Genesis 49:4

‘You flow as water flows.’ A person cannot lean on water because the water moves. So this means, ‘A person cannot trust you.’

‘You shall not be first.’ Before this time, Reuben had the right of the oldest son. Jacob said that Reuben would not keep that right. But this verse does not only mean that Reuben himself would not be first. It refers to Reuben himself, but it also refers to Reuben’s *tribe. Reuben’s *tribe would not lead the other *tribes. Judah’s *tribe would lead them.

‘You had sex.’ See Genesis 35:22.

v5 ‘Simeon and Levi are brothers.

They make plans for deeds of war.

v6 I do not join in with their plans.

I do not go with them.

They are angry and they kill men.

They are fierce and they kill animals.

v7 Their anger is evil, because it is so fierce.

Their deeds are wicked, because they are so cruel.

I will divide them in Jacob

and I will scatter them in Israel.’