Parsha Vezot Habracha

(33,1) And this is the blessing that Moshe, the man of God, blessed Bnei Yisroel before his death.

(33,2) He said: ‘‘Adonoy came from Sinai, radiated forth to them from Seir, appeared from Mount Paran He came with part of the sacred myriads; from His right [hand]— the flaming Torah law.

(33,3) He also cherished the nations—all of their sacred ones are in Your keeping; for they were gathered in at Your feet and accepted the burden of Your word.

(33,4) The Torah which Moshe commanded us, is the heritage of the congregation of Yaakov.

(33,5) There was a king in Yeshurun, at the gathering of the counting. the tribes of Yisroel together.

(33,6) May Reuvein live and let him not die, and may his constituency be counted.

(33,7) Now this for Yehudah and he said, ‘‘Adonoy, hear the voice of Yehudah, and bring him to his people; May his hands fight his battles and may You provide assistance against his enemies.’’

(33,8) And regarding Levi he said, ‘‘Your tumim and Your urim to Your pious man; whom You tried with tests, You brought him strife at the waters of Merivah.

(33,9) He who said of his father and his mother, ‘I did not see them,‘ and his brothers he did not recognize and his sons he did not know; for they observed Your command and kept Your covenant.

(33,10) They shall teach Your law to Yaakov and Your Torah to Yisroel; let them place incense before You and totally consumed offerings on Your altar;

(33,11) Adonoy, bless his wealth and accept his handiwork; shatter his adversaries at the loins and his enemies, so that they may not arise.’’

(33,12) Regarding Binyomin he said, ‘‘Adonoy’s friend, let him live secure with Him; He hovers protectively over him throughout the day, and He resides between his shoulders.’’

(33,13) And regarding Yoseif he said, ‘‘Blessed by Adonoy is his land; with the delight of heaven, from dew, and the deep waters that lie below.

(33,14) With the delight of the sun’s harvest; and with the delight of the moon’s ripening.

(33,15) With the first fruits of the early mountains and from the sweetness of the perennial hills.

(33,16) And from the sweetness of earth and its fullness, and the favor of the One who resides in the thornbush; let this be visited upon Yoseif’s head, and upon the head of the one set apart from his brothers.

(33,17) His firstborn ox, glory to him, and re’em’s horns are his horns, with which he will gore together peoples to the ends of the earth; and they are Ephraim’s myriads, and they are Menasheh’s thousands.’’

(33,18) And regarding Zevulun he said, ‘‘Rejoice Zevulun at your departure; and Yissachar in your tents.

(33,19) Peoples shall assemble at the mountain—there will they slaughter righteous offerings; for by the streaming of the sea they shall be nurtured and the hidden treasures of sand.’’

(33,20) And regarding Gad he said, ‘‘Blessed is the One who broadens Gad; He lairs like a lion then rips the arm with the head.

(33,21) He saw the foremost for himself, for there the great scribe’s burial plot is concealed; he marched at the head of the people, he acted righteously before Adonoy and His laws with Yisroel.’’

(33,22) And regarding Don he said, ‘‘Don is a lion cub, bounding from Bashan.’’

(33,23) And regarding Naftoli he said, ‘‘Naftoli’s desire is satisfied and he is full of blessing Adonoy; occupy the sea and its southern coast!’’

(33,24) And regarding Asher he said, ‘‘May Asher be blessed with sons; he shall be favored by his brothers and immerse his foot in oil.’’

(33,25) Your locks are iron and copper; As the days [of your youth], so may be your declining days.

(33,26) God is incomparable—Yeshurun; He who straddles the firmament in your aid and, in His pride, the high heavens.

(33,27) As the dwelling of the eternal God, and beneath are the world’s strong-armed; He banished the enemy from your presence and said, ‘Destroy.’

(33,28) Yisroel lived securely, as individuals like Yaakov in a land of grain and wine; even its skies shall drip dew.

(33,29) You are fortunate, Yisroel, who can compare to you—a people saved by Adonoy, the shield of your aid and who [provides the victory of] the sword of your glory; and your enemies will prevaricate to you, while you tread on their high places.’’

(34,1) Moshe went up from the plains of Moav to Mount Nevo—the peak of the crest that faces Yereicho; and Adonoy showed him the entire land, the Gil’od till Don.

(34,2) And all of Naftoli, and the land of Ephraim and Menasheh; and all the land of Yehudah up until the rearward Sea.

(34,3) And the Negev, and the plain, the valley of Yereicho, the city of date-palms, till Tzo’ar.

(34,4) Adonoy said to him, ‘‘This is the land that I swore to Avrohom, to Yitzchok, and to Yaakov, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants ’; I have shown it to you with your eyes, but you will not cross over there.’’

(34,5) Moshe, Adonoy’s servant, died there, in the land of Moav, by the mouth of Adonoy.

(34,6) He buried him in the valley in the land of Moav facing Beis Peor; and no man knows his burial place till this very day.

(34,7) And Moshe was 120 years old at his death; his appearance was not dulled, and his freshness did not fade.

(34,8) Bnei Yisroel bewailed Moshe on the plains of Moav for thirty days; [after which] ended the days of bewailing in Moshe’s mourning period.

(34,9) And Yehoshua son of Nun was filled with a spirit of wisdom because Moshe had rested his hands on him; Bnei Yisroel listened to him and acted as Adonoy had commanded Moshe.

(34,10) And there has not ever arisen a prophet within Yisroel like Moshe, whom Adonoy knew face-to-face.

(34,11) For all the signs and the wonders that Adonoy sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, to Pharoah and to all his slaves and to his entire land.

(34,12) And for the entire strong hand and for the entire great display that Moshe performed in view of all of Yisroel. CHAZAK