Genesis 49

The future of Jacob’s sons (vs. 1-28)—As I’ve mentioned a few times before in this study, a “blessing” from a patriarch was prophetic. In this chapter, Jacob “blesses” all his sons, although some of them aren’t so positive. Here’s what he says about each son:

Reuben (vs. 3-4)—“Unstable as water, you shall not excel” (v. 4), and that’s because “you went up to your father’s bed" (remember Gen. 35:22).  We read very little about the tribe of Reuben once the children of Israel get settled in the land of Canaan.

Simeon and Levi (vs. 5-7)—They are considered together because of what they did to the men of Shechem, as recorded in Genesis 34. They don’t come off very well, either: “Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly” (v. 6). “I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel” (v. 7). Levi will become the priestly tribe and thus got no parcel of land, and Simeon’s plot will actually be within the confines of Judah, and Simeon’s people will eventually be absorbed by Judah’s.

Judah (vs. 8-12)—He will be strong as a lion (v. 9), but the key thought here is in verse 10: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes.” The “scepter” means “king”; David and the kings of Judah—and thus Christ—were from the tribe of Judah. And that will remain so “until Shiloh comes”—the Prince of Peace (“Shiloh” means “peace” or “peaceable), which is, of course, a reference to Christ. So we have here a continuation of the Messianic line. Can you name them? And who was Judah’s son? (cf. chapter 38). End of the article for the answer.

Zebulun (v. 13)—“Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall adjoin Sidon.” And that’s exactly what happened.

Issachar (vs. 14-15)—These verses are a little obscure, but perhaps reference the good agricultural land that the tribe of Issachar will possess.

Dan (vs. 16-17)—“Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel” (v. 16). Some have understood this as a reference to Samson, who was from Dan. Otherwise, the meaning is vague. The statement that “Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a viper by the path” (v. 17), indicates a certain level of guile and cunning, and not necessarily of a good variety.

Gad (v. 19)—“Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last.” This is all that is said about Gad, and it’s not easy of interpretation. The best understanding seems to be that the tribe of Gad was a crossroads for frequent warfare, but that they usually came out on top.

Asher (v. 20)--"Bread from Asher shall be rich, And he shall yield royal dainties.” From its fertile position on the sea coast, the tribe of Asher was able to produce some of the finest corn and oil in all of Israel.

Naphtali (v. 21)—“Naphtali is a deer let loose; he uses beautiful words.” Your guess is as good as mine. One commentator suggests that Naphtali’s allotment was in rich pastureland where deer would graze. As good a surmise as any. And perhaps some fine authors or orators (“beautiful words”) came from Naphtali. Very obscure.

Joseph (vs. 22-26)—This is the longest blessing, and keep in mind there is no true “tribe of Joseph”; his allotment was divided among his sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Some of their land will be very fruitful (v. 22). They will be hated (Ephraim, especially, because, again, it will be the most powerful tribe in the northern kingdom), but they will give as good as they get (vs. 23-24). “By the God of your father who will help you, and by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above” (v. 25). That will happen as long as they are faithful. “The blessings of your father have excelled the blessings of my ancestors”—i.e., Ephraim will be the strongest tribe in Israel.

Benjamin (v. 27)—“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil.” A very warlike, violent, independent tribe. The story in Judges 19 is a perfect example of this tribe’s character—and it’s one of the m ost shameful stories in the Bible.

These were the blessings Jacob gave to each of his sons.

The death of Jacob (vs. 29-33)—He made one last request of his sons before he died—the request he’d already made to Joseph: take him back to Canaan and “bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite as a possession for a burial place” (vs. 29-30). And when he finished speaking those words, “he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people” (v. 33). The story of Jacob: Isaac, Easu, the dream, Laban, wrestling with the angel of God and having his name changed to “Israel,” 12 sons (and a daughter) by four women, Joseph and the trip to Egypt…Quite an eventful life.

The Messianic line: Adam—Seth—Noah—Shem—Arphaxad—Abraham—Isaac—Jacob—Judah—Perez…all from the book of Genesis, the foundation of the Bible.