Jacob's blessings of his sons - Genesis 49

Click here to read Genesis 49

For lots more on Jacob's blessings of his sons (Joseph and his brothers) click here for thorough and enlightening notes by Kate Birss.

The blessing of a patriarch at death is NOT considered to be prophetic. God is not obliged to fulfill what is said. It carries the wishes of the father for his sons.

It is taken very seriously, and considered to have authority, just as naming their sons also had authority. Also, a good patriarchal blessing should include a father's careful consideration of what they see in their sons, and the future they believe that are likely to have.

This is why it is described as a "blessing according to their blessing" or "appropriate to each of them". It is up to time and the son's decisions to see if they actually come to pass.

Should God fulfill a greater purpose through these words is up to him, and we can give him credit, but it is not assumed when the statement is made. Therefore, a negative pronouncement could be taken more as a warning than a curse, no matter how likely it may be to come to pass.

Since Jacob already blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, the firstborn birthright that would otherwise fall to Rueben has already been given before Jacob starts blessing the twelve.

Rueben - Jacob reminds him of when he slept with his concubine.

Simeon and Levi - Jacob reminds them of their vengeance for Dinah. He calls them violent and cruel, and says they will be scattered.

Simeon's name is lost, his tribe swallowed by Judah's. Levi's tribe remains as the priests, but they never have a land. The priests live among all the tribes, owning nothing and supported by the tithe.

JUDAH - This pronouncement is the first with its eye more on the future than the past, the first with an animal metaphor, which continues past this point, and Judah is the first son praised. Jacob says that the other sons will bow to him. He calls him a lion. He says a scepter will come to his hand. He will wash his robe in wine.

All of these things are also spoken of Jesus, THE Lion of the tribe of Judah.
The scepter will not leave him until it comes to the one it belongs.

King David was of Judah's line. Later prophesies promise a greater king that comes from David's line.

This pronouncement and the messianic prophesies that follow it give justification for seeing Judah as a type of Christ. This is seen most clearly in his willingness to be sacrificed on Benjamin's behalf.

Joseph's dreams were that his family would bow to him, which occurred in his lifetime. This pronouncement of kingship is for the future of Judah's tribe, past their lifetime.

Jacob asks his sons to bury him in the same tomb as Abraham and Jacob, the tomb in Canaan that Abraham bought for Sarah.