Moses Blesses the Tribes

¹This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, spoke over the people of Israel before he died. ²He said, "The LORD came from Sinai and rose over them like the dawn from Seir. He blazed forth from Mount Paran and arrived with tens of thousands of holy ones. From his right hand came a fiery law for them. ³He truly loves his people. All his holy ones are held in your hand. They sat at your feet, and each one received your words. ⁴Moses gave us the law — the treasured inheritance of the assembly of Jacob. ⁵The LORD became king in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered together with all the tribes of Israel. ⁶"Let Reuben live and not die out, and don't let his numbers dwindle." ⁷About Judah, he said this: "LORD, hear Judah's cry and bring him back to his people. Let his own hands be strong enough to fight for himself, and be his help against his enemies." ⁸About Levi, he said: "Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful one — the one you tested at Massah and challenged at the waters of Meribah. ⁹Who said to his father and mother, "I have not seen him"; he did not acknowledge his brothers or know his own children, for they have observed your word and kept your covenant. ¹⁰They will teach your ordinances to Jacob and your law to Israel. They will burn incense before you and place whole burnt offerings on your altar. ¹¹LORD, bless everything Levi has, and accept the work of his hands. Crush the strength of those who rise against him — strike down those who hate him so they never get up again." ¹²About Benjamin, he said: "The one the LORD loves will live safely beside him. The LORD shelters him all day long, and Benjamin rests secure between his shoulders." ¹³About Joseph, he said: "May the LORD bless his land with the precious gifts of heaven — the dew and the deep waters that lie beneath the ground, ¹⁴with the finest fruits ripened by the sun and the choicest produce brought forth by the moon, ¹⁵with the best of the ancient mountains and the riches of the everlasting hills, ¹⁶with the precious bounty of the earth and everything in it, and the favor of the one who appeared in the burning bush. Let all these blessings rest on the head of Joseph — on the brow of the one set apart from his brothers. ¹⁷His glory is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, driving them to the ends of the earth. These are the tens of thousands of Ephraim, and these are the thousands of Manasseh." ¹⁸About Zebulun and Issachar, he said: "Celebrate, Zebulun, as you head out on your journeys, and you, Issachar, rejoice in your tents. ¹⁹They will summon peoples to the mountain, and there they will offer righteous sacrifices. They will draw wealth from the abundance of the seas and from treasures hidden in the sand." ²⁰About Gad, he said: "Blessed is the one who gives Gad more room! Gad crouches like a lioness, tearing off the arm and the skull of its prey. ²¹He chose the best land for himself — a leader's portion was reserved for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the LORD's righteous will and his judgments alongside Israel." ²²About Dan, he said: "Dan is a lion's cub that leaps out from Bashan." ²³About Naphtali, he said: "Naphtali overflows with favor and is filled with the LORD's blessing. Take possession of the land to the west and to the south." ²⁴About Asher, he said: "Most blessed among the sons is Asher. Let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in olive oil. ²⁵Your shoes will be made of iron and bronze, and your strength will match the length of your days. ²⁶"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you, majestic upon the clouds. ²⁷The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath you are his everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you and commands, 'Destroy them!' ²⁸So Israel will live in safety, undisturbed. Jacob's descendants will settle in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drip with dew. ²⁹Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, O people saved by the LORD, who is the shield of your help and the sword of your excellence! Your enemies will be found to be liars to you, and you will tread on their high places.