Moses Blesses the Tribes
1Here is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave to the Israelites before he died. 2He said,
“The Lord came from Mount Sinai.
Like the rising sun, he shone on his people from Mount Seir.
He shone on them from Mount Paran.
He came with large numbers of angels.
He came from his mountain slopes in the south.
3Lord, I’m sure you love your people.
All the holy ones are in your hands.
At your feet all of them bow down.
And you teach them.
4They learn the law Moses gave us.
It belongs to the community of the people of Jacob.
5The Lord was king over Israel
when the leaders of the people came together.
The tribes of Israel were also there.”
6Here’s what Moses said about Reuben.
“Let Reuben live. Don’t let him die.
And do not let his people be few.”
7Here’s what Moses said about Judah.
“Lord, listen to Judah cry out.
Bring him to his people.
By his own power he stands up for himself.
Lord, help him fight against his enemies!”
8Here’s what Moses said about Levi.
“Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful servant.
You tested him at Massah.
You argued with him at the waters of Meribah.
9Levi didn’t show special favor to anyone.
He did not spare his father and mother.
He didn’t excuse his relatives or his children.
But he watched over your word.
He guarded your covenant.
10He teaches your rules to the people of Jacob.
He teaches your law to Israel.
He offers incense to you.
He sacrifices whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11Lord, bless all his skills.
Be pleased with everything he does.
Destroy those who rise up against him.
Strike down his enemies until they can’t get up.”
12Here’s what Moses said about Benjamin.
“Let the one the Lord loves rest safely in him.
The Lord guards him all day long.
The one the Lord loves rests in his arms.”
13Here’s what Moses said about Joseph.
“May the Lord bless Joseph’s land.
May he bless it with dew from the highest heavens.
May he bless it with water from the deepest oceans.
14May he bless it with the best crops the sun can produce.
May he bless it with the finest crops the moon can give.
15May he bless it with the best products of the age-old mountains.
May he bless it with the many crops of the ancient hills.
16May he bless it with the best gifts that fill the earth.
May he bless it with the favor of the God who spoke out of the burning bush.
Let all these blessings rest on the head of Joseph.
Let them rest on the head of the one who is prince among his brothers.
17His glory is like the glory of a bull born first to its mother.
His horns are like the horns of a wild ox.
He will use them to destroy the nations.
He’ll wipe out the nations that are very far away.
The ten thousands of men in Ephraim’s army are like the bull and the ox.
So are the thousands in the army of Manasseh.”
18Here’s what Moses said about Zebulun and Issachar.
“Zebulun, be filled with joy when you go out.
Issachar, be joyful in your tents.
19You will call for other people to go to the mountain.
There you will offer the sacrifices of those who do what is right.
You will enjoy the many good things your ships bring you.
You will enjoy treasures that are hidden in the sand.”
20Here’s what Moses said about Gad.
“May the God who gives Gad more land be praised!
Gad lives there like a lion
that tears off arms and heads.
21He chose the best land for his livestock.
The leader’s share was kept for him.
The leaders of the people came together.
Then Gad carried out the Lord’s holy plan.
He carried out the Lord’s decisions for Israel.”
22Here’s what Moses said about Dan.
“Dan is like a lion’s cub
that charges out of the land of Bashan.”
23Here’s what Moses said about Naphtali.
“The Lord greatly favors Naphtali.
The Lord fills him with his blessing.
Naphtali’s land will reach south to the Sea of Galilee.”
24Here’s what Moses said about Asher.
“Asher is the most blessed of sons.
Let his brothers be kind to him.
Let Asher wash his feet with olive oil.
25The bars of his gates will be made out of iron and bronze.
His strength will last as long as he lives.
26“There is no one like the God of Israel.
He rides across the heavens to help you.
He rides on the clouds in his glory.
27God lives forever! You can run to him for safety.
His powerful arms are always there to carry you.
He will drive out your enemies to make room for you.
He’ll say to you, ‘Destroy them!’
28So Israel will live in safety.
Jacob will live secure
in a land that has grain and fresh wine.
There the heavens drop their dew.
29Israel, how blessed you are!
Who is like you?
The Lord has saved you.
He keeps you safe. He helps you.
He’s like a glorious sword to you.
Your enemies will bow down to you in fear.
You will walk on the highest places of their lands.”
Moses blesses the tribes
1This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. 2He said:
‘The Lord came from Sinai
and dawned over them from Seir;
he shone forth from Mount Paran.
He came with33:2 Or from myriads of holy ones
from the south, from his mountain slopes.33:2 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
3Surely it is you who love the people;
all the holy ones are in your hand.
At your feet they all bow down,
and from you receive instruction,
4the law that Moses gave us,
the possession of the assembly of Jacob.
5He was king over Jeshurun33:5 Jeshurun means the upright one, that is, Israel; also in verse 26.
when the leaders of the people assembled,
along with the tribes of Israel.
6‘Let Reuben live and not die,
nor33:6 Or but let his people be few.’
7And this he said about Judah:
‘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!’
8About Levi he said:
‘Your Thummim and Urim belong
to your faithful servant.
You tested him at Massah;
you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
9He said of his father and mother,
“I have no regard for them.”
He did not recognise his brothers
or acknowledge his own children,
but he watched over your word
and guarded your covenant.
10He teaches your precepts to Jacob
and your law to Israel.
He offers incense before you
and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11Bless all his skills, Lord,
and be pleased with the work of his hands.
Strike down those who rise against him,
his foes till they rise no more.’
12About Benjamin he said:
‘Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him,
for he shields him all day long,
and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.’
13About Joseph he said:
‘May the Lord bless his land
with the precious dew from heaven above
and with the deep waters that lie below;
14with the best the sun brings forth
and the finest the moon can yield;
15with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains
and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;
16with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness
and the favour of him who dwelt in the burning bush.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of the prince among33:16 Or of the one separated from his brothers.
17In majesty he is like a firstborn bull;
his horns are the horns of a wild ox.
With them he will gore the nations,
even those at the ends of the earth.
Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim;
such are the thousands of Manasseh.’
18About Zebulun he said:
‘Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,
and you, Issachar, in your tents.
19They will summon peoples to the mountain
and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous;
they will feast on the abundance of the seas,
on the treasures hidden in the sand.’
20About Gad he said:
‘Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain!
Gad lives there like a lion,
tearing at arm or head.
21He chose the best land for himself;
the leader’s portion was kept for him.
When the heads of the people assembled,
he carried out the Lord’s righteous will,
and his judgments concerning Israel.’
22About Dan he said:
‘Dan is a lion’s cub,
springing out of Bashan.’
23About Naphtali he said:
‘Naphtali is abounding with the favour of the Lord
and is full of his blessing;
he will inherit southward to the lake.’
24About Asher he said:
‘Most blessed of sons is Asher;
let him be favoured by his brothers,
and let him bathe his feet in oil.
25The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze,
and your strength will equal your days.
26‘There is no-one like the God of Jeshurun,
who rides across the heavens to help you
and on the clouds in his majesty.
27The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemies before you,
saying, “Destroy them!”
28So Israel will live in safety;
Jacob will dwell33:28 Septuagint; Hebrew Jacob’s spring is secure
in a land of grain and new wine,
where the heavens drop dew.
29Blessed are you, Israel!
Who is like you,
a people saved by the Lord?
He is your shield and helper
and your glorious sword.
Your enemies will cower before you,
and you will tread on their heights.’
