Common misinterpretations include viewing 'unicorns' as mythical horned horses rather than the powerful wild ox (re'em), injecting fantasy into the text; treating the 'pushing' of peoples to earth's ends as a call for global conquest or endorsement of imperialism, such as in British Israelism linking Ephraim to modern nations; or reading it literally as biological mutations instead of recognizing the metaphorical poetry of tribal blessing, divine empowerment for Canaanite victories, and hyperbolic language emphasizing fruitfulness and dominance over foes.
Deuteronomy 33:17
King James Version (1769)
17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
Moses' blessing on Joseph portrays the tribe's future glory and power through vivid imagery of a firstborn bull with horns like a wild ox, symbolizing immense strength and vitality that will enable Ephraim and Manasseh to conquer enemies decisively—Ephraim with tens of thousands and Manasseh with thousands—prophesying their numerical growth, military prowess, and role in securing Israel's inheritance in the Promised Land as part of God's covenant promises.