Midrash · Aggadah
Midrash Tanchuma, Vayechi 13/מדרש תנחומא·
אמֵאָשֵׁר שְׁמֵנָה לַחְמוֹ, שֶׁבְּנוֹתָיו נָאוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: בְּאָשְׁרִי כִּי אִשְּׁרוּנִי בָּנוֹת (בראשית, יג). וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר, בָּרוּךְ מִבָּנִים אָשֵׁר יְהִי רְצוּי אֶחָיו (דברים לג, כד), עַל יְדֵי בְנוֹתָיו.
1As for Asher, his bread shall be fat (Gen. 49:20). That is, his daughters shall be beautiful, as it is said: For my daughters make me happy (Gen. 30:13). Blessed be Asher above sons, let him be favored of his brethren (Deut. 33:24) because of his daughters.
בוְהוּא יִתֵּן מַעֲדַנֵּי מֶלֶךְ, שֶׁבְּנוֹתָיו רְאוּיוֹת לַמַּלְכוּת. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר, הַמַּלְבִּשְׁכֶם שָׁנִי עִם עֲדָנִים (ש״ב א, כד).
2And he shall yield royal delights (Gen. 40:20). His daughters shall be worthy of kings. Hence, Scripture states: Who clothed you in scarlet with other delights (II Sam. 1:24).
גנַפְתָּלִי אַיָּלָה שְׁלֻחָה, זוֹ בִּקְעַת גִּינוֹסַר הַמְּבַכֶּרֶת פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ וּמְמַהֶרֶת כָּאַיָּלָה.
3Naphtali is a hind let loose (Gen. 49:21). This refers to the valley of Gennesareth, which has early crops that ripen speedily, just as the hind (runs swiftly).
דהַנֹּתֵן אִמְרֵי שָׁפֶר, לְפִי שֶׁאַרְצוֹ מְבֹרֶכֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: נַפְתָּלִי שְׂבַע רָצוֹן וּמָלֵא בִּרְכַּת ה' (דברים לג, כג), שֶׁמְּכַבְּדִין מִפֵּרוֹתֵיהֶם לַמְּלָכִים וּמַשְׁפִּירִין דִּבְרֵיהֶם. וְאִם יֵשׁ בְּלִבָּם עֲלֵיהֶם, מִתְרַצִּין.
4He giveth goodly words for his land is blessed, as it is said: O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the Lord (Deut. 33:23). They would serve their fruit to kings while speaking guardedly, so that if they were ill-disposed toward them, they would be reconciled.
הבֵּן פֹּרָת יוֹסֵף, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי פָּרוֹת נִתְגַּדֵּל.
5Joseph is a fruitful vine (ben porat) (Gen. 49:23). Because of a cow (parah) he was exalted.23