Jacob Blesses His Sons

Genesis 49

1 w Then Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you x in days to come.

2 "Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,
listen to Israel your father.

3 "Reuben, you are y my firstborn,
my might, and the z firstfruits of my strength,
preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
 4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,
because you a went up to your father's bed;
then you defiled it - he went up to my couch!

5 b "Simeon and Levi are brothers;
weapons c of violence are their swords.
 6 Let my soul come not into their council;
d O my glory, e be not joined to their company.
For in their anger they killed men,
and in their willfulness they f hamstrung oxen.
 7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,
and their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will g divide them in Jacob
and scatter them in Israel.

8 "Judah, h your brothers shall praise you;
i your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
j your father's sons shall bow down before you.
 9 Judah is k a lion's cub;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
l He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
 10 The m scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff n from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him; 1
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
 11 Binding his foal to the vine
and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,
he has washed his garments in wine
and his vesture in the blood of grapes.
 12 His o eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth whiter than milk.

13 p "Zebulun shall dwell at the q shore of the sea;
he shall become a haven for ships,
and his border shall be at Sidon.

14 r "Issachar is a strong donkey,
crouching between the sheepfolds. 2
15 He saw that a resting place was good,
and that the land was pleasant,
so he bowed his shoulder to bear,
and s became a servant at forced labor.

16 t "Dan shall u judge his people
as one of the tribes of Israel.
 17 Dan v shall be a serpent in the way,
a viper by the path,
that bites the horse's heels
so that his rider falls backward.
 18 I w wait for your salvation, O Lord.

19 x "Raiders shall raid y Gad, 3
but he shall raid at their heels.

20 z "Asher's food shall be rich,
and he shall yield royal delicacies.

21 a "Naphtali is a doe let loose
that bears beautiful fawns. 4

22 "Joseph is b a fruitful bough,
a fruitful bough by a spring;
his branches run over the wall. 5
23 The archers c bitterly attacked him,
shot at him, and harassed him severely,
 24 yet d his bow remained unmoved;
his arms 6 were made agile
by the hands of the e Mighty One of Jacob
(from there is f the Shepherd, 7 g the Stone of Israel),
 25 h by the God of your father who will help you,
by i the Almighty 8 j who will bless you
with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,
blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
 26 The blessings of your father
are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,
up to the bounties k of the everlasting hills. 9
May they be l on the head of Joseph,
and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.

27 m "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,
in the morning devouring the prey
and at evening n dividing the spoil."

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 49:1 - 27
    Then Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.
    Deuteronomy 33:6 - 25
    "Let Reuben live, and not die, but let his men be few."
  2. Cross References
    Numbers 24:14
    And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come,...
    Deuteronomy 4:30
    When you are in tribulation, and all these thin...
    Deuteronomy 31:29
    For I know that after my death you will surely ...
    Isaiah 2:2
    It shall come to pass in the latter days that t...
    Jeremiah 23:20
    The anger of the Lord will not turn back until ...
    Daniel 2:28
    But there is a God in heaven who reveals myster...
    Daniel 10:14
    And came to make you understand what is to happ...
    Hosea 3:5
    Afterward the children of Israel shall return a...
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 29:32
    And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, "Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.
  4. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 21:17
    But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.
  5. Cross References
    Genesis 35:22
    While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine. And Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
    1 Chronicles 5:1
    The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel ( for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son.
  6. Cross References
    Genesis 29:33 - 34
    She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also." And she called his name Simeon.
  7. Cross References
    Genesis 34:25 - 26
    On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males.
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 16:9
    Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
    Psalms 57:8
    Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 26:9
    Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men.
  10. Cross References
    Joshua 11:6
    And the Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.
    Joshua 11:9
    And Joshua did to them just as the Lord said to him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.
    2 Samuel 8:4
    And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots.
  11. Cross References
    Numbers 3:5 - 13
    And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying.
    Joshua 19:1 - 9
    The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the people of Simeon, according to their clans, and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the people of Judah.
    1 Chronicles 4:24 - 39
    The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 29:35
    And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "This time I will praise the Lord." Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.
    Genesis 27:29
    Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!
  13. Cross References
    Job 16:12
    I was at ease, and he broke me apart; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target.
  14. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 5:2
    Though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph).
  15. Cross References
    Revelation 5:5
    And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.
    Deuteronomy 33:22
    And of Dan he said, "Dan is a lion's cub that leaps from Bashan.
    Hosea 5:14
    For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry off, and no one shall rescue.
  16. Cross References
    Numbers 23:24
    Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up and as a lion it lifts itself; it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey and drunk the blood of the slain.
    Numbers 24:9
    He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.
  17. Cross References
    Numbers 24:17
    I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.
    Zechariah 10:11
    He shall pass through the sea of troubles and strike down the waves of the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up. The pride of Assyria shall be laid low, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart.
  18. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 28:57
    Her afterbirth that comes out from between her feet and her children whom she bears, because lacking everything she will eat them secretly, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in your towns.
  19. Cross References
    Proverbs 23:29
    Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
  20. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:18 - 19
    And of Zebulun he said, "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents.
    Joshua 19:10 - 11
    The third lot came up for the people of Zebulun, according to their clans. And the territory of their inheritance reached as far as Sarid.
  21. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:7
    Turn and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland and in the Negeb and by the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.
    Joshua 9:1
    As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this.
    Judges 5:17
    Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, staying by his landings.
  22. Cross References
    Judges 5:16
    Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
    1 Chronicles 12:32
    Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command.
  23. Cross References
    Joshua 16:10
    However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.
  24. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:22
    And of Dan he said, "Dan is a lion's cub that leaps from Bashan.
  25. Cross References
    Genesis 30:6
    Then Rachel said, "God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son." Therefore she called his name Dan.
  26. Cross References
    Judges 18:27
    But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.
  27. Cross References
    Psalms 25:5
    Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are...
    Psalms 119:166
    I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do you...
    Psalms 119:174
    I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law...
    Isaiah 25:9
    It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is o...
    Micah 7:7
    But as for me, I will look to the Lord ; I will...
    Luke 2:25
    Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name wa...
  28. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:20
    And of Gad he said, "Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad crouches like a lion; he tears off arm and scalp.
  29. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 5:18 - 22
    The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war.
  30. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:24
    And of Asher he said, "Most blessed of sons be Asher; let him be the favorite of his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil.
  31. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:23
    And of Naphtali he said, "O Naphtali, sated with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord, possess the lake and the south.
  32. Cross References
    Genesis 41:52
    The name of the second he called Ephraim, "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.
    Joshua 17:14
    Then the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the Lord has blessed me?
    Joshua 17:18
    But the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.
  33. Cross References
    Genesis 37:24
    And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
    Genesis 37:28
    Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
    Genesis 39:20
    And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
  34. Cross References
    Job 29:20
    My glory fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand.
  35. Cross References
    Psalms 132:2
    How he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob.
    Psalms 132:5
    Until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.
    Isaiah 1:24
    Therefore the Lord declares, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: "Ah, I will get relief from my enemies and avenge myself on my foes.
  36. Cross References
    Psalms 23:1
    The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    Psalms 80:1
    Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
  37. Cross References
    Isaiah 28:16
    Therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.
    Ephesians 2:20
    Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.
    1 Peter 2:4
    As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious.
    Deuteronomy 32:4
    The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
  38. Cross References
    Genesis 35:3
    Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.
    Genesis 50:17
    Say to Joseph, Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
  39. Cross References
    Genesis 17:1
    When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.
    Genesis 35:11
    And God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body.
  40. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:13
    And of Joseph he said, "Blessed by the Lord be his land, with the choicest gifts of heaven above, and of the deep that crouches beneath.
  41. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:15
    With the finest produce of the ancient mountains and the abundance of the everlasting hills.
    Habakkuk 3:6
    He stood and measured the earth; he looked and shook the nations; then the eternal mountains were scattered; the everlasting hills sank low. His were the everlasting ways.
  42. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:16
    With the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwells in the bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, on the pate of him who is prince among his brothers.
  43. Cross References
    Judges 20:21
    The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites.
    Judges 20:25
    And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who drew the sword.
    Ezekiel 22:27
    Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.
  44. Cross References
    Zechariah 14:1
    Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst.
    Ezekiel 39:10
    So that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons. They will seize the spoil of those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord God.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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