like the firstling of his bullock." (Deut. xxxiii. 17.) The especial glory conferred on Joseph was this, namely that, although he was youngest but one of the twelve patriarchs, nevertheless a supremacy over the eldest born was conferred upon him. He was endowed with the high privilege of that glorious birthright, for which God's chosen people were appointed. Moses seems to have had some perception of this great mystery even at mount Horeb. Joseph he says is blessed "for the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush." (Ibid. 16.) Even then it appears to have been intimated to the shepherd of Midian, that Joseph was especially distinguished for some great end by "Him that dwelt in the bush" at Horeb-by the angel of the everlasting God Jehovah of the God of his fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-of the eternal I AM. Hence, contemplating with prophetic prescience the power of Joseph's exalted destiny, he says in the blessing before us, "His horns are like the horns of Unicorns." In similar language David exults in the 92nd Psalm. "My horn shall be exalted like the horn of a unicorn-for I am anointed with fresh oil," and why? Because he was the root from whence was to proceed the Messiah "-the real "anointed,"-the real "horn of salvation raised up for us, in the house of his servant David," who "should visit and redeem his people," (Luke i. 68, 69.) by whom "the enemies of the Lord should perish, and all the workers

of wickedness be destroyed." (Ps. xcii. 9.) It is this great one and the same event, which, to David, of the house of Judah, in right of the genealogy; and to Joseph, by virtue of the birthright, gave occasion to the figure, which is equally applied to both.

But this figure of "the horns of a unicorn," in its application to Joseph, is not used merely to signify in general terms, power or strength. It also points out distinctly the purpose for which that power and that strength were granted. "He shall push the people together to the ends of the earth." (Deut. xxxiii. 17.)

"All

As it is said also in the 22nd Psalm : the ends of the world shall remember, and turn unto the Lord; and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before him.”

Finally, Moses points out, in this blessing with whom this immense congregation, collected from "the ends of the earth," are to be associated.

They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh." They are all the house of Israel, who were marked upon the stick of Ephraim for Joseph. For "thus saith the Lord God-Behold! I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows and I will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick-and

H

they shall be one in mine hand."

"And the heathen shall know that I, the Lord, do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore." (Ezekiel xxxvii. 19-28.)

SECTION XXII.

Benjamin.

Benjamin shall raven as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. (v. 27.)

DEUT. And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of xxxiii. the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

12