According to Legends of the Jews, compiled by Ginzberg, in his 132nd year, Naphtali invited his children to a banquet. The next morning, he announced his impending death, which they, of course, disbelieved. But Naphtali insisted, praising God and reaffirming his time was near, marked by the banquet he had shared with them. Then came his final address, his tzava’ah, or ethical will, to his children.
Naphtali begins by recounting his birth. "I was born of Bilhah," he says, "and because Rachel had acted with cunning, and had given Jacob Bilhah instead of herself, I was called Naphtali." He recalls Rachel's love for him, as he was born on her knees. She wished for a brother from her own body who would resemble him. This, he says, is why Joseph resembled him so greatly, answering Rachel’s prayer. Naphtali also shares details about his mother, Bilhah, daughter of Rotheus, and her connection to Rebekah’s nurse, Deborah. Rotheus, a God-fearing Chaldean, was captured and later married to Laban’s slave, Aina.
He reflects on his own life, "I was fleet of foot like a deer," he says, "and my father Jacob appointed me to be his messenger, and in his blessing he called me a hind let loose." He then delves into a profound theological point. "As the potter knows the vessel he fashions, how much it is to hold, and uses clay accordingly, so the Lord makes the body in conformity with the soul." This idea, echoing throughout Jewish thought, suggests a divine plan, a harmonious agreement between body and soul. And this is all "by weight, and measure, and rule."
Naphtali urges his children to live well-ordered lives in the fear of God, avoiding ill-regulated or untimely actions. He instructs them not to focus on material possessions, but on serving God and following His ways. When his sons ask why God requires their service, Naphtali replies that God needs no creature, but all creatures need Him. "Nevertheless He hath not created the world for naught, but that men should fear Him, and none should do unto his neighbor what he would not have others do unto him." Sound familiar? It's a beautiful articulation of the Golden Rule.
But then, Naphtali expresses a deep concern for the future. He fears that his descendants may stray from the path of God, following idols and joining with the sons of Joseph instead of the sons of Levi and Judah. Why this warning? Because, he says, "I know that the sons of Joseph will one day turn recreant to the Lord...and it is they that will lead the sons of Israel into sin."
To illustrate his fears, Naphtali recounts two vivid dreams.
The first dream involves his brothers pasturing herds together. Their father, Jacob, instructs them to take what they can in his presence. When they see only the sun, moon, and stars, Jacob tells them to take those. Levi and Judah mount the sun and moon, respectively, while the other tribes ride stars. Joseph, however, remains on Earth, questioning humanity's place in the heavens. A steer with wings appears, and Joseph rides it, eventually attacking Judah and demanding his rods of leadership.
The second dream takes place at the seashore. A ship appears without a crew, and Jacob leads his sons into the sea to board it. Levi and Judah seize the masts, while the others take oars. Joseph, initially refusing, eventually takes a rudder. Harmony reigns until a quarrel erupts between Judah and Joseph, leading to the ship's destruction. Jacob reappears, lamenting Joseph's jealousy and its near-fatal consequences for his brothers.
According to Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, Jacob dismisses the first dream as harmless, but the doubled nature of the vision alarms him, foreshadowing the future captivity and scattering of Joseph's descendants due to his "perverseness." Therefore, Naphtali commands his sons to align themselves with Levi and Judah, whose tribes will carry the torch of religious leadership and observance.
Therefore, Naphtali implores his sons to remember God, "whom your father Abraham chose when the families of the earth were divided in the days of Peleg." He reminds them of God's power, evident in the creation of man, from head to foot, each organ performing its unique function. This intricate design, he argues, should inspire awe and gratitude.
Naphtali concludes by enjoining his children to carry his remains to Hebron, to be buried near his fathers. He then eats and drinks with rejoicing, covers his face, and dies. And his sons, as any good children would, carried out their father’s final wishes.
Naphtali’s story is a poignant reminder of the importance of faith, family, and ethical conduct. His dreams, though cryptic, reveal deep anxieties about the future of his people and the potential for division. It’s a powerful message, resonating even today, about the need for unity, humility, and unwavering devotion to the divine. What do you think, can Naphtali’s dreams and his deathbed exhortations still teach us something profound about our own lives and the legacy we leave behind?