Vezot HaBerachah

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33:20

33:21


33:22

33:21	He saw the first portion for himself, for that is where the portion of the lawgiver is hidden. He came with the first of his people, doing what is just with God, and lawful with Israel. Vayar reshit lo ki-sham chelkat mechokek safun vayete rashey am tsidkat Adonay asah umishpatav im-Yisra'el.
33:22	Fifth Reading To Dan he said: Dan is a young lion, springing from the Bashan. Ule-Dan amar Dan gur aryeh yezanek min-haBashan.

Commentary:

He saw the first portion for himself
(Rashi; Ibn Ezra; Baaley Tosafoth). Or, 'He took the first portion ...' (Targum), or, 'He saw himself as the first one' (Hirsch); or, 'When he saw at the beginning of his land ...' (Saadia), or, 'He saw his first fruits' (Septuagint).

for that is where...
Some say that this indicates that Moses was buried in Gad's territory (Targum; Rashi). Or, 'that is where the lawgiver's treasures were' (Targum Yonathan; cf. 33:19). Or, 'that is where the palaces of the mighty were' (Ibn Ezra); or, 'there are the lands of the princes' (Paaneach Razah; cf. Septuagint).

He
Gad (Rashi; Ibn Ezra; Baaley Tosafoth). Or, Moses (Rashi; Sotah 13b; Avoth 5:18).

springing
(Ibn Ezra; Radak, Sherashim; Septuagint). Zanak in Hebrew. Or, 'drawing water' (Targum); 'spurting' or 'dividing' (Sifri; cf. Niddah 59b; Chullin 38a); or, 'indolent' (Ibn Janach).

from the Bashan
Since Dan's territory is directly to the west of the Bashan.

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