Study Desk

Of his father and mother he said, ‘I don't know them'; he didn't acknowledge his brothers or children. For he observed your word, and he kept your covenant.

Adonai , bless his possessions, accept the work he does; but crush his enemies hip and thigh; may those who hate him rise no more."

Of Binyamin he said: " Adonai 's beloved lives securely. He protects him day after day. He lives between his shoulders."

(iii) Of Yosef he said: "May Adonai bless his land with the best from the sky, for the dew, and for what comes from the deep beneath,

with the best from the earth and all that fills it, and the favor of him who lived in the [burning] bush. May blessing come on the head of Yosef, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.

His firstborn bull — glory is his; his horns are those of a wild ox; With them he will gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth. These are the myriads of Efrayim; these are the thousands of M'nasheh."

He chose the best for himself when the princely portion was assigned. When the leaders of the people came, he carried out Adonai 's justice and his rulings concerning Isra'el."

Of Asher he said: "May Asher be most blessed of sons, may he be the favorite among his brothers and bathe his feet in oil.

"Yeshurun, there is no one like God, riding through the heavens to help you, riding on the clouds in his majesty.

He was buried in the valley across from Beit-P‘or in the land of Mo'av, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.

Y'hoshua the son of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisdom, for Moshe had laid his hands on him, and the people of Isra'el heeded him and did what Adonai had ordered Moshe.

What signs and wonders Adonai sent him to perform in the land of Egypt upon Pharaoh, all his servants and all his land!

What might was in his hand! What great terror he evoked before the eyes of all Isra'el! Haftarah V'zot HaBrachah: Y'hoshua (Joshua) 1:1–18 (A); 1:1–9 (S) B'rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah V'zot HaBrachah: Mattityahu (Matthew) 17:1–9; Mark 9:2–10; Luke 9:28–36; Y'hudah (Jude) 3–4, 8–10 Hazak, hazak, v'nit'chazek! Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened!

If anyone goes out the doors of your house into the street, he will be responsible for his own blood, and we will be guiltless. But everyone who stays with you in the house — we will be responsible for his blood if anyone lays a hand on him.

and said to them, "Go on ahead of the ark of Adonai your God into the riverbed of the Yarden. Then, each of you take a stone on his shoulder, corresponding to the number of tribes of the people of Isra'el.

That day Adonai made Y'hoshua great in full view of all Isra'el. They were in awe of him, just as they had been in awe of Moshe all his life.

One day, when Y'hoshua was there by Yericho, he raised his eyes and looked; and in front of him stood a man with his drawn sword in his hand. Y'hoshua went over to him and asked him, "Are you on our side or on the side of our enemies?"

"No," he replied, "but I am the commander of Adonai 's army; I have come just now." Y'hoshua fell down with his face to the ground and worshipped him, then asked, "What does my lord have to say to his servant?"

Adonai said to Y'hoshua, "I have handed Yericho over to you, including its king and his warriors.

Y'hoshua then made the people take this oath: "A curse before Adonai on anyone who rises up and rebuilds this city of Yericho: he will lay its foundation with the loss of his firstborn son and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son."