The Blessing: Reuben to Joseph

¹ This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. ² He said, “Yahweh came from Sinai, and rose from Seir to them. He shone from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones. At his right hand was a fiery law for them. ³ Yes, he loves the people. All his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet. Each receives your words. ⁴ Moses commanded us a law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob. ⁵ He was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together. ⁶ “Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few.” ⁷ This is for Judah. He said, “Hear, Yahweh, the voice of Judah. Bring him in to his people. With his hands he contended for himself. You shall be a help against his adversaries.” ⁸ About Levi he said, “Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah. ⁹ He said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him.’ He didn’t acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own children; for they have observed your word, and keep your covenant. ¹⁰ They shall teach Jacob your ordinances, and Israel your law. They shall put incense before you, and whole burnt offering on your altar. ¹¹ Yahweh, bless his skills. Accept the work of his hands. Strike through the hips of those who rise up against him, of those who hate him, that they not rise again.” ¹² About Benjamin he said, “The beloved of Yahweh will dwell in safety by him. He covers him all day long. He dwells between his shoulders.” ¹³ About Joseph he said, “His land is blessed by Yahweh, for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, for the deep that couches beneath, ¹⁴ for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, for the precious things that the moon can yield, ¹⁵ for the best things of the ancient mountains, for the precious things of the everlasting hills, ¹⁶ for the precious things of the earth and its fullness, the good will of him who lived in the bush. Let this come on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who was separated from his brothers. ¹⁷ Majesty belongs to the firstborn of his herd. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he will push all the peoples to the ends of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim. They are the thousands of Manasseh.”