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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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Genesis 49:21
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Again, there is only one verse about this son and his subsequent tribe, but it's a good one. Naphtali is a hind: they were good runners. It is a tremendous commendation in few words. The hind is let loose, presumably having been trapped. Off it goes release with a surging sense of liberty – a picture of gratitude. There were like the Ethiopian marathon runners. It seemed to be a feature of the tribe. They are noted in the Scripture for their exploits. They were the kind of light infantry when the nation was at war. They would do things very quickly. And ‘he giveth goodly words’; they were natural poets. When they spoke they were like the Welsh; it was all very mellifluous. Barak was certainly from Naphtali and perhaps Deborah also. The Song of Deborah and Barak Israel’s victory into poetry. Here we have people who can generate encouragement, and respond to everything with alacrity, who can put things into words beautifully – the literary tribe. Calvin sees bridge building, peace-making aptitudes.
Application
Naphtali received a tough rugged lot, but they did better than others in subduing Canaanites – the strong Canaanite city of Hazor became a principal city in Naphtali. There were many high points in their history. You would think that the hardest lot would make for ingratitude, but often it works this way: an easy lot makes for heady people.
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