## Midrash Tanchuma, Vayechi

###### Midrash Tanchuma, Vayechi 12:1
[Midrash Tanchuma, Vayechi 12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma/s/Vayechi/r/12:1)

‎**דָּן** יָדִין עַמּוֹ כְּאַחַד, כִּיהוּדָה מְיֻחָד שֶׁבַּשְּׁבָטִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר, כְּאַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, כִּיחִידוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, שֶׁאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לַאֲחֵרִים בַּמִּלְחָמָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: פּוּרָה דָּרַכְתִּי לְבַדִּי וְגוֹ' (ישעיה סג, ג). כָּךְ שִׁמְשׁוֹן מִדָּן, אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לַאֲחֵרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: בִּלְחִי הַחֲמוֹר הִכֵּיתִי אֶלֶף אִישׁ (שופטים טו, טז).

**Midrash Tanhuma-Yelammedenu, trans. Samuel A. Berman:**
**Dan shall judge his people like one of the tribes of Israel (Gen. 49:16).** L*ike one* signifies that like Judah, he was one of the most distinguished of the tribes. Another explanation of *like one of the tribes of Israel*. He was like the Unique One of the world, who requires no assistance in battle, as it is said: *I have trod the wine press alone* (Isa. 63:3). Samson, who descended from Dan, needed no assistance from others, as is said: *With the jawbone of an ass have I smitten a thousand men* (Judg. 15:16).


###### Midrash Tanchuma, Vayechi 12:2
[Midrash Tanchuma, Vayechi 12:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma/s/Vayechi/r/12:2)

יְהִי דָן נָחָשׁ עֲלֵי דֶרֶךְ, כָּל הַחַיּוֹת מְהַלְּכוֹת זוּגוֹת. וְנָחָשׁ, יְחִידִי. כְּנָחָשׁ נַקְמָן, כָּךְ שִׁמְשׁוֹן, וְאִנָּקְמָה נְקַם אַחַת מִשְּׁתֵּי עֵינַי מִפְּלִשְׁתִּים. כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָהוּ יַעֲקֹב, אָמַר, לִישׁוּעָתְךָ קִוִּיתִי ה'.

**Midrash Tanhuma-Yelammedenu, trans. Samuel A. Berman:**
*Dan shall be a serpent on the way* (Gen. 49:16). All animals travel about in pairs, but the serpent goes about alone. And just as the serpent is vengeful so too was Samson, as is said: *I may be this once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes* (Judg. 16:18). When Jacob saw him he exclaimed: *I wait for Thy salvation, O Lord* (Gen. 49:18).


###### Midrash Tanchuma, Vayechi 12:3
[Midrash Tanchuma, Vayechi 12:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma/s/Vayechi/r/12:3)

גָּד גְּדוּד יְגוּדֶנּוּ וְהוּא יָגֻד עָקֵב, זֶה שֶׁהוּא בָא בְּעָקֵב. הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ לָכֶם אֵת אֵלִיָּה הַנָּבִיא (מלאכי ג, כג), שֶׁהוּא מִשֵּׁבֶט גָּד. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: יָגֻד עָקֵב.

**Midrash Tanhuma-Yelammedenu, trans. Samuel A. Berman:**
*Gad, a troop shall troop upon him; but he shall troop at the end* (Gen. 49:19). That is to say, the redeemer who will come at the end of days will descend from Gad, for he was one of the last to come: *Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord* (Mal. 3:23). And Elijah descended from Gad. Hence it is said: *But he shall troop in the end*.