Blessing Jacob’s Sons

Genesis 49:1-33

“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 Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.” (Genesis 49:1-2)

Parents who have worked closely with their children know what they have been taught as well as getting familiar with their attitudes, and their basic nature. When the child marries and gets out into the world, they see how he responds to those things, and after a few years can make a fairly accurate prediction as to what he will do in the future.

As the parents age, they become increasingly aware they will not always be there to advise and warn their children. The ancient practice of blessing provided an unparalleled opportunity to share the father’s concerns or to encourage as needed. Many times as the parent sought for what to tell his children, God would give special insight. Unfortunately, the custom has been largely forgotten, to the detriment of modern society.

Today, the children often see parental suggestions to day as interference, not recognizing it as a serious concern. So much emphasis has been put on belongings and activities that few parents really know their children, and modern culture discounts the value of the parent’s experience, so that even when suggestions or warnings are given, they are usually resented or ignored. Parents who are not objective in their view of a child have distorted expectations as well, and may give flawed predictions, as Isaac attempted to do for Esau, but was thwarted by Rachel and Jacob’s deception. The children’s flawed perception of what is involved was clear in Esau’s begging for a blessing.

Jacob was very near death, and he called his children together to bless them with his insights. Few realize what a blessing their parent’s insights can be until it is too late.

“Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.” (Genesis 49:3-4)

As the oldest Reuben was expected to be the example for all the others. Instead, he had become hesitant and indecisive, probably in an effort to avoid the constant conflict in the family. That unwillingness to take a stance resulted in his having an affair with his stepmother. It also enabled his brothers to sell Joseph as a slave. Because he would pass it on to his children, they would never be a strong tribe either.

“Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 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. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.” (Genesis 49:5-7)

Unlike Reuben, Simeon and Levi never acknowledge doubt. Once they reach a conclusion they will allow nothing or nobody to deter them. When they get angry, no amount of logic would dissuade them. It was this unswerving determination that caused them to break their agreement, murdering the men of Shechem and destroying the city, leaving a lot of families fatherless and homeless. When Israel became a nation, Levi and Simeon were to be separated to prevent their getting together and egging each other on, as they would tend to develop that same attitude in their children. That total focus would make the tribe of Levi a good choice for the priests as they would be very strict, but it also made it dangerous when they got focused on the wrong things.

“Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.” (Genesis 49:8-12)

Though he was the youngest of Leah’s sons, Reuben was the acknowledged leader. He could be almost as dedicated to his goals as Simeon and Levi, but he would listen to reason. He was also willing to take responsibility for his actions and acknowledge he was wrong. As a result, the greatest kings of Israel and all the kings of Judah would come from his tribe. Ultimately, the Messiah, the King of Kings would come from his tribe. This prophecy was made more than two thousand years before Christ was born.

“Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.” (Genesis 49:13)

By nature, Zebulon was more interested in trading and boats than in farming and cattle. Four hundred years later, he would claim a costal recgion near the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon and build one of the most important harbors in Israel, near present day Haifa.

“Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.” (Genesis 49:14-15)

Issachar was willing to do his share and more, but he was pretty easygoing and would prefer to be left alone. That easy going attitude would make his tribe susceptible to being conquered by various other groups.

“Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.” (Genesis 49:16-18)

Dan was capable of leading but often held back, not gaining much attention. Samson was of the tribe of Dan, and caught the Philistines by surprise, destroying their power.

“Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.” (Genesis 49:19)

Like Issachar, Gad was easy going and would be easily conquered initially, but when aroused would drive out his opponents.

“Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.” (Genesis 49:20)

Asher would primarily focus on their farming and producing ample food, providing some of the very best, and growing things the others didn’t bother with.

“Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.” (Genesis 49:21)

Naphtali was quick to make a commitment, but easily distracted and some what undependable.

“Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.” (Genesis 49:22-26)

Joseph was Jacob’s favorite, but he had proven his mettle, rising to the leadership of Egypt, even after being isolated from his family and enslaved. More than any of his brothers, he had learned to depend on God, the rock of Israel. Both Ephraim and Manasseh would be powerful tribes in Israel, although Ephraim would be the more influential.

“Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.” (Genesis 49:27)

Benjamin would become one of the most important tribes of Israel militarily, but like the wolf, sharing the results of their victories, rather than keeping it for themselves. The first king, Saul was of the tribe of Benjamin, and when Israel split into two kingdoms, Judah and Benjamin were the two tribes who united to form the nation of Judah.

“All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.” (Genesis 49:28)

Jacob’s family culture had produced certain attitudes and characteristics in each of his sons, and they passed them along to their children. Centuries later, those same traits would show up in their descendants, and affect the entire nation of Israel. We seldom consider how much our attitudes and behavior have been learned from our ancestors or how ours will affect future generations. The effects are seen in families and even in entire states and countries.

“And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: 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 for a possession of a buryingplace. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.” (Genesis 49:29-32)

While he had already told Joseph that he wanted to be buried in Canaan, Jacob made it point to inform all the others as well, preventing any future conflict. He wanted them to know that while they were living in Egypt, Canaan was still their rightful home, and that they would return there.

“And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.” (Genesis 49:33)

Jacob had been sick for some time and was forced to bless his children sitting on the side of the bed. At peace that he had done all he could to guide them, he lay back down and relaxed, and died peaceably.