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Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Genesis 49:6

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 those which they could not carry off.

8-12. Judah now receives the chief blessing which his elder brothers Reuben, Simeon, and Levi had forfeited. He is assured of the headship of the tribes and a fruitful territory.

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See also Genesis 49:6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 49:6. _INTO THEIR SECRET COUNCIL_, c.] Jacob here exculpates himself from all participation in the guilt of Simeon and Levi in the murder of the Shechemites. He most solemnly declares th...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Jacob Blesses His Sons 5. מכרה _m__e__kêrāh_, “weapon;” related: כיר _kārar_ or כרה _kārāh_ dig. “Device, design?” related: מכר _mākar_ “sell,” in Arabic “take counsel. Habitation.” 10. מחקק...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 49 JACOB'S PROPHECY _ 1. The call of Jacob: “Gather yourselves together” (Genesis 49:1)_ 2. The prophecy concerning his sons (Genesis 49:3) Reuben (Genesis 49:3) Simeon and Levi ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE BLESSING OF JACOB. This poem had an independent origin, but if it was incorporated in one of the main documents it would be in J. It is not a mere collection of originally isolated utterances on t...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    O MY SOUL, COME NOT THOU, &C.— Or, _into their secret my soul entered not._ But our translation is much more emphatic. Jacob, by this pathetic exclamation, testifies the higher detestation of his sons...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART FORTY-SEVEN THE LAST DAYS OF JACOB AND JOSEPH (Genesis 48:1 to Genesis 50:26) The Biblical Account 48 And it came to pass after these things, that one said to Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick:...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _O MY SOUL, COME NOT THOU INTO THEIR SECRET; UNTO THEIR ASSEMBLY, MINE HONOUR, BE NOT THOU UNITED: FOR IN THEIR ANGER THEY SLEW A MAN, AND IN THEIR SELFWILL THEY DIGGED DOWN A WALL._ Into their secre...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    49:6 assembly; (c-15) Or 'company' as ch. 28.3. oxen. (d-28) Some read 'pulled down a wall.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Before Jacob died, he gave his *blessing as the father of the family. A father’s *blessing was very important. (See Isaac’s *blessing in Genesis 27:26-40.) God told Jacob what he should say. Therefore...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 49 JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS V1 Then Jacob called his sons. He said to them, ‘Gather yourselves together. I will tell you what shall happen to you in...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ‘They use their swords.’ Simeon and Levi attacked the men in Shechem. (See Genesis 34:25-26.) ‘I do not agree.’ Jacob told them that their deed was wrong. (See Genesis 34:30.)...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THEIR SECRET. — The word _sôd_ used here is literally the little carpet, or cushion, upon which an Oriental sits. Consequently, for two persons to sit upon the same carpet marks a high degree of frien...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    בְּ סֹדָם֙ אַל ־תָּבֹ֣א נַפְשִׁ֔י בִּ קְהָלָ֖

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE BLESSINGS OF THE TRIBES Genesis 48:1; Genesis 49:1 JACOB'S blessing of his sons marks the close of the patriarchal dispensation. Henceforth the channel of God's blessing to man does not consist o...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB FORETELLS THE FUTURE OF HIS SONS Genesis 49:1 Once more Joseph visited his father's dying-bed. This was the third time and the last. He stood as one of twelve strong bearded men, gathered aroun...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Before his passing, Jacob, in forecasting the future of his sons, based what he had to say on what he had already seen in them. In some cases the allusions are difficult to follow, and the connection...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    JACOB'S FINAL DAYS The writer gives a brief record of the rest of Jacob's life before he gives details of the events surrounding the time of his death. Jacob lived seventeen more years in Egypt and s...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    O my soul, come not thou into their (d) secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a (e) man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. (d) Or, to...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Slew a man, viz., Sichem, the son of Hemor, with all his people, chap. xxxiv. Mystically and prophetically it alludes to Christ; whom their posterity, viz., the priests and the scribes, put to death....

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Genesis 34:30. The Simeonites and Levites were scattered among the other tribes. Joshua 21:3; Joshua 21:3; 1 Chronicles 6:24, etc....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 48, 49, AND 50. Lastly, in chapter 48 besides the prophetical character important in the history of Israel we see Joseph as heir; the double portion (mark of...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    O MY SOUL, COME NOT THOU INTO THEIR SECRET,.... Their cabinet counsels, combinations and conspiracies; this Jacob said, as abhorring the wicked counsel they had took of slaying the Shechemites; and le...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Ver. 6. _O my soul...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _My soul, come not thou into their secret_ Their cursed plot hatched in secret: far be it from me to approve of their secret designs. And let not _mine honour_ Or good name, be stained by being associ...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iacob calleth his sonnes to blesse them. 3 Their blessing in particular. 29 He chargeth them about his buriall. 33 He dieth. 1 AND Iacob called vnto his sonnes, and said, Gather your selues toge...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united; the thought of being closely identified with them fills Jacob with horrified dismay. FOR IN THEIR ANGER...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The blessing upon Simeon and Levi...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    TENTH SECTION _Jacob’s blessing of his sons. Judah and his brethren. Jacob’s last arrangements. His burial in Canaan. His death._ GENESIS 49:1-33 1And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yo...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB'S PROPHECY AS TO THE TWELVE TRIBES (vs.1-28) After a life of many failures and troubles, the last days of Jacob stand out in bright relief. His perception of God's ways became much more clear a...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    DIGGED DOWN A WALL: Or houghed oxen...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    3-7 Reuben was the first-born; but by gross sin, he forfeited the birthright. The character of Reuben is, that he was unstable as water. Men do not thrive, because they do not fix. Reuben's sin left...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THEIR SECRET; or, _counsel, _ or _company, _ as the word is used, PSALMS 64:2 JEREMIAH 15:17; i.e. do not partake with them in their secret and wicked designs. Hereby he signifies to all posterity, th...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    On which we shall dwell more particularly. There is not in scripture a more perfect and beautiful type of Christ than Joseph. Whether we view Christ as the object of the Father's love, the object of t...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 49:6 soul H5315 enter H935 (H8799) council H5475 honor H3519 united H3161 (H8799) assembly H6951 anger...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “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,...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 49:5 From the history of Simeon and Levi we learn in many ways the evil consequences of giving reins to our angry passions and wild desires. It is needful to consider this, for these passions...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 48 and 49 _(with Deuteronomy 33and Judges 5)_ Jacob's blessing of his sons marks the close of the patriarchal dispensation. Henceforth the channel of God's blessing to man does not consist of...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 49:1. _And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    L, 2. _And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last day. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; an...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jacob's dying blessing, prophetic of the tribes of Israel. CHARACTERS: Jacob, twelve sons. CONCLUSION: It is a great blessing to attend upon Godly parents in their last hours that we might...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 49:2. _Gather yourselves together._ This phrase implies that they should come purified, and prepared for instruction. Genesis 49:3. _Reuben._ Jacob here seems to enumerate the excellencies of...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Simeon and Levi are brethren_ THE BLESSING OF SIMEON AND LEVI: I. THEIR SIN. 1. Immoderate revenge. 2. Cruelty to unoffending beasts. 3. Their cruelty was deliberate. II. THEIR PENALTY. 1. To...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 49:5 Jacob’s statement regarding SIMEON AND LEVI centers on their violent behavior (see ch. Genesis 34:1). Their descendants will be scattered

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 49:4. Unstable as water.] Heb. _Boiling over as water._ Another form of this word is rendered _lightness,_ in Jeremiah 23:32; Zephaniah 3:2, referring to the character of fals...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 49:1 AND JACOB (having closed his interview with Joseph and his two sons) CALLED (by means of messengers) UNTO HIS SONS (_i.e._ the others who were then absent), AND SAID, GATHER Y...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And Jacob called his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days (Genesis 49:1). This is probably the grandest hour of the old man Jaco...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    O my soul. Judges 5:21 Psalms 42:5 Psalms 42:11 Psalms 43:5 Psalms 103:1...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    They slew a man — Shechem himself, and many others; and to effect that, they digged down a wall, broke the houses to plunder them, and murder the inhabitants. O my soul, come not thou into their secre...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    How can Jacob pronounce a curse upon Levi here and yet Moses blessed Levi in Deuteronomy 33:8-11? PROBLEM: In Genesis 49:5-7, Jacob pronounces a curse upon Levi: “Cursed be their [Simeon’s and Levi’s]...

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