Deuteronomy 33:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Joseph declared, "Blessed is his land by the Lord in the fruit of the... the dew of heaven." In Joseph, we find a reflection of Immanuel. The earth symbolizes His human nature, producing fruit from both the dew of heaven above and the depths below. The dew of heaven in Him signifies the understanding of divine matters, while the earth embodies the awareness of worldly things and the higher realities beyond the earthly realm.

Following the blessings for the tribes, he turns to Joseph, offering a blessing that encompasses both tribes. He speaks of the Lord's favor upon his territory, highlighting the splendor of the heavens, the nourishing dew, and the deep waters from the springs below. He also refers to the yield of the sun and the abundance of the months, as well as the heights of the mountains at their inception and the peaks of the eternal hills. He prays for the heavenly gifts and the earth’s harvests, which are sustained by the rains, refreshed by the dew, and matured by the sun through the cycles of the seasons and the months. These bountiful yields are provided not just by the flatlands, but also from the heights of the mountains.