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In the case of Asher, the reference is evidently to the most fertile possession of that
tribe, extending from Mount Carmel to the land of Tyre, the district richest in corn
and oil (1 Kings 5:11):
Out of Asher fatness: his bread -
And he yieldeth royal dainties.
The allusion as to Naphtali is to the graceful agility and fleetness of the people, and
also to their mental ability and quickness:
Naphtali is a hind let loose -
He uttereth words of beauty.
At last Jacob comes to the name of his loved son Joseph. Then it seems as if his
whole heart were indeed overflowing. First, he sketches his fruitfulness, like that of a
fruit-free "planted by rivers of water," (Psalm 1:3) whose boughs run over the wall
(Comp. Psalm 80:8-11); then he describes his strength, as derived from God Himself;
and, lastly, he pours forth richest blessings, richer far than any his ancestors had
bestowed:
Son of a fruit-tree (a fruitful bough) is Joseph,
Son of a fruit-tree by a well,
Whose daughters (branches) spread over the wall.
The archers harass him,
They shoot at him, and hate him;
But his bow abideth in firmness,
And the arms of his hands remain supple
From the Hands of the Strong One of Jacob,
From thence, from the Shepherd, from the Rock of Israel,
From the God of thy father - may He help thee!
And from the Almighty -may He bless thee!
Blessings of heaven from above!
Blessings of the deep that lieth beneath!
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb!
The blessings of thy father exceed
The blessings of my ancestors
Unto the bound of the everlasting hills^91 -
May they come on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of him who is separated^92 among his brethren!
(^)