Explanation: In Genesis 49 Jacob called his sons together to tell them what would befall them in the last days (1). He told them to gather and hear (2).
     He began with Reuben, telling him that he was unstable and would not prevail because he defiled his father's couch, referring to his sin of lying with Bilhah, his father's concubine; his tribe never came to any prominence in Israel, and no leaders or notable persons emerged from it (3-4).
     Jacob then cursed the anger and self-will of Simeon and Levi who killed Shechem and his tribe for Shechem's rape of their sister Dinah (Genesis 34), breaking their promise to intermarry with them; Simeon was the weakest of the tribes; and, instead of having its own distinct territory, it had an area within Judah; Levi was also scattered, having no distinct territory; but, in compensation, they were the priestly caste in Israel, and they had various cities in the various territories (5-7).
     Jacob next prophesied that Judah's brethren would bow down before him, that he would hold the scepter, and that he would have a lawgiver "from between his feet" -- meaning "from his natural progeny" until Shiloh (Peaceable, Tranquil) came. This was fulfilled when David rose to the throne of Israel, and then by David's descendant, Christ, whose kingdom is eternal and who is noted for being peaceful and for bringing peace between God and those he saves through his atonement (8-12).
     Zebulun would be a maritime power; it had borders not only on the Mediterranean, but also on the Sea of Galilee (13).
     Issachar, though strong, would be burdened with paying tribute -- referring, probably to the tribute they paid to the Canaanites in the days of the Judges (14-15).
     Dan would be a tribe of judges (who were, in part military leaders), shown partly by their conquest of Laish (in Judges 18) and the exploits of Samson (16-18).
     Gad would be conquered but afterward would be the conqueror; this may refer to afflictions such as those mentioned in Judges 10:8 and Jeremiah 49:1 (19).
     Asher received a promise of abundance, which may refer to the agricultural fertility of its coastal territory (20).
     Naphtali, apparently, was promised a wide, prosperous territory. The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary says, this: "The best rendering we know is this, "Naphtali is a deer roaming at liberty; he shooteth forth goodly branches," or majestic antlers [Taylor, Scripture Illustrations], and the meaning of the prophecy seems to be that the tribe of Naphtali would be located in a territory so fertile and peaceable, that, feeding on the richest pasture, he would spread out, like a deer, branching antlers." (21).
     Joseph received a promise of abiding strength and of being a shepherd. During his lifetime, he was a shepherd to his family in Egypt; later, through the descendants of his son Ephraim, his tribe ruled the ten tribes which formed the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the time of the Divided Kingdom (22-26).
     Benjamin would have a ravenous, wolf-like character. This is shown particularly in Judges 19-21 where the tribe of Benjamin harbored some among them who raped and murdered a man's concubine, even going to war against the other tribes to defend them (27).
     After giving these prophecies, Jacob ordered his sons to bury him in Canaan where Abraham and other members of the family, including Leah, were buried. Why Jacob buried Leah, his less beloved wife, in the family plot and not Rachel, his most beloved wife, one can only speculate. However, a plausible speculation is that, in Israel's heart, Leah, not Rachel, had become his primary wife. She and her concubines had given him 8 of his 12 sons. Six were from Leah personally. By the time Israel died, Leah's son Judah, was already the leader of the twelve. And the supreme leader of the nation (David, then Christ) would come from Leah's son Judah. All of these things would have been sufficient to make Leah the primary wife.
     So, having given his blessings and his final instructions, Israel gathered his feet into his bed and died (28-33).
     [ Sermons: Sinclair B Ferguson 1. Sinclair B Ferguson 2. Stuart Olyott 1. Stuart Olyott 2. William Still. Various. ]
     [ Illustration: Today's painting depicts the subject of today's chapter, Jacob blessing his twelve sons. ]

     ²⁸ 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. ²⁹ 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, ³⁰ In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before [upon the face of] Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace. ³¹ There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. ³² The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. ³³ 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.

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