1 This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of the gods, blessed the children of Israel before his death.
2 He said, "YHVH came from Sinai, and dawned from Se'ir upon us; he shone forth from Mount Paran, he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at his right hand.
3 Yea, he loved his people; all those consecrated to him were in his hand; so they followed in thy steps, receiving direction from thee,
4 when Moses commanded us a law, as a possession for the assembly of Jacob.
5 Thus YHVH became king in Jesh'urun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.
6 "Let Reuben live, and not die, nor let his men be few."
Reuben represents the Faith that comes from understanding and it should never die. His men symbolize ideas. So we are encouraged to have many thoughts of Faith.
7 And this he said of Judah: "Hear, O YHVH, the voice of Judah, and bring him in to his people. With thy hands contend for him, and be a help against his adversaries."
Judah means praise YHVH. Praise is closely related to prayer. It is an expression of spiritual consciousness. It will be "heard" by YHVH and will be sufficient to enable us to be helped.
8 And of Levi he said, "Give to Levi thy Thummim, and thy Urim to thy holy one, whom thou didst test at Massah, with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Mer'ibah;
9 who said of his father and mother, 'I regard them not'; he disowned his brothers, and ignored his children. For they observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.
10 They shall teach Jacob thy ordinances, and Israel thy law; they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt offering upon thy altar.
11 Bless, O YHVH, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; crush the loins of his adversaries, of those that hate him, that they rise not again."
Levi means joining and loving in Aramaic. Thummim means perfect. Urim means understanding and enlightenment. They represent balance. Being joined with the "Holy One" (Spirit) gives us prosperity and protection.
12 Of Benjamin he said, "The beloved of YHVH, he dwells in safety by him; he encompasses him all the day long, and makes his dwelling between his shoulders."
Benjamin translates as son of prosperity and son of happiness. It also has to do with faith. But, where Reuben symbolizes faith from understanding, Benjamin symbolizes faith in action. Happiness and prosperity are here endorsed as worthy objectives.
13 And of Joseph he said, "Blessed by YHVH be his land, with the choicest gifts of the heavens above, and of the deep that couches beneath,
14 with the choicest fruits of the sun, and the rich yield of the months,
15 with the finest produce of the ancient mountains, and the abundance of the everlasting hills,
16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness, and the favor of him that dwelt in the bush. Let these come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the head of him that is prince among his brothers.
Joseph means YHVH shall increase. This aspect of consciousness reflects the balanced intellect. As it ruled over Egypt, (the lower passions) it indicates the right use of both the emotions and physical body.
17 His firstling bull has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall push the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; such are the ten thousands of E'phraim, and such are the thousands of Manas'seh."
Ephraim and Manasseh are the two sons of Joseph. In the Bible's language of symbol and metaphor this means the consciousness which comes from Joseph (the balanced intellect). Ephraim represents will and Manasseh represents understanding.
18 And of Zeb'ulun he said, "Rejoice, Zeb'ulun, in your going out; and Is'sachar, in your tents.
19 They shall call peoples to their mountain; there they offer right sacrifices; for they suck the affluence of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand."
Zebulun means habitation and Issachar means he will bring reward. Together they represent the physical body inhabited by the soul and the willingness to work. It is this incarnation and our willingness to work which will bring us "unto the mountain" (a higher level of consciousness). And we will find abundance on sea and land.
20 And of Gad he said, "Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad couches like a lion, he tears the arm, and the crown of the head.