And the blessings he bestowed were powerful indeed.
Think about Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob. Moses declared, "Benjamin is the beloved of the Lord, whom he will always shield." A beautiful image, isn't it? A tribe perpetually under divine protection. But there's more! Moses adds that the sanctuary, the most sacred place, would stand within Benjamin's territory, not just in their time, but in the Messianic era and even in the world to come! Talk about a lasting legacy.
And then there's Joseph. Oh, Joseph! His story is one of resilience and triumph. Remember how his brothers betrayed him, casting him into slavery in Egypt? Yet, he rose to become a powerful leader, second only to Pharaoh himself. According to Ginzberg, Moses blessed Joseph's tribe with the most fertile and blessed land imaginable. Dew would always grace their fields, and abundant wells would spring forth, nourishing their crops. The sun and moon would conspire to ripen their fruits early, ensuring a bountiful harvest.
Moses even invoked the blessings of the Patriarchs and their wives, wishing that they be fulfilled in Joseph's land. And so it was. The tribe of Joseph lacked nothing. Why? Because Joseph fulfilled God's will as revealed to Moses in the burning bush. As Legends of the Jews tells us, Joseph’s reward was also his kindness and respect towards his brothers, even after they had wronged him so deeply.
But the blessings didn't stop there. Moses promised Joseph that just as he was the first of Jacob's sons to arrive in Egypt, he would also be the first to appear in the Holy Land in the future world. What a powerful image of redemption and homecoming!
Moses then proclaimed the heroism of Joseph's descendants. "As it is a vain thing to try to force the firstling bullock to labor, so little shall Joseph's sons be yoked into service by the empires," Moses declared. In other words, they would not be subjugated.
He continued, "As the unicorn with his horns pushes away all other animals, so, too, shall Joseph's sons rule the nations, even to the ends of the earth." Strong words! According to Ginzberg, Moses specifically mentioned Joshua, from the tribe of Ephraim, who would destroy myriads of heathens, and Gideon, from the tribe of Manasseh, who would vanquish thousands.
These blessings, found in Legends of the Jews, are more than just ancient words. They speak to the enduring power of faith, resilience, and the unwavering promise of divine protection and reward. They remind us that even in the face of adversity, blessings can be found, and legacies can be forged that resonate through generations. What blessings do you carry within you, waiting to be revealed?