Moses Blesses the Tribes

33:1–29Ref—Ge 49:1–28

33 This is the blessingd that Moses the man of Gode pronounced on the Israelites before his death. 2 He said:

“The Lord came from Sinaif

and dawned over them from Seir;g

he shone forthh from Mount Paran.i

He came witha myriads of holy onesj

from the south, from his mountain slopes.b

3 Surely it is you who lovek the people;

all the holy ones are in your hand.l

At your feet they all bow down,m

and from you receive instruction,

4 the law that Moses gave us,n

the possession of the assembly of Jacob.o

5 He was kingp over Jeshurunc q

when the leaders of the people assembled,

along with the tribes of Israel.

6 “Let Reuben live and not die,

nord his people be few.”r

7 And this he said about Judah:s

“Hear, Lord, the cry of Judah;

bring him to his people.

With his own hands he defends his cause.

Oh, be his help against his foes!”

8 About Levit he said:

“Your Thummim and Urimu belong

to your faithful servant.v

You testedw him at Massah;

you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.x

9 He said of his father and mother,y

‘I have no regard for them.’

He did not recognize his brothers

or acknowledge his own children,

but he watched over your word

and guarded your covenant.z

10 He teachesa your precepts to Jacob

and your law to Israel.b

He offers incense before youc

and whole burnt offerings on your altar.d

11 Bless all his skills, Lord,

and be pleased with the work of his hands.e

Strike down those who rise against him,

his foes till they rise no more.”

12 About Benjaminf he said:

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him,g

for he shields him all day long,h

and the one the Lord lovesi rests between his shoulders.j”

13 About Josephk he said:

“May the Lord bless his land

with the precious dew from heaven above

and with the deep waters that lie below;l

14 with the best the sun brings forth

and the finest the moon can yield;

15 with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountainsm

and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;

16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness

and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush.n

Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,

on the brow of the prince amonge his brothers.o

17 In majesty he is like a firstborn bull;

his hornsp are the horns of a wild ox.q

With them he will gorer the nations,

even those at the ends of the earth.

Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim;s

such are the thousands of Manasseh.t”

18 About Zebulunu he said:

“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,

and you, Issachar,v in your tents.

19 They will summon peoples to the mountainw

and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous;x

they will feast on the abundance of the seas,y

on the treasures hidden in the sand.”

20 About Gadz he said:

“Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain!a

Gad lives there like a lion,

tearing at arm or head.

21 He chose the best land for himself;b

the leader’s portion was kept for him.c

When the heads of the people assembled,

he carried out the Lord’s righteous will,d

and his judgments concerning Israel.”

22 About Dane he said:

“Dan is a lion’s cub,

springing out of Bashan.”

23 About Naphtalif he said:

“Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord

and is full of his blessing;

he will inherit southward to the lake.”

24 About Asherg he said:

“Most blessed of sons is Asher;

let him be favored by his brothers,

and let him bathe his feet in oil.h

25 The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze,i

and your strength will equal your days.j

26 “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,k

who ridesl across the heavens to help youm

and on the cloudsn in his majesty.o

27 The eternalp God is your refuge,q

and underneath are the everlastingr arms.

He will drive out your enemies before you,s

saying, ‘Destroy them!’t

28 So Israel will live in safety;u

Jacob will dwellf secure

in a land of grain and new wine,

where the heavens drop dew.v

29 Blessed are you, Israel!w

Who is like you,x

a people saved by the Lord?y

He is your shield and helperz

and your glorious sword.

Your enemies will cower before you,

and you will tread on their heights.a”