12 Tribes of Israel https://www.casualenglishbible.com/genesis-49/
Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2019/10/genesis.html
"Israel gathers his sons to his dying bed, and he blesses all 12 of them. Israel gives a prophetic blessing, and he tells about the 12 tribes of Israel that will descend from their loins. After blessing them, Israel commands his sons to bury him with his fathers Abraham and Isaac. They are to bury him in the cave in the field of Machpelah in the land of Canaan. When Israel finished instructing his sons, he passed away. Israel was gathered to his people."
"Israel gathers his sons to his dying bed, and he blesses all 12 of them. Israel gives a prophetic blessing, and he tells about the 12 tribes of Israel that will descend from their loins. After blessing them, Israel commands his sons to bury him with his fathers Abraham and Isaac. They are to bury him in the cave in the field of Machpelah in the land of Canaan. When Israel finished instructing his sons, he passed away. Israel was gathered to his people."
Some key verses from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..
- “Judah, you are the one whom your brothers shall praise;
Your father’s sons shall bow down to you.
“Judah, a lion’s cub;
With the prey, my son, you have gone high up [the mountain].
He stooped down, he crouched like a lion,
And like a lion—who dares rouse him?
“The scepter [of royalty] shall not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
Until Shiloh [the Messiah, the Peaceful One] comes,
And to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
“Tying his foal to the [strong] vine
And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,
He washes his clothing in wine [because the grapevine produces abundantly],
And his robes in the blood of grapes.
“His eyes are darker and sparkle more than wine,
And his teeth whiter than milk." v.8-12
- "All these are the [beginnings of the] twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each one according to the blessing appropriate to him. He charged them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave in the field at Machpelah, east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, that Abraham bought, along with the field from Ephron the Hittite, to possess as a burial site." v.28-30
My personal observations and reflections...
- BLESSINGS AND PROPHECIES. Jacob (re-named Israel by God) was about to breath his last (147 years), so he called for all his 12 sons so he can speak blessings (or prophecies) to them. This must be suspenseful, and a bit sad, for everyone.. Everything that Jacob uttered were divinely guided or orchestrated by God, I believe. This was no ordinary man, no ordinary family, and a great nation named "Israel" will be fathered by these 12 sons (Manasseh and Ephraim for their father Joseph). 'The Beginning', Genesis account, as part of the Bible, is about to end, but the story is just starting.. Through these 12 Tribes-- God will fulfill His covenant promise to Abraham, God will work His ultimate plan of salvation by paving the way for the coming of Jesus.
* "From the Hebrew name יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) meaning "God contends", from the roots שָׂרָה (sarah) meaning "to contend, to fight" and אֵל ('el) meaning "God". In the Old Testament, Israel (who was formerly named Jacob; see Genesis 32:28) wrestles with an angel." https://www.behindthename.com/name/israel
- REUBEN, SIMEON AND LEVI DISQUALIFIED. The first, second, and third born of Jacob were all disqualified from the 'birthright' because of their grave sins in the past. Reuben committed lust and adultery with Bilhah, his father's concubine, while Simeon and Levi committed violence and revenge towards Shechemites. These sons may have learned the lessons from their past mistakes, but they have to accept that sin has consequences. Still, God is good and merciful. They will still take part in the nation-building that God is going to do.
*Bible Footnotes: Genesis 49:3 "Reuben was the eldest of Jacob’s twelve sons and therefore entitled to the birthright, which would make him successor to his father as head of the family or tribe, and inheritor of a double portion of his father’s estate. But Reuben forfeited all this by his conduct with Bilhah, his father’s concubine (35:22). By adopting Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and giving each of them a portion of the inheritance, Jacob virtually gave Joseph the extra portion of the land that would have gone to Reuben. Judah became the tribal leader in Reuben’s place (49:8-10)."
Genesis 49:4 "The fertile land once occupied by the tribe of Reuben was deserted by its settled inhabitants and given over to the tribal nomads of the desert. Because of his behavior, Reuben had forfeited his rights as the firstborn even before Jacob’s prophecy."
Genesis 49:7 "This prophecy was fulfilled when the tribe of Levi received no inheritance except forty-eight towns scattered throughout different parts of Canaan. The tribe of Simeon was originally given only a few towns and villages in the midst of the inheritance of the tribe of Judah (Josh 19:1)."
Genesis 49:4 "The fertile land once occupied by the tribe of Reuben was deserted by its settled inhabitants and given over to the tribal nomads of the desert. Because of his behavior, Reuben had forfeited his rights as the firstborn even before Jacob’s prophecy."
Genesis 49:7 "This prophecy was fulfilled when the tribe of Levi received no inheritance except forty-eight towns scattered throughout different parts of Canaan. The tribe of Simeon was originally given only a few towns and villages in the midst of the inheritance of the tribe of Judah (Josh 19:1)."
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"As the firstborn of the family Reuben had claim to the inheritance rights of the firstborn, but he forfeited it through pride (the excellency of dignity) and immorality (you defiled it).
b. Unstable as water, you shall not excel: Because of Reuben’s instability the birthright was divided. Usually the firstborn was the spiritual and social leader of the clan; but among the sons of Israel the rights of blessing, priesthood, and ruling authority were divided rather than being centralized in one.
i. Though we see the great wisdom of God in decentralizing authority among the sons of Israel, Reuben paid a high price for his instability. As much as anything, God looks for stable character in those who will lead His people.
i. Though we see the great wisdom of God in decentralizing authority among the sons of Israel, Reuben paid a high price for his instability. As much as anything, God looks for stable character in those who will lead His people.
c. You shall not excel: The tribe of Reuben never did excel. No prophet, no judge, or no king came from the tribe of Reuben. Reuben is an example of how the first can be last (Matthew 19:30).
- SIMEON AND LEVI. I find the following study commentary interesting! Both committed the same sin, both received equal blessing and prophecy from their father Jacob-- but each had a different future. God is showing us 2 paths here, one that went bad, and one that went good (for His glory and honor).
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"c. I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel: The prophecy of dividing and scattering turned out to be a curse for Simeon. The tribe of Simeon was the weakest numerically of the 12 (Numbers 26:14) and shared an allotment of land with Judah (Joshua 19:1).
i. The tribe of Simeon became small during the wilderness wanderings. They started out from Egypt being the third largest tribe (Numbers 1:23), but some 35 years later, at the second wilderness census of Israel, 63% of the tribe perished and they became the smallest tribe (Numbers 26:14).
i. The tribe of Simeon became small during the wilderness wanderings. They started out from Egypt being the third largest tribe (Numbers 1:23), but some 35 years later, at the second wilderness census of Israel, 63% of the tribe perished and they became the smallest tribe (Numbers 26:14).
d. I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel: The prophecy of dividing and scattering became a blessing for Levi. Because of the faithfulness of this tribe during the rebellion of the golden calf (Exodus 32:26-28), it was scattered as a blessing throughout the whole nation of Israel. They received no large tract of land, for the Lord was their inheritance, not land (Joshua 13:33).
i. So both Simeon and Levi were scattered, but one as a blessing and the other as a curse.
ii. The American author Washington Irving said: “It lightens the stroke to draw near to him who handles the rod.” When we suffer from our sin, we should draw near to God and anticipate that in mercy He will turn suffering into blessing."
i. So both Simeon and Levi were scattered, but one as a blessing and the other as a curse.
ii. The American author Washington Irving said: “It lightens the stroke to draw near to him who handles the rod.” When we suffer from our sin, we should draw near to God and anticipate that in mercy He will turn suffering into blessing."
- JUDAH SEEMS TO GET THE BEST. Jesus was called the "Lion of Judah" in Revelation 5:5, "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” Despite being a son from Leah (4th son), Judah was blessed and prophesied the most important blessing of all! Accordingly, Judah's name means "praise" (Genesis 29:35). Praise be to God for Jesus!
*Bible Footnotes: About Gad and Benjamin
Genesis 49:19 The Hebrew word from which the name “Gad” is derived has two meanings. In this verse the Hebrew meaning is associated with a “raiding troop” but in 30:11 it is associated with “good fortune.”
Genesis 49:27 The tribe of Benjamin invariably displayed courage and ferocity, particularly in their war with the other tribes. The tribe of Benjamin was absorbed by the tribe of Judah and is not mentioned after the return from the Babylonian captivity, except in connection with its former land or as the source of some individual person. Ehud, Saul, Jonathan, and the apostle Paul were Benjamites.
Genesis 49:19 The Hebrew word from which the name “Gad” is derived has two meanings. In this verse the Hebrew meaning is associated with a “raiding troop” but in 30:11 it is associated with “good fortune.”
Genesis 49:27 The tribe of Benjamin invariably displayed courage and ferocity, particularly in their war with the other tribes. The tribe of Benjamin was absorbed by the tribe of Judah and is not mentioned after the return from the Babylonian captivity, except in connection with its former land or as the source of some individual person. Ehud, Saul, Jonathan, and the apostle Paul were Benjamites.
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"a. Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise: Judah wasn’t a completely exemplary character. He suggested a profit motive in getting rid of Joseph (Genesis 37:26). He did not deal faithfully with his daughter-in-law Tamar (Genesis 38:26), and he had sex with her as a prostitute (Genesis 38:18). But he showed good character when he interceded and offered himself as a substitute for Joseph (Genesis 44:18-34). Overall, this blessing is an example of the richness of God’s grace.
i. Jewish tradition says after Judah heard what Jacob had to say to Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, he was afraid because of the evil he did.
i. Jewish tradition says after Judah heard what Jacob had to say to Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, he was afraid because of the evil he did.
b. You are he whom your brothers shall praise…as a lion…the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet…to Him shall be the obedience of the people: Each of these refer to the ruling position Judah will have among his brethren. He inherited the leadership aspect of the firstborn’s inheritance. This leadership position among his brothers meant that the eventual kings of Israel would come from Judah and that the Messiah – God’s ultimate leader – would eventually come from the tribe of Judah.
ii. “The firstborn normally had two rights. First, he became the leader of the family, the new patriarch. Second, he was entitled to a double share of the inheritance, receiving twice as much as any of the other brothers.” (Boice)
ii. “The firstborn normally had two rights. First, he became the leader of the family, the new patriarch. Second, he was entitled to a double share of the inheritance, receiving twice as much as any of the other brothers.” (Boice)
c. Until Shiloh comes: The leadership prophecy took some 640 years to fulfill in part with the reign of David, first of Judah’s dynasty of kings. The prophecy took some 1600 years to completely fulfill in Jesus. Jesus is referred to as Shiloh, the name meaning, He whose right it is and a title anciently understood to speak of the Messiah."
Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Gen/Gen-49.cfm ©2013 David Guzik
Read the Bible here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+49&version=AMP#en-AMP-1478
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+49&version=AMP#en-AMP-1478
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