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.
2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
4 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.
5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.
6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they digged down a wall.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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?
10 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.
11 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:
12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
13 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.
14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:
15 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.
16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 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.
18 I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.
19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.
20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.
21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
24 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:)
25 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:
26 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.
27 Benjamin shall raven as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
28 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.
29 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,
30 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.
31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
32 The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.
33 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 chapter 49 is a significant chapter in the book of Genesis, as it contains the final words and blessings of Jacob to his twelve sons before his death. This chapter serves as a transition from the story of Jacob to the story of his descendants, the twelve tribes of Israel. It also foreshadows the future of these tribes and their roles in the history of Israel. The main themes of this chapter include blessings, prophecies, and the importance of family and lineage. Through Jacob's words, we can see the importance of honoring and following God's will, as well as the consequences of disobedience. This chapter also highlights the power of God's promises and the fulfillment of His plans for His people.
The chapter begins with Jacob calling his sons to gather around him so he can bless them before his death. This act of blessing was a significant tradition in ancient times, as it was believed that the words of a father held great power and could shape the future of his children. Jacob's blessings were not mere words, but they carried the weight of God's promises and plans for each of his sons.
Jacob begins by addressing his firstborn son, Reuben, and reminds him of his position as the firstborn and the privileges that come with it. However, he also rebukes Reuben for his impulsive and reckless behavior, which resulted in him losing his birthright. This serves as a reminder that even though God has chosen and blessed us, our actions and choices can have consequences.
Next, Jacob blesses Simeon and Levi, but also rebukes them for their violent and vengeful nature. He prophesies that their descendants will be scattered and divided among the other tribes of Israel. This foreshadows the future of the tribe of Levi, who became the priests and caretakers of the tabernacle, and the tribe of Simeon, who eventually merged with the tribe of Judah.
Jacob then turns his attention to Judah, who receives the most extensive and significant blessing among all the brothers. Jacob prophesies that the scepter will not depart from Judah, and the ruler's staff will always be in his hand. This is a foreshadowing of the future kings of Israel, who would come from the tribe of Judah, including King David and Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the Lion of Judah in the New Testament.
The blessings continue with Zebulun, who is promised to dwell by the sea and become a haven for ships. Issachar is described as a strong donkey, who will bear the burden of labor and serve his brothers. Dan is compared to a serpent, and Jacob prophesies that he will be a judge and a ruler among his people. Gad is promised to be a great and mighty warrior, who will defend his people from their enemies.
Asher is described as a rich and prosperous tribe, who will produce an abundance of food and delicacies. Naphtali is compared to a doe, who will bear beautiful and swift fawns, symbolizing the tribe's agility and strength. Joseph is blessed with the blessings of the heavens and the earth, and his descendants are promised to be fruitful and multiply. Benjamin is described as a fierce and powerful wolf, who will devour his enemies and provide for his people.
As Jacob blesses his sons, he also prophesies about their future and the future of their descendants. These prophecies serve as a reminder that God's plans and promises will be fulfilled, and His people will face both blessings and challenges along the way.
Jacob prophesies that the tribe of Judah will produce a ruler and that the tribe of Dan will produce a judge. This foreshadows the future kings and judges of Israel, including King David and King Solomon. It also serves as a reminder that God is in control and will raise up leaders to guide and protect His people.
He also prophesies that the tribe of Joseph will face challenges and betrayals, but ultimately, they will rise to power and become a blessing to their people. This is a foreshadowing of Joseph's story, where he is sold into slavery by his brothers but eventually becomes a powerful ruler in Egypt and saves his family from famine.
Jacob also prophesies about the future of the tribe of Benjamin, predicting that they will be a fierce and powerful tribe, but also that they will face battles and struggles. This foreshadows the tribe's role in defending the nation of Israel and their eventual division during the reign of King Saul.
Throughout this chapter, we see the importance of family and lineage in God's plan for His people. Jacob's blessings and prophecies are not only for his sons but also for their descendants. This highlights the significance of passing down blessings and promises from one generation to the next.
The twelve tribes of Israel were not just a group of people, but they were a family, united by their common ancestry and faith in God. This chapter serves as a reminder that we are all part of a larger family, the family of God, and we have a responsibility to honor and support one another.
Furthermore, the blessings and prophecies in this chapter also emphasize the importance of lineage in God's plan for salvation. The tribe of Judah, from which Jesus Christ would come, was chosen and blessed by God. This shows that God had a specific plan and purpose for the lineage of His people, and He fulfilled it through the birth of Jesus.
Genesis chapter 49 holds great significance for us as believers today. It reminds us of the power of blessings and the fulfillment of God's promises. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of honoring and following God's will, as well as the consequences of disobedience.
This chapter also highlights the power of God's plans and the fulfillment of His promises. The blessings and prophecies given by Jacob to his sons were fulfilled in the history of Israel, and they continue to hold meaning for us today. This chapter also foreshadows the birth of Jesus Christ, who came from the tribe of Judah and fulfilled the prophecies given by Jacob.
Furthermore, this chapter emphasizes the importance of family and lineage in God's plan for His people. As believers, we are all part of the family of God, and we have a responsibility to honor and support one another. We are also reminded of the significance of our lineage and how God can use it for His purposes.
In conclusion, Genesis chapter 49 is a powerful and significant chapter in the book of Genesis. It serves as a transition from the story of Jacob to the story of his descendants, the twelve tribes of Israel. Through Jacob's blessings and prophecies, we are reminded of the power of God's promises and the importance of honoring and following His will. This chapter also highlights the significance of family and lineage in God's plan for His people and foreshadows the birth of Jesus Christ, who came to fulfill God's promises and bring salvation to the world.
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