The Torah is full of blessings, but it's not always straightforward. Some blessings are more potent than others, some are given grudgingly, and some come with unexpected consequences.
Think about it: Moses, our great leader, wasn't actually the first to give blessings. Earlier generations did it too! But, according to the legends, Moses' blessings were just…different. More effective, somehow. What made them so special?
Noah blessed his sons after the flood, right? But as we read in Genesis, it wasn't exactly a joyous occasion. It was a…complicated blessing, aimed mostly at Shem, while Ham ended up cursed instead. A divided blessing, as some commentaries call it. Then there's Isaac, whose blessings to Jacob and Esau led to envy and conflict. Even Jacob's blessings to his sons, though powerful, weren’t perfect. As we find in Midrash Rabbah, he used the opportunity to rebuke Reuben for his past transgressions.
According to the tradition, even the number of Moses' blessings was something special. When God created the world, He blessed Adam and Eve. This blessing, says the tradition, remained until the flood, when it vanished. After the flood, God renewed the blessing to Noah. This second blessing lasted until Abraham arrived on the scene. God then blessed Abraham directly, saying, "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee." (Genesis 12:3).
But it didn't stop there. God said to Abraham, "Henceforth it no longer behooves Me to bless My creatures in person, but I shall leave the blessings to thee: he whom thou blessest, shall be blessed by Me.” That's a huge responsibility! Abraham, though, didn't bless his own son Isaac, apparently so that the wicked Esau wouldn't get a piece of it. Jacob received multiple blessings: two from his father, one from the angel he wrestled with – talk about a memorable encounter! – and one directly from God. Plus, the blessing that had been given to Abraham was passed down to Jacob.
And when Jacob blessed his sons, he passed on the five blessings he had received, adding one of his own. Now, consider Balaam. He should have blessed Israel with seven blessings, corresponding to the seven altars he built, as Numbers 23 tells us. But he was jealous! He only gave three. The Midrash tells us that God, displeased with Balaam's stinginess, declared, "Thou villain that begrudgest Israel their blessings! I shall not permit thee to bestow upon Israel all the blessing that are their due. Moses, who had 'a benevolent eye,' shall bless Israel."
And that's exactly what happened. Moses added a seventh blessing to the six that Jacob had already bestowed. But wait, there's more! This wasn’t the only time Moses blessed the people. He blessed them when the Tabernacle (Mishkan in Hebrew) was erected, again at its consecration, a third time when the judges were installed, and yet again on the day he died.
So, what does this all mean? It's not just about counting blessings, is it? It's about the intent behind them, the legacy they create, and the power they carry. It’s about how blessings can be a source of unity, but also, sadly, of division. And perhaps most importantly, it highlights the idea that blessings are not finite resources. They can be passed on, added to, and amplified, especially by those with a generous spirit like Moses.
Think about the blessings in your own life. How have they shaped you? And how can you, in turn, become a source of blessing for others?