Ge 49:1-28

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Blessings on Jacob’s twelve sons

(Gen 49:1-28)

The last words of Jacob to his sons found their fulfilment in the history of Israel’s twelve tribes (Gen 49:1-2). First Jacob dealt with the six sons of Leah (see Gen 49:3-15), then with the four sons of the minor wives (see Gen 49:16-21), and finally with the two sons of Rachel (see Gen 49:22-27).

Reuben should have been strong, but through lack of self-control he lost the leadership of the nation (Gen 49:3-4; cf. Gen 35:22). Simeon and Levi had been violent, and their tribes were scattered in Israel (Gen 49:5-7; cf. Gen 34:25-26).

Simeon lost its separate tribal identity and was absorbed into Judah (Josh 19:1,9). Levi, however, had a more honourable scattering because of its zeal against idolatry. It had no separate tribal inheritance of its own, but was given cities in all the other tribes (Exod 32:26-29; Num 35:2-8).

Judah was the leading tribe, fierce and powerful in conquering its enemies and ruling over the other tribes. From this tribe came the royal family of David, whose greatest king, the Messiah, would rule universally in an age of unimaginable prosperity (Gen 49:8-12; cf. Judg 1:2; 2 Sam 7:16; Rev 5:5).

The tribe of Zebulun, which settled near the Mediterranean coast, was enriched through the trade that passed through its territory to the sea (Gen 49:13; cf. Deut 33:18-19). Issachar gained some prosperity from the good farming country it inhabited, but too often it submitted to the powerful Canaanites who controlled much of the region (Gen 49:14-15).

Though pushed out of its original territory on the coast, Dan believed it had the same right to exist as any other tribe. It gained a new dwelling place in the far north, but only by treachery and cruelty (Gen 49:16-18; cf. Judg 18:1-31). Gad, on the east of Jordan, was more open to attack than the western tribes, but its men were fierce fighters who drove back the invaders (Gen 49:19; cf. Deut 33:20).

Asher, bordering the northern coast, lived in rich farming lands whose olive orchards produced the best oil in Palestine (Gen 49:20; cf. Deut 33:24). The neighbouring tribe of Naphtali spread across the highland pasture lands to the Sea of Galilee (Gen 49:21; cf. Deut 33:23).

At the time of Jacob’s prophecy, Joseph was at the height of his power. He may have been treacherously attacked in the past, but God had strengthened and blessed him (Gen 49:22-24). The two tribes descended from Joseph were likewise blessed. They were large in number, and the regions they occupied were among the best in the land (Gen 49:25-26; cf. Josh 17:17-18).

The final tribe, Benjamin, was too warlike for its own good, and brought such trouble upon itself that it was almost wiped out (Gen 49:27-28; cf. Judg 19:1-21:25).