Vayechi 49:16 · unit 2

Parashas Vayechi · Passuk 49:16

The Complete Passuk

דָּ֖ן יָדִ֣ין עַמּ֑וֹ כְּאַחַ֖ד שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Yisrael.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sotah / midrashic parallel (R’ Yochanan on Shimshon).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שִׁמְשׁוֹן דָּן אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּאֲבִיהֶם שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״דָּן יָדִין עַמּוֹ כְּאֶחָד״.

English: R’ Yochanan said: Shimshon judged Yisrael as their Father in Heaven does, as it is said “Dan shall judge his people as one.”

On the daf / in context: The verse is applied to Shimshon, the judge from the tribe of Dan; “as one” is understood as resembling the unique judgment of Heaven.

Type of Learning

Derash applying the blessing to the career of Shimshon.

What Is Learned

Shimshon’s judgment of Yisrael is compared to the singular justice of Heaven, and the verse is the source of that comparison.