Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
In blessing Dan, Jacob's thoughts were occupied chiefly with his
descendant Samson, who, like unto God, without any manner of
assistance, conferred victory upon his people. Jacob even believed the
strong, heroic man to be the Messiah, but when Samson's death was
revealed to him, he exclaimed, "I wait for Thy salvation, O Lord, for
Thy help is unto all eternity, while Samson's help is only for a
time.[392] The redemption" continued Jacob, "will not be accomplished
by Samson the Danite, but by Elijah the Gadite, who will appear at the
end of time."[393]
Asher's blessing was the beauty of his women, who would be sought in
marriage by kings and high priests.[394]
In Naphtali's land all fruits would ripen quickly, and they would be
brought as presents to kings, and gain royal favor for the givers. This
blessing was fulfilled in the plain of Gennesaret.[395] At the same
time Naphtali's blessing was a prophecy concerning his descendant
Deborah, who was like a hind let loose against Sisera to conquer him,
and she gave goodly words in her song of Israel's victory.[396]
Naphtali himself deserved the description applied to Deborah, for he
was swift as a hart to do the will of God, and he was a fleet messenger
unto his father and the tribes. They sent him whithersoever they would,
and he executed their errands with dispatch.[397] He served the
brethren of Joseph as herald, to announce unto Jacob the glad tidings,
"Joseph is yet alive," and when the stricken father saw him approach,
he said, "Lo, here cometh Naphtali the lovable, who proclaimeth
peace."[398]
Joseph's blessing exceeded the blessing of all his brethren. Jacob
spoke: "O son whom I bred up, Joseph, whom I raised, and who wast
strong to resist the enticements of sin, thou didst conquer all the
magicians and the wise men of Egypt by thy wisdom and thy pious deeds.
The daughters of princes cast their jewels before thee, to draw thine
eyes upon them when thou didst pass through the land of Egypt, but thou
didst not look their way, and therefore wast thou made the father of
two tribes. The magicians and the wise men of Egypt sought to defame
thee before Pharaoh and slander thee, but thou didst set thy hope in
the Almighty. Therefore may He who appeared unto me as El Shaddai bless
thee and grant thee fertile soil and much cattle. May the blessing thy
father giveth thee now, and the blessing that his fathers Abraham and
Isaac gave him, and that called forth the envy of the great of the
world, Ishmael, Esau, and the sons of Keturah—may all these blessings
be a crown upon the head of Joseph, and a chain upon the neck of him
that was the ruler of Egypt, and yet diminished not the honor due to
his brethren."[399]
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