Blessings of Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Dan, Naftali and Asher

Sep 27, 2015

וְלִזְבוּלֻן אָמַר שְׂמַח זְבוּלֻן בְּצֵאתֶךָ וְיִשָּׂשכָר בְּאֹהָלֶיךָ׃

And of Zevulun he said: Rejoice, O Zevulun, on your journeys, And Yissachar, in your tents.

Deuteronomy 33:18

אַשְׁרֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִי כָמוֹךָ עַם נוֹשַׁע בַּיהֹוָה מָגֵן עֶזְרֶךָ וַאֲשֶׁר־חֶרֶב גַּאֲוָתֶךָ וְיִכָּחֲשׁוּ אֹיְבֶיךָ לָךְ וְאַתָּה עַל־בָּמוֹתֵימוֹ תִדְרֹךְ׃

O happy Yisrael! Who is like you, A people delivered by Hashem, Your protecting Shield, your Sword triumphant! Your enemies shall come cringing before you, Andyou shall tread on their backs.

Deuteronomy 33:29

Next, Moses blesses Zebulun and Issachar together, the former in their travels and the latter in their tents. He praises Gad for ‘executing God’s righteousness’, recognizing God for enlarging the tribe. He compares Dan to a leaping lion. He offers Naftali prosperity on the sea and in the south. He blesses Asher with oil and valuable metals.

 

After turning to each of the tribes individually, Moses offers his final words to the nation as a whole. Praising God, he notes that the Israelites should rejoice in being His chosen people, and appreciate that they have God to fight for them.

 

Virtual Classroom Discussion

Why do you think Simeon is excluded from the tribal blessings?

Spread the love