Preface: In Genesis 49, Jacob gives his final words to each of his 12 sons, prophesying in many cases of the future of each tribe. What he says is based very much upon the behavior that these sons have exhibited over the years. Jacob then commands his sons to bury him in Canaan, at which point he dies.

There are many chapter commentaries on the book of Genesis. This will be the most extensive examination of Genesis 49, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text. Every attempt has been made to make this both a complete and self-contained study. Therefore, all references, vocabulary, and related concepts should be found within this extensive study. Easy access links to more in-depth studies of some vocabulary words, concepts and doctrines are also provided.

Outline of Chapter 49:

Preface

Introduction

         vv.     1–28         Jacob’s End-of-Life Message to All His Sons

         vv.         1–2          Assembling the Sons

         vv.         3–4          Reuben

         vv.         5–7          Simeon and Levi

         vv.         8–12        Judah

         vv.        13–15        Zebulun and Issachar

         vv.        16–17        Dan

         vv.         18           A call for God’s salvation

         vv.        19–21        Gad, Asher and Naphtali

         vv.        22–26        Joseph

         vv.         27           Benjamin

         vv.         28           Closing

         vv.    29–33         Jacob’s Burial Instructions Followed by His Death

Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Preface

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Prequel of Genesis 49

         Introduction         The Principals of Genesis 49

         Introduction         The Places of Genesis 49

         Introduction         The Patriarchal Timeline for Genesis 49

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Genesis 49

         Introduction         William Ramey’s Chiasmos of Genesis 49:1–33

         Introduction         Paragraph Divisions of Modern Translations for Genesis 49 (from Dr. Bob Utley)

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v.       3              Various Translations of Genesis 49:3

         v. 

         v.       4              The Tribe of Reuben — a Summary Table

         v.       4              Locations of Information for Tables

         v. 

         v. 

         v.       7              The Tribe of Simeon — a Summary Table

         v.       7              The Tribe of Levi — a Summary Table

         v. 

         v. 

         v.      10              The Davidic Covenant (quoted from Psalm 89)

         v.      10              The Two Meanings of Genesis 49:10a-c

         v. 

         v. 

         v.      12              ISV Translation of Genesis 49:8–12

         v.      12              The Tribe of Judah — a Summary Table

         v. 

         v.      13              12 Tribes of Israel (a map)

         v.      13              The Prophecies About Zebulun (Various Commentators)

         v.      13              Zion Oil & Gas Exploration Update (a map)

         v.      13              The Tribe of Zebulun — a Summary Table

         v.      14              Commentators on Crouching Down Between the Sheepfolds

         v.      14              Map of Issachar

         v. 

         v. 

         v.      15              Issachar Enjoys Resting in the Land (Various Commentators)

         v.      15              The Tribe of Issachar — a Summary Table

         v. 

         v.      17              Dan, as a serpent in the way (various interpretations)

         v.      17              The Tribe of Dan — a Summary Table

         v. 

         v.      18              Genesis 49:18 from Stephanie Middaugh (a graphic)

         v.      18              “I have waited for Your salvation, O Y^ehowah” (various commentators)

         v. 

         v.      19              The Tribe of Gad — a Summary Table

         v.      20              Understanding the Asher Prophecy (translations/commentators)

         v.      20              The Tribe of Asher — a Summary Table

         v. 

         v.      21              The Tribe of Naphtali — a Summary Table

         v. 

         v.      22              Jacob Blessing His Sons (Jacob Blessing Joseph), by Harry Anderson (a graphic)

         v. 

         v. 

         v.      26              The Tribe of Joseph — a Summary Table

         v.      26              The Tribe of Ephraim — a Summary Table

         v.      26              The Tribe of Manasseh — a Summary Table

         v. 

         v.      27              The Tribe of Benjamin — a Summary Table

         v. 

         v.      28              Jacob Dying (a graphic; artist unknown)

         v. 

         v.      29              Hajime Murai’s Literary Structure of Genesis 49:29-50:13

         v. 

         v.      31              Operation Z—the Concept

         v.      31              Operation Z (a graphic)

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            An Abbreviated Exegesis of Genesis 49

         Summary            Why Genesis 49 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Genesis 49

         Summary            B. H. Carroll Summarizes Genesis 49

         Summary            Edersheim Summarizes Genesis 49

         Summary 

         Addendum          The Order in Which the Sons of Jacob are Named

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum          Josephus’ History of this Time Period

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Genesis 49

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Genesis 49

         Addendum          Word Cloud from a Reasonably Literal Paraphrase of Genesis 49

         Addendum          Word Cloud from the Exegesis of Genesis 49

——————————

An Introduction to Genesis 49

I ntroduction: Genesis 48 was about Jacob calling in his son Joseph and giving him the double portion blessing (each son of Joseph’s was blessed as if he were a son of Jacob’s; Joseph’s two sons would be seen as equal to the Joseph’s brothers). In other words, Jacob gave the double-portion blessing to Joseph.

Genesis 49 will be all about the end-of-life blessings given by Jacob to his 12 sons.

Genesis 49 is Jacob's deathbed greatness. Although Jacob was quite hardheaded and spend much of his life out of fellowship, he certainly had his moments and this is one of them. He, under the direction of God the Holy Spirit, tells of the characteristics which are integral to his sons and how these traits will impact their heirs.

Jacob is dying, he can barely see, yet, under the ministry of God the Holy Spirit on his deathbed will have great mental clarity. He obviously has been thinking about these things for some time and has put together a poem, if you will, although it is not completely clear if Jacob wrote this in advance or if he just said these things on the spot. This comes from Jacob's great mentality and the spiritual growth which he has experience over the past couple years. Jacob has the background of growing, retrogressing, growing, retrogressing. Here, he is at a spiritual peak, able to both prophesy and to speak poetically. He is not in a trance state speaking as a robot, but God's Word comes out of his mouth in his vocabulary, from his thoughts, with his own emotions and predilections functioning normally. I pray to have this kind of mental clarity at my death so that my dying grace is not wasted on me.

Many times, I have expressed doubts as to the mental clarity of Jacob; but I believe that it is clear that these are not just words that he is speaking, but what he says here is of great import and is inspired by God. In examining his life, Jacob is a picture of grace. He was a chiseler early on in life, but he was a believer. God gave him grace due to his salvation and because of his grandfather Abraham. However, I don’t know that we can simply classify this poem of his as inspired by God. Being recorded in God’s Word is not the same as saying it is inspired. My biggest problem is with Zebulun, which we will get to eventually. However, why would God the Holy Spirit include this in Scripture if it was not meaningful?

Jacob will speak to each of his twelve sons, often making a play on the meaning of their names, often looking at their present personality type and projecting that into the future. Moses does something similar in Deut. 33 and we will examine that passage when pertinent to this study and in more detail when we arrive to the point in Deuteronomy.

Jacob is clearly ready to die. Unlike his own father, Isaac, who gave his own end-of-life blessing maybe 40 years too early, Jacob will give his end-of-life blessing to every one of his sons while on his actual deathbed.

Jacob will call his 12 sons together to bless them. Interestingly enough, even though he has already blessed Joseph’s sons, effectively giving Joseph the double blessing; he will additionally bless Joseph as well. We should understand this blessing to apply to his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (throughout the Age of Israel, there will be no tribe of Joseph).

I have wondered about these sorts of blessings. Does Jacob think about this for many weeks (or years), and, as his children grow, he recognizes behavioral factors which will define them and their line? We do know that the Holy Spirit inspires these blessings; but there is no reason to think that God the Holy Spirit simply takes over Jacob’s body and vocal cords and gives the blessings through him. This is no doubt that these blessings are given through the power of the Holy Spirit; but probably much more like the power of the Holy Spirit involved when a pastor studies long and hard to produce a one-hour lesson (R. B. Thieme, Jr. used to claim that he would spend 8–12 hours each day in study to give an hour and fifteen minute lesson that night). There is no indication that this end-of-life blessing is some sort of mystical, out-of-body experience.

Let me suggest that, because Jacob’s blessings are so right-on that, in the final years of his life, in Egypt, Jacob studied the Word of God (Genesis and perhaps the book of Job). The sons of Jacob and their families settled into Egypt, and it is very reasonable, under the circumstances, that they began to worship Y^ehowah-God—very much in recognition of their current blessed status (God’s careful guidance preserved Jacob’s entire family from the great 7 year famine). These worship services would have involved animal sacrifices and the reading (probably from memory) of Scripture (Genesis 1–47 and the book of Job).

Several of the sons and perhaps even Leah took part in this, each person standing up when it was their turn and repeating their narrative. So, it is my contention that Jacob, on many occasions, verbally spoke the first 36 or so chapters of Genesis; with sons Judah and Joseph (and possibly Leah) picking up the narrative from that point forward.

I suggested that this is how we got our book of Genesis—the Patriarch of the family would recall most of the book of Genesis from memory, and then his son (or sons) would pick up the narrative at some point. The fact that one of those early chapters is specifically about Judah (Genesis 38), suggests that Judah would have stood up and recounted that information. Judah’s unique experience being remembered in Genesis 38, along with his role as leader of the brothers, would suggest that he was one of the men who gave the history of the people of God. Right along side Judah would be Joseph, speaking much of the narrative which we know as the final quarter of Genesis (and it is Judah who probably recounted the narrative portions which took place in Canaan and on route to Egypt).

There were a lot of words found in the Bible here in this chapter for the first time; as well as some rare words; as well as some words which occur here only. Part of the reason for this is, this is a poetic chapter. I should have pointed them out, but I only came to realize this about 2/3^rds of the way through this chapter.

I think that the point is, these blessings of Jacob are all very original, involving a different vocabulary entirely. So Jacob is not simply drawing on the past and things which have already occurred; but he is very forward looking in these blessings.

Because most of this chapter is an extended quote from the blessings and prophecy of Jacob, I will begin and end his entire quote with quotation marks (vv. 1–27). I will not begin each new paragraph which quotation marks, even though that is proper punctuation.

The Patriarchal Timeline for Genesis 49

——————————

Jacob's End-of-Life Message to All His Sons

Assembling the Sons

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       Note: I compare the Hebrew text to English translations of the Latin, Syriac (= Aramaic) and Greek texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation; George Lamsa’s translation, and Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton’s translation as revised and edited by Paul W. Esposito, respectively. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.). I often use the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible instead of Brenton’s translation, because it updates the English text.

The Septuagint was the earliest known translation of a book (circa 200 b.c.). Since this translation was made before the textual criticism had been developed into a science and because different books appear to be translated by different men, the Greek translation can sometimes be very uneven.

When there are serious disparities between my translation and Brenton’s (or the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible), I look at the Greek text of the Septuagint (the LXX) to see if a substantive difference actually exists (and I reflect these changes in the English rendering of the Greek text). I use the Greek LXX with Strong’s numbers and morphology available for e-sword. The only problem with this resource (which is a problem for similar resources) is, there is no way to further explore Greek verbs which are not found in the New Testament. Although I usually quote the Complete Apostles’ Bible here, I have begun to make changes in the translation when their translation conflicts with the Greek and note what those changes are.

The Masoretic text is the Hebrew text with all of the vowels (vowel points) inserted (the original Hebrew text lacked vowels). We take the Masoretic text to be the text closest to the original. However, differences between the Masoretic text and the Greek, Latin and Syriac are worth noting and, once in a great while, represent a more accurate text possessed by those other ancient translators.

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Bracketed portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are words, letters and phrases lost in the scroll due to various types of damage. Underlined words or phrases are those in the Dead Sea Scrolls but not in the Masoretic text.

I will only list the translation from the Dead Sea Scrolls if it exists and if it is different from the Masoretic text.

The Targum of Onkelos is actually the Pentateuchal Targumim, which are The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel. On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. From http://www.becomingjewish.org/texts/targum/onkelos_genesis.html and first published in 1862.

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And so calls Jacob unto his sons and so he says, “Gather [yourselves] and I will tell to you [all] what will befall you [all] in the end of days. Assemble [yourselves] and hear, sons of Jacob, and hear unto Israel, your father.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Targum (trans. Etheridge)      .

Targum (Onkelos)                  And Jacob called his sons, and said, Gather together, and I will show you what will befall you in the end of the days; assemble, and hearken, O sons of Jakob, and receive instruction from Israel your father. Translation for Onkelos and Pseudo-Jonathan by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. (1862).

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   And Jakob called his sons and said to them, Purify yourselves from uncleanness, and I will show you the hidden mysteries, the ends concealed, the recompense of reward for the righteous, the retribution of the wicked, and the bower of Eden, what it is. And the twelve tribes of Israel gathered themselves together around the golden bed whereon he reclined, and where was revealed to him the Shekina of the Lord, (though) the end for which the king Meshiha is to come had been concealed from him. Then said he, Come, and I will declare to you what shall befall you at the end of the days. Gather yourselves together and hear, ye sons of Jakob, and receive instruction from Israel your father.

Jerusalem targum                  And our father Jakob called his sons, and said to them, Gather together, and I will teach yon the concealed end, the secret mysteries, the recompense of reward for the just, and the punishment of the wicked, and the blessedness of Eden, what it is. And the twelve tribes of Jakob assembled and surrounded the golden bed whereon our father Jakob lay, desiring that he should teach them (at the) end in benediction and consolation. Then was revealed to him the secret that had been hidden from him, and then was opened the door which had been shut to him. Our father Jakob turned therefore and blessed his sons, every man according to his good did he bless him.

[When the twelve tribes of Jakob were assembled, and surrounded the golden bed whereon our father Jakob lay, they expected that he would make known to them the order of blessing and consolation: but they were hidden from him. Our father Jakob answered and said to them: From Abraham my father's father arose the profane Ishmael and all the sons of Keturah; and from Izhak my father arose the profane Esau, my brother; and I am afraid lest there should be among you a man whose heart is separated from his brethren to go and worship before strange idols. The twelve tribes of Jakob answered all together, and said, Hear us, Israel our father! The Lord our God is one Lord! And Jakob our father answered, and said, May His Great Name be blessed for ever and ever!.

Revised Douay-Rheims         .

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) And Jacob called his sons, and said to them: Gather yourselves together that I may tell you the things that shall befall you in the last days.

Gather yourselves together, and hear, O ye sons of Jacob, hearken to Israel your father:...

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        Ya'aqub called to his sons, and said: "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come.

Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Ya'aqub. Listen to Yisrael, your father.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    THEN Jacob called his sons and said to them, Gather yourselves together that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together and listen, O sons of Jacob; and hearken o Israel your father.

Septuagint (Greek)                Jacob's last words. Gn.49.1-28

And Jacob called his sons, and said to them,

Assemble yourselves, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in the last days.

Gather yourselves together, and hear me, sons of Jacob;

hear Israel, hear your father. This is the New Brenton translation from http://www.katapi.org.uk/

NETS (Greek)                        .

Brenton’s Septuagint             .

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             And Jacob sent for his sons, and said, Come together, all of you, so that I may give you news of your fate in future times. Come near, O sons of Jacob, and give ear to the words of Israel your father.

Easy English                          Then Jacob called for his sons. He said, ‘Come here to me. Then I can tell you what will happen to you, in future years.

Sons of Jacob come together and listen. Listen to your father, Israel.’

Now Jacob says what is going to happen to each of his sons and to their descendants.

Easy-to-Read Version–2006  .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  .

God’s Word™                         Jacob [Israel] Blesses His 12 Sons

Jacob called for his sons and said, “Come here, and let me tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.

“Gather around and listen, sons of Jacob.

Listen to your father Israel.

Good News Bible (TEV)         The Last Words of Jacob

Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the future:

“Come together and listen, sons of Jacob.

Listen to your father Israel.

International Children’s B.     .

The Message                         Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather around. I want to tell you what you can expect in the days to come.”

Come together, listen sons of Jacob,

listen to Israel your father.

Names of God Bible               .

NIRV                                      Jacob Gives Blessings to His Sons

Then Jacob sent for his sons. He said, “Gather around me so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

“Sons of Jacob, come together and listen.

Listen to your father Israel.

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           Jacob reveals his sons’ destinies

Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the coming days.

Assemble yourselves and listen, sons of Jacob;

listen to Israel your father.

Contemporary English V.       Jacob called his sons together and said: My sons, I am Jacob, your father Israel.

Come, gather around, as I tell your future.

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Century Version             .

New Life Version                    .

New Living Translation           Jacob’s Last Words to His Sons

Then Jacob called together all his sons and said, “Gather around me, and I will tell you what will happen to each of you in the days to come.

“Come and listen, you sons of Jacob;

listen to Israel, your father.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          Then Jacob called the rest of his sons and said to them: 'Gather here so I can tell you what will happen to you in later years. Gather and listen to me, sons of Jacob. Listen to IsraEl… listen to your father!

Beck’s American Translation .

International Standard V        Jacob’s Final Blessings

After this, Jacob called his sons together and told them, “Assemble yourselves around me [The Heb. lacks around me] so I can tell you all what is going to happen to you in the last days [Or in days to come].

“Gather together and listen,

you children of Jacob.

Listen to your father Israel.”

New Advent (Knox) Bible       Then Jacob summoned all his sons to him; Gather about me, he said, to hear what awaits you in the days still to come; gather about me, sons of Jacob, and listen; it is Israel, your father, who speaks.

Revised Knox Bible                .

Today’s NIV                          .

Translation for Translators      Jacob prophesied what would happen to his sons and their descendants

Jacob summoned all his sons, and said to them,

“Gather around close to me in order that I can tell you what will happen in the future.

My sons, come and listen to me.

I am your father, Jacob, whom God named Israel.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Awful Scroll Bible                   Jacob was to call his sons and was to say, "Be gathering, I was to proclaim to yous, that which was to be encountered in the latter days.

Be gathering and be listening yous sons of Jacob, even be listening to Isra-el, your father:...

Conservapedia                       Jacob called his sons, saying, "Gather 'round, because I'm going to tell you what's going to happen to you in the future."

"Gather 'round, and hear, sons of Jacob, and listen to your father Israel."

Ferrar-Fenton Bible                Jacob’s Blessings to his Sons

Jacob afterwards called his sons and said ;

" Assemble and I will inform you

What will befall you in future times ;

Collect and listen, sons of Jacob,

Yes, list to your father Israel ;...

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

HCSB                                     Jacob’s Last Words

Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather around, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.

Come together and listen, sons of Jacob;

listen to your father Israel:.

Jubilee Bible 2000                  .

H. C. Leupold                         CHAPTER XLIX

14. Conclusion of Jacob’s History (Continued)

c. The Blessing of His Own Sons (49:1-27)

And Jacob summoned his sons and said: Assemble yourselves and I will tell you what shall befall you in the end of the days.

Come together and hearken, ye sons of Jacob,

And hearken unto Israel, your father.

Lexham English Bible            Jacob Blesses His Twelve Sons

Then Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather together so that I can tell you what will happen with you in {days to come}. Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob! Listen to Israel your father!

NIV, ©2011                             .

NIV – UK                                .

Tree of Life Version                Jacob Speaks Over His Sons

Jacob called his sons and said to them:

Gather together so that I can tell you

what will happen to you in the last days.

Be assembled and listen, sons of Jacob,

and listen to Israel your father.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  .

The Heritage Bible                 And Jacob called to his sons and said, Gather yourselves together, and I will cause what will happen to you in the last days to stand out boldly to you. Gather yourselves together, and attentively hear, sons of Jacob, and attentively hear Israel, your father.

New American Bible (2002)   .

New American Bible (2011)   Jacob’s Testament.*

[49:1–27] The testament, or farewell discourse, of Jacob, which has its closest parallel in Moses’ farewell in Dt 33:6–25. From his privileged position as a patriarch, he sees the future of his children (the eponymous ancestors of the tribes) and is able to describe how they will fare and so gives his blessing. The dense and archaic poetry is obscure in several places. The sayings often involve wordplays (explained in the notes). The poem begins with the six sons of Leah (vv. 2–15), then deals with the sons of the two secondary wives, and ends with Rachel’s two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Reuben, the oldest son, loses his position of leadership as a result of his intercourse with Bilhah (35:22), and the words about Simeon and Levi allude to their taking revenge for the rape of Dinah (chap. 34). The preeminence of Judah reflects his rise in the course of the narrative (mirroring the rise of Joseph). See note on 44:1–34.

Jacob called his sons and said: “Gather around, that I may tell you what is to happen to you in days to come.

“Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob,

listen to Israel, your father.