בראשית, פרק ל״ה, פסוק י״א

A profound moment of divine revelation shapes the future of Jacob's family and the formation of the nation of Israel. In this encounter, God grants a deep blessing that carries promises of growth, national structure, and future sovereignty. God chooses to introduce Himself with a specific title that testifies to His absolute power to overcome the laws of nature, a power already shown when He allowed the barren matriarchs to conceive [רד״ק]. This name represents the personal guidance and hidden miracles that will accompany Jacob on his journey [מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, it serves as a clear declaration that God is the true source of all blessings, fully capable and worthy of giving them [רש״י, מזרחי]. Some commentators view this opening as a divine oath, assuring Jacob that God does not need natural circumstances to fulfill His promises [ספורנו].

Although the directive to grow and multiply is phrased as a command, the primary approach among commentators is that it functions as a blessing and a promise. This is because Jacob did not have any more children after this encounter, with the exception of Benjamin [אבן עזרא, העמק דבר, שד״ל]. Therefore, this blessing relates first and foremost to Benjamin's birth. Even though Rachel was already pregnant at the time, the blessing specifically applies to him [רש״י, בכור שור, ביאור יש״ר]. On a broader historical level, it serves as a guarantee that Jacob's descendants will never be destroyed by other nations. Because of this, Jacob and his family need not fear bringing children into the world, even during times of harsh decrees [ספורנו].

God's promise regarding the future of the nation carries a dual meaning. The primary approach among commentators is that it serves as a precise hint about the future tribes that would be added to Jacob's family. The assurance of a single new entity points to Benjamin, who was not yet born, while the promise of a larger group of nations points to Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who would eventually be counted as independent tribes. Looking from a wider national perspective, the promise expresses the destiny of Jacob's children to become one special, united nation. At the same time, it symbolizes their internal division into twelve distinct tribes. Each tribe will develop its own unique character, whether as soldiers, merchants, farmers, or spiritual leaders. Together, they will create a diverse yet complete nation that will spread faith in God throughout the world [רד״ק, רש ר הירש, ביאור יש״ר].

The blessing concludes with a promise of leadership and independence. In its simplest sense, it means Jacob will merit decent, worthy kings from his own descendants, ensuring the nation will not be forced to live under foreign rule [ספורנו, ביאור יש״ר]. However, the specific guarantee that kings would emerge directly from his own body highlights descendants who were not yet born. Because Benjamin was the only son yet to be born at that moment, commentators explain that this promise is aimed exactly at the first two kings of Israel, Saul and Ish-bosheth, who both came from the tribe of Benjamin. Generations later, this very promise was actually used by Abner the son of Ner to justify crowning Ish-bosheth as king [רש״י, רד״ק, בכור שור, הדר זקנים].