JACOB BLESSES HIS TWELVE SONS It is generally considered that in its present form, this chapter gives us indeed the last utterances of the dying patriarch respecting the future of his sons, but with additions and developments of a later date. As it stands we have not the broken utterances of a dying... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH SHALL BEFALL YOU] what will be the fortunes of the tribes descended from you. IN THE LAST DAYS] RV 'in the latter days,' i.e. in the future. 3, 4. The prediction concerning Reuben. Reuben was Jacob's eldest son, but the tribe never attained to any distinguished position. It was situated on t... [ Continue Reading ]
UNSTABLE] rather, 'unrestrained,' descriptive of ungoverned passion. Reuben's sin is mentioned in Genesis 35:22. EXCEL] rather, 'have the preëminence.' 5-7. The prediction respecting SIMEON and LEVI. Simeon and Levi were both sons of Leah; but they also were brethren in the cruelty of their attack o... [ Continue Reading ]
INSTRUMENTS OF CRUELTY, ETC.] better, 'their swords are weapons of violence.'... [ Continue Reading ]
SECRET] RV 'council,' referring to the treachery of Genesis 34. THEY SLEW A MAN] see Genesis 34:25; THEY DIGGED DOWN A WALL] RV 'they houghed an ox,' by cutting the sinew of the thigh: perhaps a reference to the Shechemites' cattle which they raided (Genesis 34:28), maiming in their destructiveness... [ Continue Reading ]
The name Judah ('praise') suggests the honour in which the tribe would be held. THY HAND, etc.] The tribe of Judah took a leading part in the conquest of Canaan and was first to secure their territory: cp. on Numbers 2:1. In the time of David they held the headship of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
The tribe is compared for its bravery to a lion. The figure of a lion on a pole became the standard of Judah, and our Lord Himself is called 'the Lion of the tribe of Judah' (Revelation 5:5) owing to His descent from David.... [ Continue Reading ]
A LAWGIVER] RV 'the ruler's staff.' FROM BETWEEN HIS FEET] This most probably refers to the custom of planting the sceptre or staff of a prince or chieftain in the ground between his feet as he sat. This verse has always been regarded by both Jews and Christians as a remarkable prophecy of the comin... [ Continue Reading ]
ZEBULUN SHALL DWELL] The blessing is connected with the word Zebulun, 'dwelling.' The land of this tribe was between Asher and Naphtali. It may have touched the coastland of Phoenicia represented here by Sidon. So in Deuteronomy 33:19 it is said that Zebulun should 'suck of the abundance of the sea,... [ Continue Reading ]
Again a play on the name of the tribe, for Dan means 'judge.' Though small in territory it should retain its tribal independence and self-government: cp. Deuteronomy 33:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
DAN SHALL BE A SERPENT] or, 'May Dan be,' etc., a wish for the tribe's success in war: cp. the conquest of Laish, Judges 18:27. The territory of Dan lay between Ephraim and Simeon. The Danites were hard pressed by the Philistines, and part of the tribe emigrated to Laish in the N. of the Holy Land,... [ Continue Reading ]
The connexion of this verse with the preceding is uncertain. Kalisch says, 'the poet, identifying himself with the oppressed and embarrassed tribe, utters in its name, with mingled reliance and resignation, the fervent prayer “In hope of Thy help, O Lord.”'... [ Continue Reading ]
The name Gad is here connected with a Hebrew word meaning a troop or marauding band. The Gadites were settled E. of Jordan, in the land of Gilead. They were much oppressed by the Ammonites whom Jephthah conquered: see Judges 10:11 : cp. Deuteronomy 33:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
The tribe of Asher settled along the productive land on the coast between Mt. Carmel and Lebanon. SHALL BE FAT] Asher was famous for its produce of olive oil: see on Deuteronomy 33:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
A more probable rendering of this v., supported by LXX, is 'Naphtali is a spreading terebinth producing beautiful branches.' The tribe was settled in a fertile district between Lebanon and the Sea of Galilee: cp. Deuteronomy 33:23. 22-26. The blessing of Joseph. The branches are Ephraim and Manasse... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ARCHERS] perhaps Canaanite and Arab peoples bordering on these tribes.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THENCE, etc.] or, 'By the name of the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel.' The name 'Rock' is often given to God in OT.: cp. Moses' Song, Deuteronomy 32:4; Deuteronomy 32:13; Deuteronomy 32:31,; and Psalms 89, 94, 95.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSINGS OF HEAVEN] Earthly prosperity of all kinds, rain and sunshine from heaven, springs from the earth, fruitfulness both of man and beast.... [ Continue Reading ]
The blessing of Moses on the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, Deuteronomy 33:13, may be studied in connexion with this difficult v. Render with RM, 'The blessings of thy father have prevailed above (exceed) the blessings of the ancient mountains, the desirable things of the everlasting hills.' 'The m... [ Continue Reading ]
Benjamin was a very warlike tribe. Saul, the first king of Israel, was a Benjamite; and so was that other Saul who 'fought a good fight' under his great Captain, 2 Timothy 4:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE.. WAS GATHERED UNTO HIS PEOPLE] his shade joined those of his forefathers in the other world. The expression may be held to embody a rudimentary hope of immortality: see on Genesis 25:8.... [ Continue Reading ]