(Devarim 33:7) "And this ("heroism" of Reuven [ in confessing his sin]) was due to Judah, who confessed (his sin [viz. Bereshith 38:26]). Of them Scripture writes (Iyyov 15:18-19) "Wise men have told (their sin); they did not conceal it from their fathers. To them alone the land was given; no stranger passed among them."
(Devarim, Ibid.) "Hear, O L-rd, the voice of Judah": We are hereby taught that Moses prayed for the tribe of Judah, saying: "L-rd of the world, whenever the tribe of Judah is in distress and prays before You, rescue him from it."
(Ibid.) "And to his people shall You bring him.": He (Judah) was buried with the forefathers in the land. R. Yehudah says: Was it the bones of Judah alone that the children of Israel brought up from Egypt? The bones of all the brothers were brought up by its tribe from Egypt! What, then, is the intent of "And to his people shall You bring him"? He was buried together with the forefathers. R. Meir says: (But) it is written (Bereshith 50:5) "In my grave which I (Jacob) dug for myself in the land of Canaan" — I myself am buried in it, and no other. What is the intent, then, of "And to his people shall you bring him"? That he be buried in the land (of Canaan) as the forefathers were.
Variantly: "And this, for Judah. And he said: Hear, O L-rd, the voice of Judah": We are hereby taught that Moses prayed for the tribe of Shimon [(Shimon not being explicitly mentioned here)], saying: "L-rd of the world, whenever the tribe of Shimon is in distress, rescue him from it.
"And to his people shall You bring him": For he (Judah) had drawn him (Shimon) near to himself for inheritance (of the land), as it is written (Judges 1:3) "and Judah said to Shimon his brother: "Go up with me (in battle) for my portion." And sections fell (for inheritance) from the inheritance of the children of Judah to that of the children of Shimon (viz. Joshua 19:9).
"His (Shimon's) hands did battle for him," as it is written (Bereshith 34:25) "And there took, two sons of Jacob, Shimon and Levi, etc." "And You shall be a help against his foes": as in (Ibid. 35:5) "And they journeyed, and the terror of G-d was on the cities around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob."
Variantly: "And this for Judah": Moses prayed for David, saying before Him, "L-rd of the world, whenever the kings of the house of David (descendents of Judah) are in distress and pray before You, rescue them from it."
"And to his people shall You bring him": This refers to Isaiah, of whom it is written (II Kings 22:20) "Behold, I will gather you in to your forefathers." "His hands will be 'profuse' (rav) for him": This refers to Menasheh, of whom it is written (Ibid. 21:16) "Menasheh also shed very much innocent blood, until he filled Jerusalem from end to end, aside from his sin of causing Judah to sin, to do what was evil in the eyes of the L-rd." In the end, what is written of him? (II Chronicles 33:13) "And he prayed to Him, and He was entreated of him." (Devarim, Ibid.) "And You shall be a help against his foes": This refers to Yehoshafat, viz. (II Chronicles 18:31) "And Yehoshafat cried out, and the L-rd helped him, and G-d turned them from him."
(דברים לג ז) יְחִי רְאוּבֵן וְאַל יָמֹת וְזֹאת לִיהוּדָה, וְכִי מָה עִנְיַן זֶה לָזֶה? לְפִי שֶׁעָשָׂה יְהוּדָה מַה שֶּׁעָשָׂה, וְעָמַד וְאָמַר (בראשית לח כו): ״צָדְקָה מִמֶּנִּי״, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה רְאוּבֵן שֶׁהוֹדָה יְהוּדָה, עָמַד אַף הוּא וְהוֹדָה עַל מַעֲשָׂיו. הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר, יְהוּדָה גָּרַם לִרְאוּבֵן שֶׁעָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה. עֲלֵיהֶם הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר (איוב טו יח-יט): ״אֲשֶׁר חֲכָמִים יַגִּידוּ וְלֹא כִחֲדוּ מֵאֲבוֹתָם, לָהֶם לְבַדָּם נִתְּנָה הָאָרֶץ וְלֹא עָבַר זָר בְּתוֹכָם״.
(Devarim 33:7) "And this ("heroism" of Reuven [ in confessing his sin]) was due to Judah, who confessed (his sin [viz. Bereshith 38:26]). Of them Scripture writes (Iyyov 15:18-19) "Wise men have told (their sin); they did not conceal it from their fathers. To them alone the land was given; no stranger passed among them."
שְׁמַע ה׳ קוֹל יְהוּדָה, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנִּתְפַּלֵּל מֹשֶׁה עַל שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל יְהוּדָה וְאָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁשִּׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל יְהוּדָה שָׁרוּי בְּצַעַר וּמִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ, אַתָּה מַעֲלֶה אוֹתוֹ מִתּוֹכָהּ.
(Devarim, Ibid.) "Hear, O L-rd, the voice of Judah": We are hereby taught that Moses prayed for the tribe of Judah, saying: "L-rd of the world, whenever the tribe of Judah is in distress and prays before You, rescue him from it."
וְאֶל עַמּוֹ תְּבִיאֶנּוּ, שֶׁיִּקָּבֵר עִם אָבוֹת בָּאָרֶץ. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: וְכִי עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף בִּלְבַד הֶעֱלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם? וַהֲלֹא כָּל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט הֶעֱלָה עַצְמוֹת שִׁבְטוֹ מִמִּצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יג יט): ״וְהַעֲלִתֶם אֶת עַצְמֹתַי מִזֶּה אִתְּכֶם״, שֶׁאֵין תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״אִתְּכֶם״, מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״אִתְּכֶם״? שֶׁכָּל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט הֶעֱלָה עַצְמוֹת שִׁבְטוֹ מִמִּצְרַיִם. וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְאֶל עַמּוֹ תְּבִיאֶנּוּ? שֶׁנִּקְבַּר עִם אָבוֹת בִּקְבוּרָתָם. רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר (בראשית נ ה): ״בְּקִבְרִי אֲשֶׁר כָּרִיתִי לִי בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן״ אֲנִי נִקְבָּר בָּהּ, וְאֵין אַחֵר נִקְבָּר בָּהּ. וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״וְאֶל עַמּוֹ תְּבִיאֶנּוּ״? שֶׁנִּקְבַּר עִם אָבוֹת בָּאָרֶץ.
(Ibid.) "And to his people shall You bring him.": He (Judah) was buried with the forefathers in the land. R. Yehudah says: Was it the bones of Judah alone that the children of Israel brought up from Egypt? The bones of all the brothers were brought up by its tribe from Egypt! What, then, is the intent of "And to his people shall You bring him"? He was buried together with the forefathers. R. Meir says: (But) it is written (Bereshith 50:5) "In my grave which I (Jacob) dug for myself in the land of Canaan" — I myself am buried in it, and no other. What is the intent, then, of "And to his people shall you bring him"? That he be buried in the land (of Canaan) as the forefathers were.
יָדָיו רָב לוֹ, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָרַג אֶת עֵשָׂו. וְעֵזֶר מִצָּרָיו תִּהְיֶה, בַּעֲמִידָתוֹ לִפְנֵי יוֹסֵף.
"His hands will fight for him": in killing Esav. "And You shall be a help against his foes": as in his standing up against Joseph (Bereshith 44:18).
וְזֹאת לִיהוּדָה, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנִּתְפַּלֵּל מֹשֶׁה עַל שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל שִׁמְעוֹן. אָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁשִּׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל שִׁמְעוֹן שָׁרוּי בְּצַעַר וּמִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ אַתָּה מַעֲלֶה אוֹתוֹ מִתּוֹכָהּ.
Variantly: "And this, for Judah. And he said: Hear, O L-rd, the voice of Judah": We are hereby taught that Moses prayed for the tribe of Shimon [(Shimon not being explicitly mentioned here)], saying: "L-rd of the world, whenever the tribe of Shimon is in distress, rescue him from it.
וְאֶל עַמּוֹ תְּבִיאֶנּוּ, שֶׁקֵּרְבוֹ עִמּוֹ לִבְרָכָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים א ג): ״וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה לְשִׁמְעוֹן אָחִיו עֲלֵה אִתִּי בְגוֹרָלִי״.
"And to his people shall You bring him": For he (Judah) had drawn him (Shimon) near to himself for inheritance (of the land), as it is written (Judges 1:3) "and Judah said to Shimon his brother: "Go up with me (in battle) for my portion." And sections fell (for inheritance) from the inheritance of the children of Judah to that of the children of Shimon (viz. Joshua 19:9).
יָדָיו רָב לוֹ, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית לד כה): ״וַיִּקְחוּ שְׁנֵי בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי״. וְעֵזֶר מִצָּרָיו תִּהְיֶה, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית לה ה): ״וַיִּסָּעוּ וַיְהִי חִתַּת אֱלֹהִים עַל הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבוֹתֵיהֶם וְלֹא רָדְפוּ אַחֲרֵי בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב״.
"His (Shimon's) hands did battle for him," as it is written (Bereshith 34:25) "And there took, two sons of Jacob, Shimon and Levi, etc." "And You shall be a help against his foes": as in (Ibid. 35:5) "And they journeyed, and the terror of G-d was on the cities around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob."
וְזֹאת לִיהוּדָה, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנִּתְפַּלֵּל מֹשֶׁה עַל דָּוִד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל. אָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁדָּוִד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁרוּי בְּצַעַר וּמִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ, אַתָּה מַעֲלֶה אוֹתוֹ מִתּוֹכָהּ. וְאֶל עַמּוֹ תְּבִיאֶנּוּ, שֶׁתַּחֲזִירֵהוּ אֶל אֶחָיו בְּשָׁלוֹם. יָדָיו רָב לוֹ, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָרַג אֶת גָּלְיָת. וְעֵזֶר מִצָּרָיו תִּהְיֶה, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר (תהלים קכא א): ״אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל הֶהָרִים מֵאַיִן יָבֹא עֶזְרִי״.
Variantly: "And this for Judah": Moses prayed for David, saying before Him, "L-rd of the world, whenever the kings of the house of David (descendents of Judah) are in distress and pray before You, rescue them from it."
וְזֹאת לִיהוּדָה, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנִּתְפַּלֵּל מֹשֶׁה עַל מַלְכֵי בֵּית דָּוִד. אָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁמַּלְכֵי בֵּית דָּוִד שְׁרוּיִם בְּצַעַר וּמִתְפַּלְּלִים לְפָנֶיךָ, אַתָּה מַעֲלֶה אוֹתָם מִתּוֹכָהּ. וְאֶל עַמּוֹ תְּבִיאֶנּוּ, זֶה יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מ״ב כב כ): ״הִנְנִי אֹסִפְךָ אֶל אֲבֹתֶיךָ״. יָדָיו רָב לוֹ, זֶה מְנַשֶּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם כא טז): ״וְגַם דָּם נָקִי שָׁפַךְ מְנַשֶּׁה הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד״, לַסּוֹף מַה נֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ (דה״ב לג יג): ״וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֵלָיו וַיֵּעָתֶר לוֹ״. וְעֵזֶר מִצָּרָיו תִּהְיֶה, זֶה יְהוֹשָׁפָט, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּזְעַק יְהוֹשָׁפָט וַה׳ עֲזָרוֹ״.
"And to his people shall You bring him": This refers to Isaiah, of whom it is written (II Kings 22:20) "Behold, I will gather you in to your forefathers." "His hands will be 'profuse' (rav) for him": This refers to Menasheh, of whom it is written (Ibid. 21:16) "Menasheh also shed very much innocent blood, until he filled Jerusalem from end to end, aside from his sin of causing Judah to sin, to do what was evil in the eyes of the L-rd." In the end, what is written of him? (II Chronicles 33:13) "And he prayed to Him, and He was entreated of him." (Devarim, Ibid.) "And You shall be a help against his foes": This refers to Yehoshafat, viz. (II Chronicles 18:31) "And Yehoshafat cried out, and the L-rd helped him, and G-d turned them from him."