Naming and Blessing

 

What is in a name and a father’s blessing? The naming of a child in Hebrew culture is to reflect the characteristics associated with its birth or future potential they see in the child. Accordingly, a Hebrew can take on a new name when his character changes or his vocation changes. Even more so, a father’s blessing is to represent a prophetic view of where he see his children’s lives going.

In this article, I planned to discuss the names and blessings that were and are upon the twelve sons (tribes) of Yisra’el (Israel). Before we go there, let’s look at their father’s names and blessings. Ya’akov, a name given to the son of Isaac, who was born holding onto his brother Esau’s heel. Esau was the first-born. The name, יָאַכוֹב, means supplanter or deceiver. This name would be fitting as he supplanted and deceived both Esau’s birthright and blessing from him. YaHVaH had other plans. He used Ya’akov’s deceptions to His advantage. Ya’akov never got to utilize the birthright himself. Instead, he was sent away. When he returns, he still does not settle in the land of the given birthright. Essentially, Esau retained it. The birthright was eventually claimed by Ya’akov’s heirs as the Nation of Yisra’el.

YaHVaH changed Ya’akov’s name to Yisra’el after a wrestling match between Ya’akov and His angel. Interestingly, Ya’akov (now Yisra’el) had already received two blessings instead of one from his father before he left. Yet, he would not release the angel until the angel blessed him, a 3rd blessing. Yisra’el, means striver or overcomer with El. How fitting this name has been for the Nation of Yisra’el, who still strives with Him to this day.

What were Ya’akov/Yisra’el’s blessings?

  1. “Then may Elohiym give thee of the dew of the heavens, and of the fatness of the earth, and abundance of corn and new wine: Let peoples serve thee and nations bow down to thee, become thou master to thy brethren, and let the sons of thy mother bow down to thee; he that curseth thee, be accursed! And he that blesseth thee, be blessed!” (Gen. 27:28-29, ROSNV).
  2. “And El-Shaddai bless thee, and make thee fruitful and multiply thee, so shalt thou become a multitude of peoples. And may He give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee and to thy seed with thee, that thou mayest possess the land of thy sojournings which Elohiym gave to Abraham” (Gen. 28:3-4, ROSNV).
  3. The angel’s blessing is unknown. See Gen. 32:29.

Because Ya’akov/Yisra’el listened to YaHVaH, all of the blessings his father proclaimed on him came to pass. YaHVaH made it happen. He prospered with Laban, even through hardships. His wives and concubines were fruitful and his descendants finally became the great nation of Yisra’el that Mosheh led out of Egypt and conquered Canaan, the land given to Abraham. Balaam confirms that the last part of the first blessing was active and working in the Nation of Yisra’el: “. . . Such as bless thee are each one blessed, but such as curse thee are each one cursed” (Num. 24:9, ROSNV).

What of the 12 sons then? Let’s look at Re’uben (pronounced Reh-oo-bane). The name means son of discernment of beholding. His blessing was: “Unstable like water you cannot be foremost, for you ascended your father’s bed; even you profaned my couch ascended” Gen. 49:4, my translation. Mosheh blessed Re’uben (the tribe) with: “May Re’uben live and not die and may his men be innumerable” Deu. 33:6, my translation. [Note: Verses above and below are my direct translation from the Hebrew, if no Bible version is listed.]

Basically, both blessings put Re’uben on a secondary level, yet allow for him to remain a part of Yisra’el. He no longer held a place of prominence. I see that he was allowed to remain because of his part in preventing his brothers from harming Yoseph (Joseph). His land became the land on the opposite side of the Dead Sea. A fairly harsh piece of property, yet still bordered by Binyamin (Benjamin) and Gad.

Shim’on (pronounced shim-own) means hearing, as in YaHVaH heard. His blessing by Ya’akov was mingled with Levi’s. Oddly enough, Mosheh did not bless Shim’on at all. He is included in the list of tribes in Ezekiel and Revelation. His land was the land of the barren zone below Yehudah’s. They were essentially separated from the others.

Levi (pronounced Lay-vee) means my attached. It is a fitting description for ones who became the priests and temple workers, attached to YaHVaH as it was. Ya’akov’s blessing to both Shim’on and Levi was: “. . . are brethren, instruments of violence are their agreements: Into their circle do not thou enter my soul! In their convocation do not thou join, mine honour! For in their anger they slew brave men, and in their wantonness they hamstrung [an ox]. Accursed be their anger, because [it is] fierce, and their wrath because [it is] cruel, I divide them in [Ya’akov], and I disperse them in [Yisra’el]” (Gen. 49:5-7, ROSNV). [ ] brackets are my textual corrections according to actual Hebrew.

Isn’t that what happened? Levi was not given an inheritance, but rather dispersed amongst Yisra’el. Their rage, yes, isn’t their rage what sent Yahoshua (Yeshua) to the tree? The ox is metaphored to be Yoseph, yet I see Yahoshua (Yeshua) as a better metaphor. Wow, a Messianic prophecy from Ya’akov!

Mosheh’s blessing for Levi was: “Your Tummim and your Urim to the man of Your lovingkindness (mercy), whom you tested in Massah, you challenged at the waters of Meribah. The one who said to his father and to his mother ‘I am not beholding him’ and his brother recognizes not and his children knows not for they have observed Your Word and Your covenant they preserved. They shall teach Your judgments to Ya’akov at Your altar. Bless, YaHVaH, his resources and his hand’s work; smash the loins of his foes, and his enemies from their arising” (Deu. 33:8-11). YaHVaH did this when they were serving Him. The priestly and temple class were well taken care of and enemies dispatched, until they hung His Son upon the tree.

Yehudah (pronounced Yeh-hoo-daw) means praise of YaH. He was given the foremost place among the sons and amongst the tribes. His blessing was: “Thy brethren shall praise thee when they hand is on the neck of thy foes, the sons of thy father shall bow themselves down to thee: A lion’s whelp is [Yehudah], from the prey, my son, hast thou come up! He hast stooped, hath crouched, as a lion or as a lioness, who shall rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from [Yehudah], nor the lawgiver from between his feet, until [Shiloh comes], and he [will be allied with] the peoples: Binding to the vine, His ass, and to the choice vine His ass’s colt, He hath washed in wine His raiment, and in the blood of grapes His mantle: Darker His eyes than wine, whiter His teeth than milk!” (Gen. 49:8-12, ROSNV). Look where the Jews are now (Jews is the present-day English term for Yehudiy, descendants of Yehudah). Is not all of Yisra’el under their subjugation? Do they not lie like a lion, who once disturbed rises up and destroys their enemies (Arabs)? Ah, more Messianic prophecy from Ya’akov. The scepter (right to rule) has remained, as well as lawgivers. Shiloh refers to the Messiah, to whom the remainder of the blessing refers to as one of Yehudah’s descendants.

Mosheh’s blessing: “Hear, O YaHVaH, the voice of [Yehudah], that unto his people Thou wouldest bring him home, let his own hands suffice him, and a helper from his adversaries do Thou become” (Deu. 33:7, ROSNV). Well that is exactly what happened. After WW II, all of the Jews (Yehudiy) were encouraged to return to his people and they reformed Yisra’el. They have outshone all other tribes. He fights for his very survival and YaHVaH helps against his enemies.

Zebulun (pronounced Zeh-voo-loon) means habitation or permanent home. He is 10th in birth, but 5th in the blessings from his father: “. . . by a haven of seas shall he settle down, even he by a haven of ships, with his utmost part upon Zidon” (Gen. 49:13, ROSNV). Mosheh’s: “Rejoice Zebulun, in thy going out . . .” (Deu. 33:18, ROSNV). Zebulun became successful in maritime commerce, supporting Yissaschar. Did they settle by the sea? Yes, the Sea of Galilee, but they were also only a short distance through Asher’s territory to get to the Mediterranean Sea. They acquired their blessing as prophesied.

Yissaschar (pronounced Yis-saws-kar) means he will bring a reward. 9th in lineage, 6th in blessing: “. . . an ass of strength, couching between two burdens; Then beholdeth he rest, that it is good, and the ground that it is pleasant, so he bendeth his shoulder to bear, and becometh a tributary servant” (Gen. 49:14-15, ROSNV). The Tanach says, “rests between the boundaries,” instead of two burdens. Mosheh’s: “Rejoice Yissaschar, in thy tents” (Deu. 33:18, ROSNV). Yissaschar did settle between two tribes. They were surrounded by Manasseh, Zebulun, and Asher. They devoted themselves to Torah study and were supported by Zebulun, probably through hired labor exchange.

Dan (pronounced Dawn or Don) means judge. The blessing: “. . . shall vindicate his people, as one of the tribes of [Yisra’el]; It cometh to pass that Dan is a serpent upon the way, a horned viper upon the path, that biteth the heels of the horse, and his rider falleth backwards:” (Gen. 49:16-17, ROSNV). Mosheh’s: “Dan is a lion’s whelp, he leapeth out of Bashan” (Deu. 33:22, ROSNV). Bashan is a region east of the Jordan. Dan settled next to the sea, but next to Yehudah with connections to Manasseh, Ephraim, and Binyamin. He would be first defense against sea marauders in the middle of Yisra’el. Yet, the blessings seem to imply that Dan will be Yisra’el’s avenging unifier, striking the enemy with stealth and speed. This leads me to think of Yisra’el’s MOSSAD. Could they be present-day Dan? Yet, Dan fades out of the Book after their acceptance of idolatry in Judges 18:30-31. They are not listed in the tribes of Revelation, only those listed in Ezekiel 48.

Gad (pronounced Gawd or God) means good luck or distributing fortune. His blessing: “An army will they recruit and it will retreat on its heels” (Gen. 49:19, ROSNV). Mosheh’s: “Blessed be he that hath made room for Gad, as a [lion] hath he laid himself down, and hath torn an arm, likewise the crown of the head; And hath provided a first part for himself, for there a [lawgiver’s] portion hath been hid, so he cometh with the heads of the people, the righteousness of YaHVaH he executeth, and His regulations, with [Yisra’el]” (Deu. 33:20-21, ROSNV). Gad settled on the east side of the Jordan before any other tribes. He still formed an army to help Yisra’el conquer the land, then they retreated across the Jordan back to their homes.

Asher (Awe-share) means good fortune, prosperous. Asher’s blessings matched his name. He was to become rich with all forms of riches, from delicacies to oil. They were the most blessed tribe as far as wealth. They resided by the Mediterranean Sea at the uppermost part of Yisra’el. Zebulun, Yissaschar, Naphtali, and Manasseh all had to cross Asher’s territory to get to the sea or trade with them what the sea brought. Yet, the richness seems to be that from the land such as fruits, olives, and etc.

Naphtali (pronounced Naf-taw-lee) means my wrestling. Blessing: “. . . is a slender hind, he giveth goodly words” (Gen. 49:21, ROSNV). Mosheh’s: “O Naphtali! Satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of YaHVaH, the west and the [south will you] possess” (Deu. 33:23, ROSNV). The Tanach says sea instead of west. The Hebrew word is yam and can mean both sea and west. Naphtali never possessed the sea, so west seems more likely. They never possessed the south either, so this blessing could be yet to be performed/fulfilled. They were filled with YaHVaH’s blessings and wrote beautiful poetry.

Yoseph (pronounced Yo-safe) means let Him add, as in YaHVaH adding more sons. This, of course, did happen. Yoseph’s sons became two sons of Yisra’el and received separate inheritance as such, replacing Levi’s inheritance. The blessing shows him as the shepherd of Yisra’el. He was supremely blessed with a double portion. Between his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, their inheritance was the largest of all tribes and it encompassed nearly 50% of the lands.

Binyamin (pronounced Bin-yaw-meen) means son of the right, as in strength and right hand. His blessing: “. . . a wolf that teareth in pieces, in the morning he eateth prey and eventide he divideth spoil” (Gen. 49:27, ROSNV). Mosheh’s: “The beloved of YaHVaH shall settle down securely, with one to throw a shade over him all the day long, yea, between His shoulders hath he found rest” (Deu. 33:12, ROSNV). YaHVaH’s beloved could refer to Binyamin or to Yehudah. I say Yehudah because Binyamin dwelt within the area of Yehudah and always sided with him. They became inseparable and Binyamin was part of Yehudah’s protection. They were mighty warriors in battle, which also backs up their name referring to strength.

Strong as they were, all the tribes of Yisra’el contended with YaHVaH and suffered for it in the exiles. The blessings of Abraham were still upon them though and they remain YaHVaH’s chosen. It’s like He chose a contentions child to show His great mercy to all. He has honored all of the prophetic blessings and utilized the men in ways that met their purpose in their names.

The next time you think a name has little meaning or a blessing you receive is of minor value, think again. We only have to look to Yisra’el to see that YaHVaH uses the names and the blessings for His purposes, yet He honors them as spoken.

One last note, when Ya’akov gave his blessings, they were for the End of Days. That sounds like those blessings will be fulfilled even more so at the End times. Mazel Tov and pleasant studying.

References:

Bible. The Restoration of Original Sacred Name Version. 1976. 7th ed. Emory, TX: First Assembly of YaHVaH. 2002.

Scherman, Rabbi Nosson, ed., et al. Artscroll Series/Stone Edition. The Tanach. Student size ed. Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah, 1998. Commentary on 184, 185, 192. Hebrew text used for translation purposes.

 

First published 4-2007, © 2007, 2018 Min. Dr. Donald H. Garrett and Odon Obadyah Ministries, Inc.

 

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