Introduction

Before his death, Jacob called his sons and gave a blessing containing prophetic words to each of them. These revealed something about their character, as well as what will happen to them or their descendants in the future. The fulfilment of many of these words is seen through the remainder of the OT.

“Gather around, that I may tell you what will happen to you in days to come. Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob; listen to Israel, your father” (v2).

The two tribes with the longest blessings were Judah and Joseph. These eventually became the two dominant tribes after Israel was divided. In the south, Judah was the kingly tribe, and in the north, Ephraim (one of the two sons of Joseph) became the prominent tribe. Judah was promised both physical blessings, and the spiritual blessing of being the dominant tribe, the responsibility of effectively being the firstborn, being the kingly tribe, as well as the ancestor of the promised Messiah. Joseph was promised physical blessings, particularly the double inheritance of the firstborn.

Some of the tribes only received very brief blessings, especially Gad, Asher and Naphtali.

1. Reuben (v3-4)

“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the first fruits of my vigour, excelling in rank and excelling in power. Unstable as water, you shall no longer excel because you went up onto your father’s bed; then you defiled it - you went up onto my couch”.

Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn son, whose mother was Leah. His name means, ‘Behold a son’, which were Leah’s words when he was born (29:31). Jacob’s prediction was that he was the firstborn, but was unstable. He will no longer excel because he defiled his father’s bed.

Reuben had the privilege of being the first-born son, but he was condemned and lost that privilege because he lay with Bilhah, Rachel’s maid-servant (Gen 35:22). He urged his brothers not to kill Joseph (Gen 37:22), but sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites (Gen 37:29). Later, his descendants settled east of the Jordan, not crossing over into the Promised Land (Num 32). They built an unauthorised place of worship (Josh 22:10-34), and failed to fight alongside Deborah and Barak (Judges 5:15-16). No leader ever came from the tribe of Reuben, they never excelled. In later times the Reubenites were integrated into the tribe of Gad, and at times overrun by the Moabites.

2 & 3. Simeon and Levi (v5-7)

“Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. May I never come into their council; may I not be joined to their company - for in their anger they killed men, and at their whim they hamstrung oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.”

Simeon was Jacob’s second son, whose mother was Leah. His name means ‘Hearing’, which is also based on the words of Leah when his was born, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also” (29:33). Levi was Jacob’s third son, whose mother was also Leah. His name means ‘Attachment’, which is also from the words of Leah, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” (29:34). Jacob’s spoke about Simeon and Levi together. Jacob cursed their anger, and promised that he will divide them.

After their sister Dinah was defiled by the men of Shechem, Simeon and Levi retaliated by tricking them into being circumcised, then killing them while they were still in pain and unable to defend themselves (Gen 34:25). Simeon was not given their own tribal area, but was allocated land within the land given to Judah (Josh 19:1). This meant that they gradually lost their identity and eventually disappeared after the reign of Asa. Levi became the priestly tribe with no land allocation. Their cities were scattered among the other tribes (Josh 21:1-3). In this way Simeon and Levi were separated. Moses was the most well-known descendant of Levi. He violently stood against idolatry when he came down from the mountain and saw the golden calf (Ex 32:26-28).

4. Judah (v8-12)

“Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches down, he stretches out like a lion, like a lioness - who dares rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and the obedience of the peoples is his. Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he washes his garments in wine and his robe in the blood of grapes; his eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.”

Judah was the fourth son of Jacob, whose mother was also Leah. His name means ‘Praise’, from the words of Leah, “This time I will praise the LORD” (29:35). Judah received the most positive word from Jacob, that his other brothers will bow before him. They will praise him, matching the meaning of his name. He is described as a lion’s whelp, like a dangerous resting lion, who will rule as the kingly tribe.

The promise to Judah is that the sceptre shall not depart from him (v10). Judah will eventually become the kingly tribe. Soon after the Exodus they became the leading tribe. When leaving Mt Sinai, Judah was at the head of the march (Num 2:9, 10:14). After the death of Joshua, God commanded that Judah should be the first to go and fight the Canaanites (Judges 1:1-2).

David, from the tribe of Judah, was anointed king by Samuel (1 Sam 16:6-13), who later brought God’s promise that his descendants will rule over Israel forever (2 Sam 7:12-16). Following the division of the kingdom, the tribe of Judah became the southern kingdom. The name ‘Jew’ is derived from the name ‘Judah’. From this prediction by Jacob, the expectation was that the Messiah will come from the tribe of Judah. Jesus is introduced by Matthew as ‘Son of David’, with his genealogy traced back through Judah (Matt 1:1). In the Book of Revelation, Jesus is described as the lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5).

In the words of Jacob, the length of the kingship of Judah will be limited in some way (v10c). The meaning of this is uncertain. The King James Bible (KJV) expresses it this way, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be” (49:10). This passage has often assumed to be Messianic. However, Shiloh is not found anywhere in the Bible as a title of the Messiah, or of a Messianic event. Instead, it is the name of a place in the land of Ephraim near to Bethel, where the tabernacle was set up during the time of the judges and Samuel (Judges 18:31, 1 Sam 1:3). The statement was understood as Messianic in some Jewish writings, including the Dead Sea Scrolls (4QPBless).

5. Zebulun (v13)

“Zebulun shall settle at the shore of the sea; he shall be a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon”.

Issachar and Zebulun were the fifth and sixth sons of Jacob and Leah, born following the birth of two sons with her maid Zilpah. In his blessing, Jacob blessed Zebulun before Issachar, rather than following the order of their birth. Zebulun was the sixth son of Jacob and Leah. His name means ‘Dwelling”, based on her words, “God has endowed me with a good dowry; now my husband will honour me, because I have bourne him six sons”. (30:20).

Zebulun was allocated land near to the sea, near the border with Phoenicia, south of Sidon (Josh 19:11). The shore of the sea may refer to the Sea of Galilee / Chinnereth.

6. Issachar (v14-15)

“Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds; he was that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant; so he bowed his shoulder to the burden, and became a slave at forced labour.”

Issachar was the fifth son of Jacob and Leah. His name means ‘Reward”, based on her words, “God has given me my hire because I gave my maid to my husband” (30:18).

The land allocated to Issachar was rich and fertile, producing good crops, but was frequently raided. Jacob’s word suggests that Issachar lost their freedom in order to enjoy physical comforts. However, there is no mention of this in the OT. Issachar was faithful to Deborah and Barak in their battle against the Canaanites (Judges 5:15).

7. Dan (v16-17)

“Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that is rider falls backward”.

Dan was the Jacob’s fifth son, and his first son with Rachel’s maid Bilhah. His name means ‘Justice’, based on the words of Rachel following his birth, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” (30:6).

Dan was allocated the smallest area of all the tribes (Josh 19:40-48). According to the Book of Judges, the tribe of Dan moved to the north following their conquest of the area around Laish (Judges 18). His land protected Israel from enemies attacking from the north. The tribe of Dan was condemned for introducing idolatry (Judges 18:30). During the rebellion of Jeroboam and division of the kingdom, Jeroboam set up one the golden calves in Dan (1 Kg 12:28). The reference to Dan being like a snake that bites the horse’s heels remains a mystery.

8. Gad (v19)

“Gad shall be raided by raiders, but he shall raid at their heels”.

Gad was the first son of Jacob and Leah’s maid Zilpah. Leah gave Zilpah to Jacob after she thought she had ceased to bear children. His name means ‘Fortunate’, as Leah declared, “Good fortune” following his birth (29:11).

Gad took land east of the Jordan in the area of Gilead, along with the tribes of Reuben and half-Manasseh, who wanted to settle there (Num 32). This was fertile land, but vulnerable to attack by enemies. The account of Jephthah describes their struggle against the Ammonites and other peoples from the east (Judges 11:1-12:7). The people of Gilead (including Gad), along with Dan, and Asher were rebuked for not supporting Deborah and Barak (Judges 5:17). The people of the trans-Jordan were the first to be taken into exile by the Assyrians.

9. Asher (v20)

“Asher’s food shall be rich, and he shall provide royal delicacies”.

Asher was the second son of Jacob and Leah’s maid Zilpah. His name means ‘Happy”, as following his birth, Leah proclaimed, “Happy am I! For the women will call me happy” (30:9).

Asher was allocated land on the rich and fertile seacoast, near Phoenicia. The tribe became insignificant in the history of Israel. They were also rebuked for not supporting Deborah and Barak (Judges 5:17). Asher may have been included with those who supplied food for Solomon’s household (1 Kg 4:7).

10. Naphtali (v21)

“Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears lovely fawns”

Naphtali was the second son of Jacob and Rachel’s maid Bilhah. His name means ‘Wrestlings”, based on the words of Rachel following his birth, “With many wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister (Leah), and have prevailed.” (30:8).

The translation of Naphtali’s blessing is unclear, so there are a wide range of different interpretations from the positive to the negative. The tribe of Naphtali was known for their swiftness. Barak defeated Jabin with an army from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun (Judges 4:10, 5:18).

11. Joseph (v22-26)

“Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall. The archers fiercely attacked him; they shot at him and pressed him hard. Yet his bow remained taut, and his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, by the God of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you with the blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father are stronger than the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills; may they be on the head of Joseph, on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.”

Joseph was the long-awaited first son of Jacob and Rachel, Jacob’s favourite wife. After his birth, she declared, “God has taken away my reproach”, and prayed, “May the LORD add to me another son” (30:23).

When Joseph heard that his father was ill, he took his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to Jacob (48:1). He blessed Joseph, and said, “I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers; I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you as a perpetual holding. Therefore your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you, are now mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are.” (48:3-5). This meant that Ephraim and Manasseh became the ancestor of their own tribes, on the same level as the sons of Jacob.

Jacob then blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, but reversed their birth order. Joseph tried to correct his father, but Jacob refused to change (48:17-19). Ephraim, the younger son, received the blessing of the older son (48:14). For Manasseh, Jacob said, “he shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless his younger brother (Ephraim) shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations” (48:19).

Through the following history of Israel, many leaders came from the tribe of Ephraim, including Joshua, Deborah and Samuel. The judges Gideon and Jephthah were from the tribe of Manasseh. Both tribes were strong in war and had fertile lands. However Jeroboam I, from the tribe of Ephraim caused the division of the kingdom, becoming the major tribe of the northern kingdom.

12. Benjamin (v27)

“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey, and at evening dividing the spoil”.

Benjamin was youngest son of Jacob, born to Rachel, who died in childbirth with him (35:16-21). She named him ‘Ben-oni’, meaning ‘Son of Sorrow’, but Jacob named him Benjamin, meaning ‘Son of the right hand’.

The tribe of Benjamin was bold, strong and successful in warfare. This is seen in the account of Ehud, the left-handed judge who was from the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 3:15-30). The tribe was almost destroyed because of their cruelty (Judges 20). King Saul, the first king of Israel, was from the tribe of Benjamin, and showed some of these characteristics. Descendants of Benjamin were renowned as mighty warriors and archers, and skilled with the sling (1 Chr 8:40, 12:2).