Beginning at Bereishit (Genesis) 49:19, we discussed Jacob’s descriptions of Gad, Asher, Naphtali, and Joseph. We noted the stylistic element of alliteration (repetition of a sound) in the description of Gad (gad yegud yegudenu v’hu yagud akev) and were struck by the different ways translators try to convey the description and, at the same time, retain the meaning of the original.
