All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, х shibTeey (H7626), stems that spring from a common root] - metaphorically used for the heads of the several subdivisions or tribes which, descending from Jacob, composed the Israelitish nation. The "blessing" addressed to their ancestors was intended specially for them.
Spake unto them, and blessed them. See the introductory remarks to this chapter about the mixed meaning of "blessed".
Everyone according to his blessing he blessed them. 'The natural advantages that were to distinguish the settlement, and to modify the character of each tribe, were no mere natural gifts of God's Providance. Their several blessings were, in a manner, the heraldic mottos of each tribe, and spoke of God's foreordaining love. Still more, those portions of the prophecy which portrayed the character of the tribes. They are the banner of God hanging over them, when faithful to Him. The lion-might of Judah, of Gad, and of Dan, Ephraim's horns of power, the swift energy of Benjamin, could be put forth on each occasion as strength which God had pledged to them' (Pusey).