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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
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Chapter 49

Translation and Transliteration of 

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1And Yaakov called his sons and said, “Come together that I may tell you what is to befall you in days to come.

vai-YIK-ra ya-a-KOV el ba-NAV va-YO-mer he-a-S'FU v'-a-GI-da LA-khem AYT a-SHER yik-RA et-KHEM b'-a-cha-REET ha-ya-MEEM

אוַיִּקְרָ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶל־בָּנָ֑יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ וְאַגִּ֣ידָה לָכֶ֔ם אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִֽים׃

2Assemble and hearken, O sons of Yaakov; Hearken to Yisrael your father:

hi-kav-TZU v'-shim-U b'-NAY ya-a-KOV v'-shim-U el yis-ra-AYL a-vee-KHEM

בהִקָּבְצ֥וּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְשִׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֲבִיכֶֽם׃

3Reuven, you are my first-born, My might and first fruit of my vigor, Exceeding in rank And exceeding in honor.

RE-u-VEN b'-ko-REE a-TAH ko-KHEE v'-RAY-shee-YEET o-NEE ye-TER s'-AYT v'-ye-TER AZ

גרְאוּבֵן֙ בְּכֹ֣רִי אַ֔תָּה כֹּחִ֖י וְרֵאשִׁ֣ית אוֹנִ֑י יֶ֥תֶר שְׂאֵ֖ת וְיֶ֥תֶר עָֽז׃

4Unstable as water, you shall excel no longer; For when you mounted your father's bed, You brought disgrace—my couch he mounted!

PA-KHAZ ka-MA-yim al-to-TAR ki a-LEE-ta mish-ke-VAY a-vee-KHA AZ khil-LAL-ta ye-tsu-EE a-LAH.

דפַּ֤חַז כַּמַּ֙יִם֙ אַל־תּוֹתַ֔ר כִּ֥י עָלִ֖יתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ אָ֥ז חִלַּ֖לְתָּ יְצוּעִ֥י עָלָֽה׃

5Shimon and Levi are a pair; Their weapons are tools of lawlessness.

shi-MO-on v'-le-VEE a-KHEEM ke-LEI cha-MAS me-khe-ro-TE-hem

השִׁמְע֥וֹן וְלֵוִ֖י אַחִ֑ים כְּלֵ֥י חָמָ֖ס מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

6Let not my person be included in their council, Let not my being be counted in their assembly. For when angry they slay men, And when pleased they maim oxen.

b'-so-DAM al-ta-VO naf-SHEE, bik-ha-LAM al-t'-KHAD k'-vo-DEE, kee b'-a-PAHM ha-r'-GU EESH u-vir-TZO-nam ik-KE-ru-SHOR

ובְּסֹדָם֙ אַל־תָּבֹ֣א נַפְשִׁ֔י בִּקְהָלָ֖ם אַל־תֵּחַ֣ד כְּבֹדִ֑י כִּ֤י בְאַפָּם֙ הָ֣רְגוּ אִ֔ישׁ וּבִרְצֹנָ֖ם עִקְּרוּ־שֽׁוֹר׃

7Cursed be their anger so fierce, And their wrath so relentless. I will divide them in Yaakov, Scatter them in Yisrael.

a-ROOR a-PA-mam KEE az v'-ev-ra-TAM KEE ka-SHA-ta a-kha-le-KEM b'-ya-a-KOV va-a-fee-TZEM b'-yis-ra-AYL.

זאָר֤וּר אַפָּם֙ כִּ֣י עָ֔ז וְעֶבְרָתָ֖ם כִּ֣י קָשָׁ֑תָה אֲחַלְּקֵ֣ם בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב וַאֲפִיצֵ֖ם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

8You, O Yehuda, your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the nape of your foes; Your father's sons shall bow low to you.

Y'-hu-DAH a-TAH yo-DU-kha a-KHE-kha ya-d'-KHA b'-o-REF o-y'-VE-kha yish-ta-KHA-vu l'-KHA b'-nay a-ve-KHA

חיְהוּדָ֗ה אַתָּה֙ יוֹד֣וּךָ אַחֶ֔יךָ יָדְךָ֖ בְּעֹ֣רֶף אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ יִשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לְךָ֖ בְּנֵ֥י אָבִֽיךָ׃

9Yehuda is a lion's whelp; On prey, my son, have you grown. He crouches, lies down like a lion, Like the king of beasts—who dare rouse him?

GUUR ar-YAY y'-hu-DAH mi-TE-ref b'-NEE a-lee-TAH ka-RA ra-VATZ k'-ar-YAY u-k'-la-VEE mee y'-ki-ME-nu

טגּ֤וּר אַרְיֵה֙ יְהוּדָ֔ה מִטֶּ֖רֶף בְּנִ֣י עָלִ֑יתָ כָּרַ֨ע רָבַ֧ץ כְּאַרְיֵ֛ה וּכְלָבִ֖יא מִ֥י יְקִימֶֽנּוּ׃

10The scepter shall not depart from Yehuda, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet; So that tribute shall come to him And the homage of peoples be his.

lo ya-SUR SHAY-vet mee-hu-DAH um-kho-KAYK mi-BAYN rag-LAV AD kee ya-VO shee-LOH v'-LO yi-k-HAHT a-MEEM

ילֹֽא־יָס֥וּר שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ מִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וּמְחֹקֵ֖ק מִבֵּ֣ין רַגְלָ֑יו עַ֚ד כִּֽי־יָבֹ֣א שִׁילֹ֔ה וְל֖וֹ יִקְּהַ֥ת עַמִּֽים׃

 49:10   So that tribute shall come to him

The Hebrew word for tribute in this verse is Shilo (שילה). Fourteenth century scholar Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher, known by the name of his Bible commentary as the Baal Haturim, reveals a hidden connection between the word Shilo (שילה) and Mashiach (משיח), the Hebrew word for ‘Messiah.’ According to the mystical study of gematriya, every Hebrew letter corresponds to a different number. With this understanding, if the numerical values of diverse words and ideas match each other, this means they are secretly connected. Amazingly, the numerical value of the words yavo shilo (יבא שילה), ‘Shilo shall come,’ is to 358 which is exactly the same value as the word Mashiach. With prophetic foresight, Yaakov blesses Yehuda not only with the monarchy, but with the eventual emergence of the Messiah through his lineage.

11He tethers his ass to a vine, His ass's foal to a choice vine; He washes his garment in wine, His robe in blood of grapes.

o-se-REE la-GE-fen i-RO v'-la-so-RE-ka b'-NEE a-TO-no, ki-BES ba-YA-yin l'-BU-sho u-v'-DAM a-na-VEEM su-TOH

יאאֹסְרִ֤י לַגֶּ֙פֶן֙ עִירֹ֔ה וְלַשֹּׂרֵקָ֖ה בְּנִ֣י אֲתֹנ֑וֹ כִּבֵּ֤ס בַּיַּ֙יִן֙ לְבֻשׁ֔וֹ וּבְדַם־עֲנָבִ֖ים סוּתֹֽה׃

12His eyes are darker than wine; His teeth are whiter than milk.

khakh-li-LEE a-yi-NA-yim mi-YA-yin u-le-ven-shi-NA-yim me-kha-LAV

יבחַכְלִילִ֥י עֵינַ֖יִם מִיָּ֑יִן וּלְבֶן־שִׁנַּ֖יִם מֵחָלָֽב׃

13Zevulun shall dwell by the seashore; He shall be a haven for ships, And his flank shall rest on Tzidon.

z'-vu-LUN l'-KHOF ya-MEEM yish-KON v'-HU l'-KHOF a-ni-YOT v'-yar-kha-TO al tzee-DON

יגזְבוּלֻ֕ן לְח֥וֹף יַמִּ֖ים יִשְׁכֹּ֑ן וְהוּא֙ לְח֣וֹף אֳנִיֹּ֔ת וְיַרְכָת֖וֹ עַל־צִידֹֽן׃

 49:13   Zevulun shall dwell by the seashore

Mediterranean Sea

Each of the twelve tribes of Israel is to receive a specific portion of the land, corresponding to that tribe’s unique spiritual attributes. According to Jewish tradition, the sons of Zevulun, who were given a coastal territory as their inheritance, became successful sea merchants and entered into a special partnership with the tribe of Yissachar, descendants of Zevulun’s closest brother. According to the arrangement they forged, members of the tribe of Zevulun would use some of their commercial profits to financially support the sons of Yissachar, noted scholars who would devote their energies to full time Torah study. In turn, they would share the spiritual revenue and heavenly reward of the joint venture with their brethren from Zevulun. Today as well, in many Israeli communities it is a common practice for business people to seek out a spiritual partner, supporting the learning of a Torah scholar in a mutually-beneficial partnership modeled after the original Yissachar-Zevulun agreement.

14Yissachar is a strong-boned ass, Crouching among the sheepfolds.

Yis-SHA-khar kha-MOR GA-rem ro-VETZ bein ha-mish-p'-TA-yim

ידיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר חֲמֹ֣ר גָּ֑רֶם רֹבֵ֖ץ בֵּ֥ין הַֽמִּשְׁפְּתָֽיִם׃

15When he saw how good was security, And how pleasant was the country, He bent his shoulder to the burden, And became a toiling serf.

vai-YAR m'-nu-KHA ki TOV v'-ET ha-A-retz ki na-E-ma, vai-YAYT shikh-MO li-SBOL, vai-YA-hee l'-mas-o-VED

טווַיַּ֤רְא מְנֻחָה֙ כִּ֣י ט֔וֹב וְאֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ כִּ֣י נָעֵ֑מָה וַיֵּ֤ט שִׁכְמוֹ֙ לִסְבֹּ֔ל וַיְהִ֖י לְמַס־עֹבֵֽד׃

16Dan shall govern his people, As one of the tribes of Yisrael.

DAN ya-DEEN a-MO ke-a-KHAD shiv-TEI yis-ra-AYL

טזדָּ֖ן יָדִ֣ין עַמּ֑וֹ כְּאַחַ֖ד שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

17Dan shall be a serpent by the road, A viper by the path, That bites the horse's heels So that his rider is thrown backward.

y'-HEE dan NA-khash a-LEI-de-REKH, she-fee-FON a-LEI-o-RAKH, ha-NO-shekh i-k'-VEI-SUS, vai-YI-pol ro-K'-vo a-KHOR

יזיְהִי־דָן֙ נָחָ֣שׁ עֲלֵי־דֶ֔רֶךְ שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן עֲלֵי־אֹ֑רַח הַנֹּשֵׁךְ֙ עִקְּבֵי־ס֔וּס וַיִּפֹּ֥ל רֹכְב֖וֹ אָחֽוֹר׃

18I wait for Your deliverance, Hashem!

li-shu-a-te-kha ki-vi-ti a-do-NAI. (Selah)

יחלִישׁוּעָֽתְךָ֖ קִוִּ֥יתִי יְהֹוָֽה׃

19Gad shall be raided by raiders, But he shall raid at their heels.

GAD GE-DUD ye-GU-de-NU, v'-HU ya-GUD a-KEV. (S)

יטגָּ֖ד גְּד֣וּד יְגוּדֶ֑נּוּ וְה֖וּא יָגֻ֥ד עָקֵֽב׃

20Asher's bread shall be rich, And he shall yield royal dainties.

me-a-SHER sh'-ME-na LA-kh'-mo, v'-HU yi-TEN ma-a-da-NAY me-LEKH. (S)

כמֵאָשֵׁ֖ר שְׁמֵנָ֣ה לַחְמ֑וֹ וְה֥וּא יִתֵּ֖ן מַֽעֲדַנֵּי־מֶֽלֶךְ׃

21Naftali is a hind let loose, Which yields lovely fawns.

naf-TA-lee a-YA-la sh'-lu-KHA ha-NO-teyn im-ray-sha-FER. (S)

כאנַפְתָּלִ֖י אַיָּלָ֣ה שְׁלֻחָ֑ה הַנֹּתֵ֖ן אִמְרֵי־שָֽׁפֶר׃

22Yosef is a wild ass, A wild ass by a spring —Wild colts on a hillside.

ben po-RAT yo-SEF, ben po-RAT a-LEI-a-YIN, ba-NOT tza-a-DAH a-LEI-SHU-AR

כבבֵּ֤ן פֹּרָת֙ יוֹסֵ֔ף בֵּ֥ן פֹּרָ֖ת עֲלֵי־עָ֑יִן בָּנ֕וֹת צָעֲדָ֖ה עֲלֵי־שֽׁוּר׃

23Archers bitterly assailed him; They shot at him and harried him.

va-y'-ma-r'-RU-hu va-ro-BU va-yis-t'-mu-hu ba-a-lay khit-ZEEM

כגוַֽיְמָרְרֻ֖הוּ וָרֹ֑בּוּ וַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ בַּעֲלֵ֥י חִצִּֽים׃

24Yet his bow stayed taut, And his arms were made firm By the hands of the Mighty One of Yaakov—There, the Shepherd, the Rock of Yisrael—

va-TAY-shev b'-ay-TAN kash-TO va-ya-PO-zu ze-RO-ay ya-DAV mi-DEI a-VEER ya-a-KOV mi-SHAM ro-EH e-VEN yis-ra-AYL

כדוַתֵּ֤שֶׁב בְּאֵיתָן֙ קַשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַיָּפֹ֖זּוּ זְרֹעֵ֣י יָדָ֑יו מִידֵי֙ אֲבִ֣יר יַעֲקֹ֔ב מִשָּׁ֥ם רֹעֶ֖ה אֶ֥בֶן יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

25The God of your father who helps you, And Shaddai who blesses you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that couches below, Blessings of the breast and womb.

me-EL a-VEE-kha v'-ya-ze-RE-kha v'-ET sha-DAI vi-va-RE-khe-kha bir-KHOT sha-MA-yim me-A-al bir-KHOT te-HOM ro-VE-tzet ta-KHA-t bir-KHOT sha-DA-yim va-RA-kham

כהמֵאֵ֨ל אָבִ֜יךָ וְיַעְזְרֶ֗ךָּ וְאֵ֤ת שַׁדַּי֙ וִיבָ֣רְכֶ֔ךָּ בִּרְכֹ֤ת שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ מֵעָ֔ל בִּרְכֹ֥ת תְּה֖וֹם רֹבֶ֣צֶת תָּ֑חַת בִּרְכֹ֥ת שָׁדַ֖יִם וָרָֽחַם׃

26The blessings of your father Surpass the blessings of my ancestors, To the utmost bounds of the eternal hills. May they rest on the head of Yosef, On the brow of the elect of his brothers.

bi-r'-KHOT a-ve-KHA ga-VE-ru al bi-r'-KHOT ho-RAI ad ta-a-VAT giv-OT o-LAM ti-h'-YE-na l'-ROSH yo-SEF u-l'-ko-d'-KOD n'-zi-YIR e-KHA-yu.

כובִּרְכֹ֣ת אָבִ֗יךָ גָּֽבְרוּ֙ עַל־בִּרְכֹ֣ת הוֹרַ֔י עַֽד־תַּאֲוַ֖ת גִּבְעֹ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם תִּֽהְיֶ֙יןָ֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ יוֹסֵ֔ף וּלְקׇדְקֹ֖ד נְזִ֥יר אֶחָֽיו׃

27Binyamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he consumes the foe, And in the evening he divides the spoil.”

bin-ya-MIN ze-EV yit-RAF ba-BO-ker yo-KHAL ad ve-la-E-rev ye-kha-LEK sha-LAL

כזבִּנְיָמִין֙ זְאֵ֣ב יִטְרָ֔ף בַּבֹּ֖קֶר יֹ֣אכַל עַ֑ד וְלָעֶ֖רֶב יְחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁלָֽל׃

28All these were the tribes of Yisrael, twelve in number, and this is what their father said to them as he bade them farewell, addressing to each a parting word appropriate to him.

kol-E-leh shiv-TEY yis-ra-AYL sh'-NEEM a-SAHR v'-ZOT a-SHER di-BER la-HEM a-vee-HEM va-y'-va-REKH o-TAM EESH a-SHER k'-vir-KHA-to b'-RAKH o-TAM

כחכׇּל־אֵ֛לֶּה שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר וְ֠זֹ֠את אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר לָהֶ֤ם אֲבִיהֶם֙ וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אוֹתָ֔ם אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר כְּבִרְכָת֖וֹ בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֹתָֽם׃

29Then he instructed them, saying to them, “I am about to be gathered to my kin. Bury me with my fathers in the cave which is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

vai-TZA-vu o-TAM, va-YO-mer a-LE-hem: a-NEE ne-a-SAIF el a-MEE, kiv-ROO o-TEE el a-vo-TAI, el ha-me-a-RAH a-SHER bi-s'-DEH e-f'-RON ha-KHI-tee

כטוַיְצַ֣ו אוֹתָ֗ם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ אֲנִי֙ נֶאֱסָ֣ף אֶל־עַמִּ֔י קִבְר֥וּ אֹתִ֖י אֶל־אֲבֹתָ֑י אֶ֨ל־הַמְּעָרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּשְׂדֵ֖ה עֶפְר֥וֹן הַֽחִתִּֽי׃

30the cave which is in the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre, in the land of Canaan, the field that Avraham bought from Ephron the Hittite for a burial site

ba-m'-a-RA a-SHER bi-s'-DEH ha-makh-PE-la, a-SHER al p'-NEI ma-m'-RA, b'-E-rets k'-na-AN, a-SHER ka-NAH av-ra-HAM et ha-sa-DEH may-ET e-f'-RON ha-khi-TEE la-a-KHU-zat-ka-VER

לבַּמְּעָרָ֞ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר בִּשְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־פְּנֵי־מַמְרֵ֖א בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן אֲשֶׁר֩ קָנָ֨ה אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה מֵאֵ֛ת עֶפְרֹ֥ן הַחִתִּ֖י לַאֲחֻזַּת־קָֽבֶר׃

31there Avraham and his wife Sara were buried; there Yitzchak and his wife Rivka were buried; and there I buried Leah

SHA-ma ka-VE-ru et av-ra-HAM v'-ET sa-RAH ish-TO, SHA-ma ka-VE-ru et yitz-KHAK v'-ET riv-KAH ish-TO, v'-SHA-ma ka-va-RTI et le-AH.

לאשָׁ֣מָּה קָֽבְר֞וּ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֗ם וְאֵת֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ שָׁ֚מָּה קָבְר֣וּ אֶת־יִצְחָ֔ק וְאֵ֖ת רִבְקָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְשָׁ֥מָּה קָבַ֖רְתִּי אֶת־לֵאָֽה׃

32the field and the cave in it, bought from the Hittites.”

miq-NEH ha-sa-DEH v'-ha-m'-a-RAH a-SHER-bo me-ET b'-nay-KHEIT

לבמִקְנֵ֧ה הַשָּׂדֶ֛ה וְהַמְּעָרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֖וֹ מֵאֵ֥ת בְּנֵי־חֵֽת׃

33When Yaakov finished his instructions to his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and, breathing his last, he was gathered to his people.

vai-KHAL ya-a-KOV l'-tza-VOT et ba-NAV, va-ye-e-SOF rag-LAV el ha-mi-TAH, va-yi-GWA va-ye-e-SEF el a-ma-YAV

לגוַיְכַ֤ל יַעֲקֹב֙ לְצַוֺּ֣ת אֶת־בָּנָ֔יו וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף רַגְלָ֖יו אֶל־הַמִּטָּ֑ה וַיִּגְוַ֖ע וַיֵּאָ֥סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו׃