Genesis 49 - Jacob's Song

This is not exactly a genealogy -- but surely worth looking at to hear what the song is. I was going to do the whole chapter, but decided in the end to omit the descriptive parts and confine myself to the uncensored poem. It is a poem though it is not the te'amim of the poetic books. The bolded words indicate alliterative effects that you should listen for.

רְאוּבֵן֙ בְּכֹ֣רִי אַ֔תָּה כֹּחִ֖י וְרֵאשִׁ֣ית אוֹנִ֑י יֶ֥תֶר שְׂאֵ֖ת וְיֶ֥תֶר עָֽז		3 Reuben, my firstborn you are, my power, and the first of my virility, the surplus of what is lifted up and the surplus of strength.
g raubn bcori ath coki vrawit aoni itr wat vitr yz	15 8	ravbn bcr\i ath ck\i v/raw\it avn\i itr wa\t v/itr yz
פַּ֤חַז כַּמַּ֙יִם֙ אַל־תּוֹתַ֔ר כִּ֥י עָלִ֖יתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ אָ֥ז חִלַּ֖לְתָּ יְצוּעִ֥י עָלָֽה פ		4 ♪C Reckless like water, you will not have surplus, for you went up to where your father lies down, then you profaned my bunk in going up.
d pkz cmim al-totr ci ylit mwcbi abiç az killt ixuyi ylh p	17 10	pkz c/mim al tv/tr ci yl\it m/wcb\i ab\ic az kll\t ixvy\i ylh
שִׁמְע֥וֹן וְלֵוִ֖י אַחִ֑ים כְּלֵ֥י חָמָ֖ס מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶֽם		5 Simeon and Levi, kin, instruments of violence are in your forges.
h wmyon vlvi akim cli kms mcrotihm	7 9	wmyvn v/lvi ak\im cli kms m/cr\tihm
בְּסֹדָם֙ אַל־תָּבֹ֣א נַפְשִׁ֔י בִּקְהָלָ֖ם אַל־תֵּחַ֣ד כְּבֹדִ֑י כִּ֤י בְאַפָּם֙ הָ֣רְגוּ אִ֔ישׁ וּבִרְצֹנָ֖ם עִקְּרוּ־שֽׁוֹר		6 In their council may my being not comply. Into their congregation may my glory not be united, for in their anger, they slew someone. In their acceptance, they rooted out a barrier.
v bsodm al-tboa npwi bqhlm al-tikd cbodi ci bapm hrgu aiw ubrxonm yiqru-wor	17 14	b/sd\m al t/ba npw\i b/qhl\m al t/kd cbd\i ci b/ap\m hrg\v aiw vb/rx\nm yqr\v wvr
אָר֤וּר אַפָּם֙ כִּ֣י עָ֔ז וְעֶבְרָתָ֖ם כִּ֣י קָשָׁ֑תָה אֲחַלְּקֵ֣ם בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב וַאֲפִיצֵ֖ם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל פ		7 Cursed be their anger for strength and their fury for intransigence. I will divide them in Jacob and fracture them in Israel.
z arur apm ci yz vybrtm ci qwth aklqm biyqob vapixm biwral p	14 16	arr ap\m ci yz v/ybr\tm ci qw\th a/klq\m b/iyqb va/pxm b/iwral
יְהוּדָ֗ה אַתָּה֙ יוֹד֣וּךָ אַחֶ֔יךָ יָדְךָ֖ בְּעֹ֣רֶף אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ יִשְׁתַּחֲוּ֥וּ לְךָ֖ בְּנֵ֥י אָבִֽיךָ		8 Judah you are the one for whom your brothers will give thanks. Your hand will be in the nape of your enemies. The children of your father will worship you.
k ihudh ath ioduç akiç idç byorf aoibiç iwtkvu lç bni abiç	19 11	ihvdh ath iv/d\vc ak\ic id\c b/yrp aib\ic i/wk\vv l\c bn\i ab\ic
גּ֤וּר אַרְיֵה֙ יְהוּדָ֔ה מִטֶּ֖רֶף בְּנִ֣י עָלִ֑יתָ כָּרַ֨ע רָבַ֧ץ כְּאַרְיֵ֛ה וּכְלָבִ֖יא מִ֥י יְקִימֶֽנּוּ		9 ♪C Judah is a lion's whelp. From prey, my son, you have ascended. He is bowed down. He reclines like a lion, and as an old lion, who will make him arise?
T gur arih ihudh mTrf bni ylit cry rbx carih uclbia mi iqimnu	14 15	gvr ari\h ihvdh m/Trp bn\i yl\it cry rbx c/ari\h vc/lbia mi i/qim\nv
לֹֽא־יָס֥וּר שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ מִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וּמְחֹקֵ֖ק מִבֵּ֣ין רַגְלָ֑יו עַ֚ד כִּֽי־יָבֹ֣א שִׁיל֔וֹ וְל֖וֹ יִקְּהַ֥ת עַמִּֽים		10 Sceptre will not turn aside from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, till Shiloh come and to him will be the obedience of the peoples.
i la-isur wbT mihudh umkoqq mbin rgliv yd ci-iboa wilh vlo iiqht ymim	14 11	la i/svr wbT m/ihvdh vm/kqq m/bin rgl\iv yd ci i/ba wil\v v/l\v iqh\t ym\im
אֹסְרִ֤י לַגֶּ֙פֶן֙ עִיר֔וֹ וְלַשֹּׂרֵקָ֖ה בְּנִ֣י אֲתֹנ֑וֹ כִּבֵּ֤ס בַּיַּ֙יִן֙ לְבֻשׁ֔וֹ וּבְדַם־עֲנָבִ֖ים סוּתֽוֹ		11 Binding to the vine his foal, to the noble vine, the child of his she-donkey, he scoured in wine his clothing and in the blood of grapes his vesture,
ia aosri lgpn yiro vlworqh bni atono cibs biin lbuwo ubdm-ynbim suto	17 14	asr\i l/gpn yir\v vl/wrq\h bn\i atn\v cbs b/iin lbw\v vb/dm ynb\im svt\v
חַכְלִילִ֥י עֵינַ֖יִם מִיָּ֑יִן וּלְבֶן־שִׁנַּ֖יִם מֵחָלָֽב פ		12 flushed eyes from wine, and white teeth from milk.
ib kclili yiniim miin ulbn-winiim mklb p	8 8	kclil\i yin\im m/iin v/lbn wn\im m/klb
זְבוּלֻ֕ן לְח֥וֹף יַמִּ֖ים יִשְׁכֹּ֑ן וְהוּא֙ לְח֣וֹף אֳנִיּ֔וֹת וְיַרְכָת֖וֹ עַל־צִידֹֽן פ		13 Zebulun at the seaport will dwell, and he will be a port for ships, his flanks at Tsidon.
ig zbulun lkof imim iwcon vhua lkof aoniiot vircto yl-xidon p	9 15	zbvln l/kvp im\im i/wcn v/hva l/kvp ani\vt v/irc\tv yl xidn
יִשָּׂשכָ֖ר חֲמֹ֣ר גָּ֑רֶם רֹבֵ֖ץ בֵּ֥ין הַֽמִּשְׁפְּתָֽיִם		14 Issachar is a strong-boned ass, reclining between two hearth-stones.
id iwwcr kmor grm robx bin hmwptiim	7 8	iwwcr kmr grm rbx bin hm/wpt\im
וַיַּ֤רְא מְנֻחָה֙ כִּ֣י ט֔וֹב וְאֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ כִּ֣י נָעֵ֑מָה וַיֵּ֤ט שִׁכְמוֹ֙ לִסְבֹּ֔ל וַיְהִ֖י לְמַס־עֹבֵֽד ס		15 And he saw rest as good and the land as pleasant, and he bent his backside for burden and became a servant in forced service.
Tv vira mnukh ci Tob vat-harx ci nymh viT wcmo lsbol vihi lms-yobd s	16 13	vi/ra m/nk\h ci Tvb v/at h/arx ci nym\h vi/T wcm\v l/sbl vi/hi l/ms ybd
דָּ֖ן יָדִ֣ין עַמּ֑וֹ כְּאַחַ֖ד שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל		16 ♪g Dan makes the case for his people, as one of the sceptres of Israel.
Tz dn idin ymo cakd wbTi iwral	5 8	dn i/din ym\v c/akd wbT\i iwral
יְהִי־דָן֙ נָחָ֣שׁ עֲלֵי־דֶ֔רֶךְ שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן עֲלֵי־אֹ֑רַח הַנֹּשֵׁךְ֙ עִקְּבֵי־ס֔וּס וַיִּפֹּ֥ל רֹכְב֖וֹ אָחֽוֹר		17 Dan will be a snake by the way, a horned adder by a path, biting the heels of the horse so its rider will fall backwards.
iz ihi-dn nkw yli-drç wpipon yli-aork hnowç yiqbi-sus viipol rocbo akor	14 13	i/hi dn nkw yl\i drc wpipn yl\i ark h/nwc yqb\i svs vi/pl rcb\v akr
לִֽישׁוּעָתְךָ֖ קִוִּ֥יתִי יְהוָֽה ס		18 For your salvation I await, Yahweh.
ik liwuytç qivviti ihvh s	10	l/iwvy\tc qv\iti ihvh
גָּ֖ד גְּד֣וּד יְגוּדֶ֑נּוּ וְה֖וּא יָגֻ֥ד עָקֵֽב ס		19 ♪g Gad, a raiding party will invade him, and himself, he will invade the hindmost.
iT gd gdud igudnu vhua igud yqb s	7 7	gd gdd i/gvd\nv v/hva i/gd yqb
מֵאָשֵׁ֖ר שְׁמֵנָ֣ה לַחְמ֑וֹ וְה֥וּא יִתֵּ֖ן מַֽעֲדַנֵּי־מֶֽלֶךְ ס		20 From Asher, his bread will be stout, and himself will make royal specialty foods.
c mawr wmnh lkmo vhua iitn mydni-mlç s	8 10	m/awr wmn\h lkm\v v/hva i/tn m/ydn\i mlc
נַפְתָּלִ֖י אַיָּלָ֣ה שְׁלֻחָ֑ה הַנֹּתֵ֖ן אִמְרֵי־שָֽׁפֶר ס		21 Naphtali is potency set loose, the one who gives glistening promises.
ca nptli aiilh wlukh hnotn amri-wpr s	9 7	nptli ail\h wlk\h h/ntn amr\i wpr
בֵּ֤ן פֹּרָת֙ יוֹסֵ֔ף בֵּ֥ן פֹּרָ֖ת עֲלֵי־עָ֑יִן בָּנ֕וֹת צָעֲדָ֖ה עֲלֵי־שֽׁוּר		22 ♪C A fruitful child is Joseph, a fruitful child by a spring, whose daughters march over a barrier.
cb bn port iosf bn port yli-yin bnot xydh yli-wur	11 8	bn pr\t iv/sp bn pr\t yl\i yin bn\vt xyd\h yl\i wvr
וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ וָרֹ֑בּוּ וַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ בַּעֲלֵ֥י חִצִּֽים		23 And have embittered him and assailed him, and opposed him, the owners of the arrows.
cg vimrruhu vrobu viwTmuhu byli kixim	8 10	vi/mrr\hv v/rb\v vi/wTm\hv byl\i kx\im
וַתֵּ֤שֶׁב בְּאֵיתָן֙ קַשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַיָּפֹ֖זּוּ זְרֹעֵ֣י יָדָ֑יו מִידֵי֙ אֲבִ֣יר יַעֲקֹ֔ב מִשָּׁ֥ם רֹעֶ֖ה אֶ֥בֶן יִשְׂרָאֵֽל		24 But his bow persists perennially and the arms of his hands are made nimble, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob. From there is the shepherd, the Stone of Israel.
cd vtwb baitn qwto vipozu zroyi idiv midi abir iyqob mwm royh abn iwral	17 16	vt/wb b/aitn qw\tv vi/pz\v zry\i id\iv m/id\i abir iyqb m/wm ryh abn iwral
מֵאֵ֨ל אָבִ֜יךָ וְיַעְזְרֶ֗ךָּ וְאֵ֤ת שַׁדַּי֙ וִיבָ֣רְכֶ֔ךָּ בִּרְכֹ֤ת שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ מֵעָ֔ל בִּרְכֹ֥ת תְּה֖וֹם רֹבֶ֣צֶת תָּ֑חַת בִּרְכֹ֥ת שָׁדַ֖יִם וָרָֽחַם		25 From the God of your father and your helper and the Sufficient, and he will bless you: the blessings of heaven above, the blessings of the abyss reclining under, the blessings of the breasts and the womb.
ch mal abiç viyzrç vat wdii vibrcç brcot wmiim myl brcot thom robxt tkt brcot wdiim vrkm	33 7	m/al ab\ic vi/yzr\c v/at wdi vi/brc\c brc\t wmim m/yl brc\t thvm rbx\t tkt brc\t wd\im v/rkm
בִּרְכֹ֣ת אָבִ֗יךָ גָּֽבְרוּ֙ עַל־בִּרְכֹ֣ת הוֹרַ֔י עַֽד־תַּאֲוַ֖ת גִּבְעֹ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם תִּֽהְיֶ֙ין֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ יוֹסֵ֔ף וּלְקָדְקֹ֖ד נְזִ֥יר אֶחָֽיו פ		26 The blessings of your father have prevailed over the blessings of my progenitors to the desire of the everlasting hillocks. They will be as the beginning of Joseph, and on the scalp of the Nazirite of his brothers.
cv brcot abiç gbru yl-brcot horii yd-tavvt gbyot yolm thiinh lraw iosf ulqodqod nzir akiv p	20 14	brc\t ab\ic gbr\v yl brc\t hv/r\i yd t/av\t gby\t yvlm th/i\in l/raw iv/sp vl/qdqd nzr ak\iv
בִּנְיָמִין֙ זְאֵ֣ב יִטְרָ֔ף בַּבֹּ֖קֶר יֹ֣אכַל עַ֑ד וְלָעֶ֖רֶב יְחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁלָֽל		27 Benjamin, a wolf, will tear: in the morning he will devour endlessly, and in the evening he will divide spoil.
cz bnimin zab iTrf bboqr iacl yd vlyrb iklq wll	13 9	bni\min zab i/Trp b/bqr i/acl yd vl/yrb i/klq wll

Verses 3 and 4 are clearly a unit, with verse 4 beginning on the C. There is wordplay here which I have preserved in the English, but it is not possible to convey the turn from surplus to advantage, both of which are senses of the Hebrew root word, itr.

Verses 5 to 7 note the violence of Simeon and Levi. Jacob's blessing is not at all sentimental. Sex, violence, and anger in the opening salvo. Judah however, is different. The promise is that Judah will be worshipped. Or if you prefer, his kin will bow down to him.

Judah almost dominates the poem with verse 8 to 12.

Zebulun gets one verse, Issachar two. Verse 16 alliterates the name Dan with a word for a lawyer making a case. Why does it begin on the third degree of the scale, g, tifha?

The whole of verse 9 is alliterative on the name Gad. Gad, Asher, and Naphtali get a verse each.

Jospeh dominates the second part of the poem with 5 verses as Judah dominated the first. Joseph beginning on the 6th note of the scale, C, mahpakh, looks back to the last several chapters of Genesis. Benjamin ends the 12 with another violent verse.

I decided to introduce a breath mark in the music for a zaqef-qatan. It works well for the most part, but not in the case of two-syllable words where the z-q is on the first syllable. E.g. the word ath is stressed on the first syllable where the ornament is. רְאוּבֵן֙ בְּכֹ֣רִי אַ֔תָּה Gen 49? But its pausal effect is delayed by a note. This is the first time that I have seen the need for look-ahead logic in the phrasing -- but its only a syllable or two.

So it appears that the scope of a ta'am is the syllable when it comes to stress, but when it comes to pause, its scope is the word. There are at least two examples in this passage. And certainly some te-amim do represent pauses, cadences, and therefore musical phrase endings. When zaqen-qatan is a one syllable word, it works well. In Gen 49, it turns the lines into poetry-like lengths. The following has been shrunk to a narrow width for you to see the music differently.