<b>This is it that their father spoke unto them and blessed them (Gen. 49:28).</b> Scripture does not say “he blessed him” but rather <i>he blessed them</i>. Why is this so? Because he attributed to Judah the might of a lion, to Joseph the power of a ox, to Naphtali the swiftness of a hind, and to Dan the sting of a serpent. You might argue that one was superior to the other, and so he spoke to all of them at one time, at the conclusion of his blessing, as is said: <i>Every one according to his blessing he blessed them</i> (ibid.).

Because he divided the land among them, giving to Judah the soil that would yield barley and to Benjamin the land that would produce wheat, he coupled them in his blessing so that they would share each other’s crops. Hence Scripture states: <i>And this is it that their father spoke to them</i>. “Unto them” is not written here but rather <i>to them</i> (<i>lahem</i>), thus indicating that their father told them: In the future a prophet will bless you in a like manner. Where I leave off blessing you, he will begin. And so Moses did, as it is said: <i>And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel</i> (Deut. 33:1). Moses told them: I shall reveal to you now when you will attain these blessings. At the time you accept the law, as is said: <i>And this is the law</i> (ibid. 14:44).

Thus with the very words with which Jacob concluded his blessing, Moses began to bless them. Moses said: <i>I learn understanding from my elders</i> (Ps. 119:100). When Isaac blessed Jacob, he said to him: <i>And God Almighty bless thee</i> (Gen. 28:3). How did he conclude his blessing? With the word <i>call</i>, as it is said: <i>And Isaac called Jacob and blessed him</i> (ibid., v. 1). And Jacob began where his father had ended, as it is said: <i>And Jacob called his sons</i> (Gen. 49:1), and concluded: <i>And this is what their father spoke to them</i>. When Moses blessed the tribes, he began where Jacob had left off, as is said: <i>And this is the blessing</i>, and he concluded with: <i>Happy, art thou, O Israel</i> (Deut. 33:29). Later, David began where Moses concluded, saying: <i>Happy is the man</i> (Ps. 1:1). Hence Scripture states: <i>I learn understanding from my elders</i> (Ps. 119:100).