Genesis49

Jacob, on his deathbed, gathers his twelve sons to impart prophetic blessings and judgments concerning their future tribal destinies. He foretells the characteristics and roles of each, notably predicting Judah's lasting kingship and Joseph's abundant fruitfulness. Jacob then instructs his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah before he peacefully dies.

Listen to this chapter

Jacob Gathers His Sons for Prophecy

¶ 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.

Reuben: Loss of Primacy

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.

Simeon and Levi: Cursed for Cruelty

¶ 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.

Judah: The Royal Line and Messiah

¶ 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.

Zebulun, Issachar, and Dan

¶ 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.

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.

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.

Gad, Asher, and Naphtali

Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

Joseph: The Fruitful Branch

¶ 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.

Benjamin: The Ravenous Wolf

Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

Summary and Jacob's Burial Command

¶ 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.

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.

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.

Study Notes for Genesis 49

Verse 1

The phrase 'in the last days' (Heb. be'aharit ha-yamim) refers generally to the distant future, specifically concerning the destiny and settlement of the tribes in Canaan. These are not merely blessings but prophetic pronouncements regarding their character and fate.

Verse 3

Reuben, as the firstborn, was entitled to the highest honors, symbolized by 'excellency of dignity and power.' Jacob establishes the traditional rights of the oldest son only to immediately revoke them.

Verse 4

Reuben forfeited his status through the sin of incest with Bilhah (Gen 35:22). His instability meant that the authority of the birthright was passed to Judah (kingship) and Joseph (double portion).

Verse 5

This refers to the violent and deceitful massacre of the Shechemites (Gen 34). Jacob distances himself from their murderous rage, emphasizing that their actions were driven by self-will rather than divine justice.

Verse 7

The curse results in scattering: Simeon was eventually absorbed into Judah’s territory, while Levi was dispersed throughout Israel as priests, mitigating the curse through dedicated service to God.

Verse 8

Judah receives the blessing of leadership and military dominance. His name, which means 'praise,' foreshadows the honor and obedience he will receive from his brothers.

Verse 9

The lion imagery signifies royalty, strength, and undisputed authority. This prophecy anticipates the rise of the Davidic dynasty, which originated from the tribe of Judah.

Verse 10

This is a key messianic verse. The 'sceptre' (ruling authority) will remain with Judah until the arrival of 'Shiloh,' traditionally understood as a reference to the Messiah, to whom the ultimate obedience of all peoples will belong.

Verse 11

This imagery depicts Judah’s future land as extraordinarily fertile and wealthy, with vines so abundant that wine is used carelessly, signifying exceptional prosperity and blessing.

Verse 13

Zebulun is prophesied to settle in a location that grants access to the sea, facilitating trade and interaction with maritime cultures, a prediction fulfilled near the coast of Galilee.

Verse 15

Issachar is characterized by preferring ease and agricultural comfort over military struggle or political ambition, leading them to accept burdensome servitude or tribute rather than fighting for independence.

Verse 17

Dan is prophesied as a cunning and dangerous tribe, using ambush and subtle force rather than open confrontation. This reflects their later history of relocation and conquest (Judges 18).

Verse 18

This sudden, personal interjection breaks the flow of the tribal prophecies. It reveals Jacob’s ultimate reliance upon God’s promised deliverance (salvation) amidst the complex and sometimes harsh futures he foresees for his sons.

Verse 19

Gad, situated in the vulnerable Transjordan region, is prophesied to face constant attacks ('a troop shall overcome him') but will ultimately be victorious, emphasizing their necessary military resilience.

Verse 22

Joseph receives the longest and most comprehensive blessing, emphasizing fertility, expansion, and resilience. The image of the fruitful bough highlights his extraordinary prosperity and the growth of his two tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh).

Verse 24

Joseph’s strength is attributed to divine intervention. God is uniquely named here as the 'Shepherd' (protector and guide) and the 'Stone of Israel' (foundation and enduring stability), reinforcing the covenant relationship.

Verse 25

Jacob invokes El Shaddai (the Almighty) to ensure abundant blessings, encompassing the fertility of the heavens (rain), the earth (deep), and human life (breasts and womb).

Verse 27

Benjamin is characterized by a warlike, aggressive nature, reflecting the tribe’s later reputation for military prowess and fierce fighting, often operating as raiders (e.g., King Saul and the tribal wars in Judges).

Verse 28

This verse concludes the prophetic section, confirming that these words were specific blessings or destinies tailored to the unique character and future of each of the twelve tribes.

Verse 29

Jacob’s insistence on burial in Canaan, specifically the Cave of Machpelah, demonstrates his profound faith in God’s covenant promise that the land would one day belong permanently to his descendants.

Verse 33

Jacob’s death brings the patriarchal age to a close. His peaceful passing and 'gathering unto his people' emphasize that he died in faith, joining the community of the deceased ancestors.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate