RR Psalm 68:28 Part 19
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Psalm 68:28 There Benjamin, the youngest, is leading them, there the throng of Judah’s princes, there the princes of Zebulun, there the princes of Naphtali.
Whew! This one is a challenge. Four of the twelve tribes are mentioned in verse 28, Benjamin, Judah, Zebulun and Naphtali. The meaning of the names of the twelve tribes tell the story of every believer in Yeshua. This verse starts with the last of the twelve. Benjamin (the last) is mentioned as leading the others. That’s the nature of the kingdom of God. Only God makes the last first. Yeshua ends His parable on the laborers in the vineyard… Matthew 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Benjamin means “son of the right hand.” That is our destiny, to be seated with Him in heavenly places.
Ephesians 2:4 But God was rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us. 5 Even when we were dead in our trespasses, He made us alive together with Messiah. (By grace you have been saved!) 6 And He raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua—
Then Judah is mentioned as a crowd of princes. Judah means “praiser of God.” When we praise God, we are elevated to royalty status. 1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were “not a people,” but now you are “God’s people.” You were shown “no mercy,” but now you have been shown “mercy.”
Rabbi Trail: I included verse 10 to show you the inclusion of “not a people” non-Jews into the royal family of God’s people. Priests praise God and royalty reigns. When they come together, (and the rabbis have always known this) that is Messiah. He is both King and Priest. And, those who follow Him are likewise, a kingdom of priests. End RT.
Zebulun and Naphtali are also described as princes (royalty). The etymology of Zebulun is “Zaval” meaning exaltation or honor. Following that, Naphtali holds the meaning of “wrestling.” It comes from “Patal” meaning twisted or cunning. That’s the overcoming each of us must do to walk with God. Jacob wrestled with God all night, before his could take on a new name (reputation). And his new name, Israel, has several meanings including “overcomer” (He struggled with God).
Rabbi Trail: The Hebrew spelling of Israel contains the “Sin-Resh” combination, which means “prince.” So, “He will be a prince of God” is another possible meaning for the name Israel. No surprise that God has layer upon layer of meaning. End RT.
Back to Naphtali and Zebulun… now can we see why they are mentioned? We have to “untwist” ourselves (stop wrestling with the old man) to walk with God. He wants to exalt us (as we exalt Him), but He can’t exalt the old man. It is only the new man who can be raised up together with Him.
Ephesians 4:22 With respect to your former lifestyle, you are to lay aside the old self corrupted by its deceitful desires, 23 be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self—created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Such a blessing. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri 13-Nov-2026 3rd of Kislev, 5787
Ge 27:28-28:4 Jdg 16 Ps 37 Mt 27:1-31 (Ro 13)
Psalm 68:28 There Benjamin, the youngest, is leading them, there the throng of Judah’s princes, there the princes of Zebulun, there the princes of Naphtali.
Whew! This one is a challenge. Four of the twelve tribes are mentioned in verse 28, Benjamin, Judah, Zebulun and Naphtali. The meaning of the names of the twelve tribes tell the story of every believer in Yeshua. This verse starts with the last of the twelve. Benjamin (the last) is mentioned as leading the others. That’s the nature of the kingdom of God. Only God makes the last first. Yeshua ends His parable on the laborers in the vineyard… Matthew 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Benjamin means “son of the right hand.” That is our destiny, to be seated with Him in heavenly places.
Ephesians 2:4 But God was rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us. 5 Even when we were dead in our trespasses, He made us alive together with Messiah. (By grace you have been saved!) 6 And He raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua—
Then Judah is mentioned as a crowd of princes. Judah means “praiser of God.” When we praise God, we are elevated to royalty status. 1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were “not a people,” but now you are “God’s people.” You were shown “no mercy,” but now you have been shown “mercy.”
Rabbi Trail: I included verse 10 to show you the inclusion of “not a people” non-Jews into the royal family of God’s people. Priests praise God and royalty reigns. When they come together, (and the rabbis have always known this) that is Messiah. He is both King and Priest. And, those who follow Him are likewise, a kingdom of priests. End RT.
Zebulun and Naphtali are also described as princes (royalty). The etymology of Zebulun is “Zaval” meaning exaltation or honor. Following that, Naphtali holds the meaning of “wrestling.” It comes from “Patal” meaning twisted or cunning. That’s the overcoming each of us must do to walk with God. Jacob wrestled with God all night, before his could take on a new name (reputation). And his new name, Israel, has several meanings including “overcomer” (He struggled with God).
Rabbi Trail: The Hebrew spelling of Israel contains the “Sin-Resh” combination, which means “prince.” So, “He will be a prince of God” is another possible meaning for the name Israel. No surprise that God has layer upon layer of meaning. End RT.
Back to Naphtali and Zebulun… now can we see why they are mentioned? We have to “untwist” ourselves (stop wrestling with the old man) to walk with God. He wants to exalt us (as we exalt Him), but He can’t exalt the old man. It is only the new man who can be raised up together with Him.
Ephesians 4:22 With respect to your former lifestyle, you are to lay aside the old self corrupted by its deceitful desires, 23 be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self—created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Such a blessing. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri 13-Nov-2026 3rd of Kislev, 5787
Ge 27:28-28:4 Jdg 16 Ps 37 Mt 27:1-31 (Ro 13)
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