

and became a forced laborer.i

16 Dan will judge his peoplej

as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan will be a snake by the road,

a viper beside the path,

that bites the horse’s heels

so that its rider falls backward.

18 I wait for your salvation, Lord.

19 Gad will be attacked by raiders,

but he will attack their heels.k

20 Asher’s* food will be rich,

and he will produce royal delicacies.l

21 Naphtali is a doe set free

that bears beautiful fawns.m

22 Joseph is a fruitful vine,

a fruitful vine beside a spring;

its branchesD climb over the wall.E

23 The archers attacked him,

shot at him, and were hostile toward him.

24 Yet his bow remained steady,

and his strong arms were made agile

by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob,n

by the name ofF the Shepherd,o the Rock of Israel,p

25 by the God of your father who helps you,

and by the Almighty who blesses you

with blessings of the heavens above,

blessings of the deep that lies below,

and blessings of the breasts and the womb.

26 The blessings of your father excel

the blessings of my ancestorsG

andH the bounty of the ancient hills.E,q

May they rest on the head of Joseph,

on the brow of the prince of his brothers.

27 Benjamin is a wolf; he tears his prey.

In the morning he devours the prey,

and in the evening he divides the plunder.”r

28 These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this is what their father said to them. He blessed them, and he blessed each one with a suitable blessing.

JACOB’S BURIAL INSTRUCTIONS

29 Then he commanded them, “I am about to be gathered to my people.a Bury me with my ancestorsb in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hethite.c 30 The cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. This is the field Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hethite as burial property.d 31 Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried there,e Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried there,f and I buried Leah there.g 32 The field and the cave in it were purchased from the Hethites.” 33 When Jacob had finished giving charges to his sons, he drew his feet into the bed, took his last breath, and was gathered to his people.