Jacob’s Final Blessing (Gen 49:1-15)

Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come. “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel. Ruben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it. Simeon and Levi are brothers—their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel. Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son, like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs, and the obedience of the nations is his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk. Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon. Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down between two saddlebags. When he sees how good his resting place is and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor.    

1.      Jacob is dying and so he calls his sons to gather for a final blessing and some prophetic words. Ruben is honored as the first born but his sin in lying with Jacob’s concubine would cause him to forfeit his place of preeminence. Who else forfeited his birthright to satisfy the desires of his flesh? How do sins affect our spiritual development, our witness for Jesus and good works?

2.      Simeon and Levi deceived and cruelly killed the men of Shechem (Gen 34). Jacob rebuked them. They moved to Bethel to flee from possible vengeance by neighboring people. Simeon and Levi were driven by their passion and so would not give or accept wise council. The descendants of Simeon were later absorbed into the tribe of Judah. The descendants of Levi were scattered and confined to cities. Why is it not wise to make decisions while we are angry or driven by passion? (Jas 1:19-21)

3.      The evil actions of the three older sons meant that the honor of being the preeminent son fell to Judah. Judah’s descendants would be praised and honored by the other sons and enemies. How was this prophecy fulfilled by David?

4.      The scepter or ruler’s staff would remain with the tribe of Judah in the person of Jesus the Messiah. Jesus came as a humble servant to offer himself as a sin sacrifice, but he will return as the eternal lord of heaven and earth. A judgment day will come in which the nations of the earth will submit to him. (Isa 45:21-25; Rom 14:11-12; Rev 22:12-16)

5.      The descendants of Zebulun will be associated with maritime commerce. The descendants of Issachar did not have the will to fight for independence. They became subject to their enemies so that they could remain in the land they desired. How do people today enslave themselves to the pleasures of this world?