Genesis Chapter 49

Israel’s Final Prophetic Blessings

This Chapter contains more Prophetic Blessings than any other Chapter of the Bible. Many of these Prophecies are partially fulfilled in the old Testament, some in the new Testament, and others are still to be completely fulfilled in the “end times”. Remember, many Prophecies have more than one meaning, and therefore more than one fulfillment. We will only look at some of the most significant ones. Keep in mind that the only One who can know ALL the meanings and fulfillment is the Holy Spirit, Whom we should ALWAYS seek; asking for understanding and discernment.

49:1-2

Israel gives a formal request to ALL his sons to present themselves before him for the Patriarchal Blessings. He announces that the Blessings would be a foretelling, and certain Prophecy of what would come in the future for each of his sons and their descendants, all the way into the future of the last days. This is the first time we see a specific notice to ALL the sons that his words are to be Prophetic! The Holy Spirit doesn’t want them, or their descendants, or even US to miss the crucial importance of what will happen in the future. A dying Patriarch’s words were considered to be irrevocable. Israel’s words were divinely inspired by God. Notice the emphasis to ALL the sons to be gathered together at the same time to hear the Prophecies for each one of themselves, and all the other brothers and all their descendants. “Hearken” means that they are to pay close and careful attention to Israel’s Prophetic words and to record and remember for all their lives what is being foretold. When God gives you a Truth and a Life Lesson, do you write it down and record it somewhere? We should memorize and focus on that Truth for our own life and benefits. Sometimes God allows adverse circumstances in our lives because we have FAILED to remember and focus on His Word and those Life Lessons for us. Ever feel like you are re-learning a lesson? Each one of us must focus on a Truth that God reveals and is teaching us and commit to obeying Him ALL our life! Of all the lessons in life, the most important are those taught to us by the Holy Spirit. It is utter foolishness to ignore God’s Word and His Truth!

49:3-4

Reuben is the firstborn son, the son who should have received the honor and double blessings; and Israel identifies him as his firstborn son. He was to have his strength, excellency of dignity and power. Yet that coveted place of honor and blessings was lost because he committed adultery with Israel’s own concubine; showing himself to be unstable, having a lack of control of his sexual appetite, not caring if he defiled his own father, or perhaps, even worse, he intended to deliberately defile his father as a way of showing that he was intent upon ‘taking over’ Israel’s position as the Tribal Ruler. The pagans would consider it the ultimate usurping of the Ruler’s authority by taking the ruler’s wife or concubine. We don’t know if Reuben was just out of control, or if he was deliberately challenging Israel. Either way he was not honoring his father, or obeying God, but rather sliding down into immoral pagan practices. God’s moral law NEVER CHANGES, regardless of what the culture or society allows. God wants all of us to be pure and holy in every area of our lives. Reuben would fail in leadership. In the future, the tribe of Reuben would be involved in the rebellion in the wilderness, see Numbers 16:1; and in the future in the time of the Judges, Judges 5; 15-16, the tribe of Reuben was characterized by irresolution. As the firstborn son, he lost the double portion to Joseph. He lost the position and honor as priest, which would be given to the sons of Levi. His right to be the ruler, or king, of the Tribe would be given to Judah. No Judge, Prophet or Prince ever comes from the tribe of Reuben. Moral sin has terrible consequences for the sinner and their posterity.

49:5-7

Both Simeon and Levi joined together to viciously avenge their sister Dinah for her rape by Hamor. They deceitfully used circumcision to render all the men incapable of defending themselves, then murdered all the men of the entire city. Their cruelty and lack of moral righteousness was unbelievably vicious and heartless. Israel states that he knew nothing about their secret horrible plot to viciously slay all the men until after the deed was done. Israel curses their anger and wrath because it was so cruel and vicious. Levi’s zeal against idolatry was a cause of the tribe’s future priestly appointments in Exodus 31:26-28. They were to be divided and scattered, yet the Levites would NEVER inherit any land, they were scattered to several cities. In the future his tribe was to be decreased in the wilderness, Numbers 1:23 26:14. Moses pronounced no blessing on this tribe. Then Simeon’s descendants became the fewest and were given only a few cities in Joshua 19:1. The Levites also did not keep their position of spiritual leadership and moral righteousness.

49:8-10

Now the fourth son of Leah, Judah, receives a shocking praise; that he will be the one his brothers praise. Remember that his very name meant “praised”. He will be strong and overcome his enemies. All the other brothers will bow down before him, indicating that the Tribe of Judah would remain the ruling Tribe of the Israelites. The “Scepter” represented the right to rule the Tribe and enforce the laws, including punishment that included death. The Hebrew word Shiloh means “Whose it is”, the Scepter would not leave Judah until the right to rule came to the One to Whom it truly belonged, the Messiah. After the death of King Herod in about 4 B.C., Caesar Augustus placed Archelaus over Judea. He was unable to properly rule and was replaced by a procurator named Caponius, It was at this time that the right to rule and retain the legal power to exact the death penalty was removed from the Sanhedrin in A.D. 6-7. The Jews cried and wept in the streets of Jerusalem, throwing ashes upon themselves, because they believed that the Word of God had been broken, since the Scepter, or right to retain their legal power to exact the death penalty, had been removed and Shiloh (Messiah) had not come! Yet, unknown to them, a young son of a carpenter, named Yeshua (Jesus), was growing up in Nazareth. Shiloh had come, yet they did not know it! On Palm Sunday, He would present Himself as the Messiah the King on the exact day which had been predicted by the Angel Gabriel to Daniel five centuries earlier! God’s Word NEVER fails!

49:11-12

These Prophecies regarding the coming Messiah would be partially fulfilled in Isaiah 63:1-3, Zech. 9:9, and Revelation 19:11-16. In the Gospels, the foal, the ass’s colt, the choice vine, all these allusions are to Jesus, as the choice vine; he rode the colt into the city of Jerusalem as he presented Himself as the Messiah. His garments were drenched in blood when He was beaten and crucified. The blood of grapes? Jesus stated that the wine was His blood, to be shed for the forgiveness of sins. Remember the figures of speech? These verses give types and metaphors to future revelations.

49:13-15

The tribe of Zebulun would become wealthy because of seaborne trade. They would be settled between he Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean. Joshua 19:10-16. Issachar was likened to a strong ass, a beast of burden that would submit itself to a yoke. This ‘yoke’ would be submission to slavery, so they could enjoy ease and comfort, rather than struggle for freedom. The tribe of Issachar would be located in the fertile plain of Esdraelon, where they were invaded by armies of Canaanites; they would submit to slavery rather than fight for freedom.

49:16-17

Although the tribe of Dan was to provide justice; Dan means “Judge”; yet the tribe failed to be righteous and honest. Instead they chose treachery, like a ‘snake in the grass’. At the time of the Judges, the first major practice of idolatry was done by the tribe of Dan in Judges 18:30. Then in 931 B.C., Jeroboam set up a golden calf in Dan for pagan worship. The tribe of Dan is omitted in 1 Chronicles 1-10 and in Revelation 7. Samson was one of the Judges that came from the tribe of Dan. Yet he failed because he lacked faithful obedience to God; moral failure and idolatry are often linked. In other listings of the 12 tribes, they are listed last. God hates idolatry and moral unrighteousness.

49:18

Waiting for God’s Salvation should not be inactive. We should be waiting for the return of Jesus with great hope and active anticipation. We are to be obeying God’s Word and seeking righteousness and holiness in all we do, say and think. If Jesus came today, would He find you obeying His Word in everything?

49:19

Gad was Israel’s 7th son, by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid. This tribe was fierce and warlike. They were known to be strong men of war for the battle. They were experts at handling the shield and buckler. Their faces were fierce, like lions. 1 Chronicles 12: 8 5:18-22. Elijah the Prophet came from this tribe 1 Kings 17:1.

49:20

Asher was a full brother of Gad. This tribe would settle along the rich northern coast of Canaan; Mt. Lebanon to the Mediterranean. See Joshua 19:24-31. This Tribe would become agriculturally productive. Deuteronomy 33:24 states that Asher would ‘dip his foot in olive oil”. The Royal Dainties would be the workmen and material providers to David in 2 Samuel 5:11 and for Solomon in 1 Kings 5:1-10. This tribe kept the Passover under King Hezekiah, see 2 Chronicles 30:1, 10, 11 and the Prophetess Anna was from the Tribe of Asher. See Luke 2:36.

49:21

Naphtali’s tribe would eventually be known for their deer-like speed and agility, making them effective in military efforts. See Judges 4:6 5:18. Barak, with the help of Deborah, won a great military victory over the Canaanites in Judges 4:6 and 15. Naphtali was excellent with words; read the song that Deborah and Barak composed to celebrate their victory in Judges 5:1-31.

49:22-26

Joseph, the favored son, was the most faithful and obedient to God. Israel gives him the longest prophetic statement. It concerns Joseph and Ephraim and Manasseh. His sons will be both fruitful and prosperous. Greater blessings were predicted for Joseph than any of the other brothers. The Prophet Samuel descended from Ephraim and the Prophet Gideon came from the line of Manasseh. As we had studied before, Joseph had become a type of Christ, and we will see over 100 Prophetic allusions and types of references that are fulfilled in Jesus! You are encouraged to take the time to look them all up and note how God had blessed Joseph, despite his severe trials and tribulations. Be encouraged by these scriptures, and seek to implement the Life Lessons into your own life.

49:27

Benjamin, the youngest, and the only full brother of Joseph; receives this rather gruesome and perplexing Prophetic Blessing. Yet, in the future, his tribe becomes a warlike tribe well known for their excellent archery skills and the ability to be left-handed ‘slingers’. See Judges 20:16, First Chronicles 8:40, 12:2; and Second Chronicles 14:8; 17:17. Saul, the first king of Israel was of this tribe. See 1 Sam. 9:1-2. The apostle Paul, originally Saul, was also a Benjamite with warlike attributes as he sought to destroy all the Christians.

49:29

After Israel concludes his Prophetic Blessings, he has them bound under oath to bury him with his forefathers in the family burial cave in the land of Canaan. He reminds them that Abraham and Sarah were both buried there. Genesis 23:17-20. His father Isaac, and mother Rebekah, were also buried there, along with Leah, in the same cave. After he finishes all his Prophetic pronouncements and request to be buried in the Promised Land, he lays down in his bed and breathes his last and peacefully gives up his spirit. The term ‘gathered to his people’, indicates that the Holy Spirit is confirming that Israel is now with the Believers that had gone on before him. What a wonderful assurance to know that we, too, as faithful Believers will one day be ‘gathered together’ with our loved ones!