Tribe
|
The blessings of Jacob
Genesis 49 (about
1670 BC)
|
The blessings of Moses
Deuteronomy 33 (about
1450 BC)
|
| Reuben |
3"Reuben,
you are my oldest son, the child of my vigorous youth.
You are first on the list in rank and honor.4But
you are as unruly as the waves of the sea, and you will
be first no longer. For you slept with one of my wives;
you dishonored me in my own bed. |
6Moses said this
about the tribe of Reuben: "Let the tribe of Reuben
live and not die out, even though their tribe is
small." |
| Simeon and Levi |
5"Simeon and
Levi are two of a kind--men of violence.6O my
soul, stay away from them. May I never be a party to
their wicked plans. For in their anger they murdered men,
and they crippled oxen just for sport.7Cursed
be their anger, for it is fierce; cursed be their wrath,
for it is cruel. Therefore, I will scatter their
descendants throughout the nation of Israel. |
8Moses said this
about the tribe of Levi: "O LORD, you have given the
sacred lots to your faithful servants the Levites. You
put them to the test at Massah and contended with them at
the waters of Meribah.9The Levites obeyed your
word and guarded your covenant. They were more loyal to
you than to their parents, relatives, and children.10Now
let them teach your regulations to Jacob; let them give
your instructions to Israel. They will present incense
before you and offer whole burnt offerings on the altar. 11Bless
the Levites, O LORD, and accept all their work. Crush the
loins of their enemies; strike down their foes so they
never rise again." |
| Judah |
8"Judah,
your brothers will praise you. You will defeat your
enemies. All your relatives will bow before you.9Judah
is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a
lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness--who will
dare to rouse him?10The scepter will not
depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from his
descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it
belongs, the one whom all nations will obey.11He
ties his foal to a grapevine, the colt of his donkey to a
choice vine. He washes his clothes in wine because his
harvest is so plentiful.12His eyes are darker
than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk. |
7Moses said this
about the tribe of Judah: "O LORD, hear the cry of
Judah and bring them again to their people. Give them
strength to defend their cause; help them against their
enemies!" |
| Zebulun and Issachar |
13"Zebulun
will settle on the shores of the sea and will be a harbor
for ships; his borders will extend to Sidon. 14"Issachar
is a strong beast of burden, resting among the
sheepfolds.15When he sees how good the
countryside is, how pleasant the land, he will bend his
shoulder to the task and submit to forced labor.
|
18Moses said this
about the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar: "May the
people of Zebulun prosper in their expeditions abroad.
May the people of Issachar prosper at home in their
tents.19They summon the people to the mountain
to offer proper sacrifices there. They benefit from the
riches of the sea and the hidden treasures of the
sand." |
| Dan |
16"Dan will
govern his people like any other tribe in Israel.17He
will be a snake beside the road, a poisonous viper along
the path, that bites the horse's heels so the rider is
thrown off.18I trust in you for salvation, O
LORD! |
22Moses said this
about the tribe of Dan: "Dan is a lion's cub,
leaping out from Bashan." |
| Gad |
19"Gad will
be plundered by marauding bands, but he will turn and
plunder them. |
20Moses said this
about the tribe of Gad: "Blessed is the one who
enlarges Gad's territory! Gad is poised there like a lion
to tear off an arm or a head.21The people of
Gad took the best land for themselves; a leader's share
was assigned to them. When the leaders of the people were
assembled, they carried out the LORD's justice and obeyed
his regulations for Israel." |
| Asher |
20"Asher
will produce rich foods, food fit for kings. |
24Moses said this
about the tribe of Asher: "May Asher be blessed
above other sons; may he be esteemed by his brothers; may
he bathe his feet in olive oil.25May the bolts
of your gates be of iron and bronze; may your strength
match the length of your days!" |
| Naphtali |
21"Naphtali
is a deer let loose, producing magnificent fawns. |
23Moses said this
about the tribe of Naphtali: "O Naphtali, you are
rich in favor and full of the LORD's blessings; may you
possess the west and the south." |
| Joseph |
22"Joseph is
a fruitful tree, a fruitful tree beside a fountain. His
branches reach over the wall.23He has been
attacked by archers, who shot at him and harassed him.24But
his bow remained strong, and his arms were strengthened
by the Mighty One of Jacob, the Shepherd, the Rock of
Israel.25May the God of your ancestors help
you; may the Almighty bless you with the blessings of the
heavens above, blessings of the earth beneath, and
blessings of the breasts and womb.26May the
blessings of your ancestors be greater than the blessings
of the eternal mountains, reaching to the utmost bounds
of the everlasting hills. These blessings will fall on
the head of Joseph, who is a prince among his brothers. |
13Moses said this
about the tribes of Joseph: "May their land be
blessed by the LORD with the choice gift of rain from the
heavens, and water from beneath the earth;14with
the riches that grow in the sun, and the bounty produced
each month;15with the finest crops of the
ancient mountains, and the abundance from the everlasting
hills;16with the best gifts of the earth and
its fullness, and the favor of the one who appeared in
the burning bush. May these blessings rest on Joseph's
head, crowning the brow of the prince among his brothers.17Joseph
has the strength and majesty of a young bull; his power
is like the horns of a wild ox. He will gore distant
nations, driving them to the ends of the earth. This is
my blessing for the multitudes of Ephraim and the
thousands of Manasseh." |
| Benjamin |
27"Benjamin
is a wolf that prowls. He devours his enemies in the
morning, and in the evening he divides the plunder." |
12Moses said this
about the tribe of Benjamin: "The people of Benjamin
are loved by the LORD and live in safety beside him. He
surrounds them continuously and preserves them from every
harm." |
