JACOB'S DEATHBED BLESSING ON HIS SONS (49:1-28). Genesis 49:1 ‘And Jacob called to his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together that I may tell you what will befall you in later days.” This is, and is stated to be, not so much a blessing as a series of prophecies. But that does not diminish its... [ Continue Reading ]
“Assemble yourselves and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.” His words are to the sons as a family, although each will be treated individually. For some they represent devastating criticism and warning, for others general prophecy, and for Judah and Joseph effective prophecy... [ Continue Reading ]
“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my power, Pre-eminent in dignity, and pre-eminent in strength, Uncontrolled as water you will not be pre-eminent, Because you went up to your father's bed, Then you defiled it. You went up to my couch.” Jacob first describes Reuben in... [ Continue Reading ]
“Simeon and Levi are brothers, Weapons of violence are their swords, Oh my soul, do not come into their council, Oh my glory, to their assembly do not be united. For in their anger they slew man, And in their self-will they hamstrung oxen, Cursed be their anger for it was fierce, And their wr... [ Continue Reading ]
“Judah, your brothers will praise you, Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies, Your father's sons will bow down before you. Judah is a lion's whelp, My son, you are gone up from the prey, He stooped down, he couched as a lion, And as a lioness, who will rouse him up? Nor the ruler's st... [ Continue Reading ]
“Zebulun will dwell at the shore of the sea, And he will be for a haven for ships, And his flanks will reach towards Zidon.” Having moved into prophetic mode Jacob now seems more inspired. It seems probable that Zebulun has revealed a liking for the sea and has taken an interest in ships. For the... [ Continue Reading ]
“Issachar is a strong ass, couching down between the sheepfolds, And he saw a resting place that it was good, and the land that it was pleasant, And he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a slave under forced labour.” Jacob recognises in Issachar (‘man of wages') someone who enjoys his pleasur... [ Continue Reading ]
“Dan will judge his people, as one of the offshoots (or rods or tribes) of Israel, Dan will be a serpent in the way, an adder in the path, Who bites the horses' heels, so that his rider falls backwards. I have waited for your deliverance, Oh Yahweh.” “DAN WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” The family tribe... [ Continue Reading ]
“Gad, a marauding band will press on him, but he will press on their heel.” This rather enigmatic statement reflects Jacob's conviction of some disaster to face Gad at the hands of a marauding band. He may indeed, with the wisdom of an old man, be aware of some trouble already brewing. But he assur... [ Continue Reading ]
“Asher's food will be rich, and he will yield royal dainties.” It would appear that Asher has ventured into catering. He may even have been given a position in Pharaoh's palace. He is thus eating excessively well and providing royal dainties. There are no suggestions anywhere that this interest was... [ Continue Reading ]
“Naphtali is a hind released, he gives goodly words.” Naphtali has clearly been the surprise among the brothers. He is like a trapped hind which has been let loose, in that he has moved from being merely the quiet one to becoming a teacher of wisdom (see Proverbs 15:26; Proverbs 16:24). Wisdom teac... [ Continue Reading ]
“Joseph is the son of a fruitful tree, The son of a fruitful tree by a spring, His daughters run over the wall. The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him and persecuted him, But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of... [ Continue Reading ]
“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning he will devour the prey and at even he will divide the spoil.” To a shepherd the ravenous wolf was a dreaded but awesome sight. He ate in the morning and was himself satisfied and then in the evening he provided extra for his young. Thus likewise Benjami... [ Continue Reading ]
‘All these are the twelve offshoots (tribes) of Israel, and this is what their father said to them, and he blessed them, with a blessing suitable to each one he blessed them.' “THE TWELVE OFFSHOOTS (TRIBES) OF ISRAEL.” This is the first use of this full phrase (only used elsewhere in Exodus 24:4; Ez... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DYING JACOB CHARGES HIS SONS TO BURY HIM IN MACHPELAH (49:28-33) Genesis 49:29 ‘And he charged them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave which is in the field of Machpelah, which is bef... [ Continue Reading ]