Genesis 49

Jacob Speaks Over His Sons

1Jacob called his sons and said to them: Gather together so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the last days.

2Be assembled and listen, sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel your father.

3Reuben, my firstborn are you, my vigor and firstborn of my power, endowed with extra dignity, endowed with extra strength—

4like water boiling over you will not have extra, for you got up into your father’s bed, when you defiled a maid’s couch.

5Simeon and Levi are brothers, instruments of violence are their knives.

6In their secret counsel may my soul not enter. In their contingent may my honor never be united. For in their anger they slew men, and in their self-will they maimed oxen.

7Cursed be their anger for it was strong and their rage for it was cruel— I will disperse them in Jacob, I will scatter them in Israel.

8Judah, so you are— your brothers will praise you: Your hand will be on your enemies’ neck. Your father’s sons will bow down to you.

9A lion’s cub is Judah— from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches, lies down like a lion, or like a lioness— who would rouse him?

10The scepter will not pass from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs will come. To him will be the obedience of the peoples.

11Binding his foal to the vine, his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he washes his garments in wine, and in the blood of grapes his robe.

12His eyes are darker than wine, and teeth that are whiter than milk.

13Zebulun will dwell by the seashore, and be by a harbor for ships— his distant border reaches Sidon.

14Issachar is a strong-boned donkey, lying down between two saddlebags.

15He saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant. He leaned his shoulder to bear a burden, and became a forced laborer.

16Dan will judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.

17Let Dan be a serpent beside a road, a viper beside a path, who strikes a horse’s heels, so that its rider falls backward.

18For your salvation I wait, Adonai!

19Gad—attackers will attack him, but he will attack their heels.

20Asher—rich is his food— he will provide delicacies fit for a king.

21Naphtali is a doe let loose, who offers words of beauty.

22A fruitful son is Joseph, a fruitful son beside a spring— daughters walk along a wall.

23The archers were bitter and shot arrows and were hostile towards him.

24Yet his bow was always filled, and his arms quick-moving— by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob. From there a Shepherd, the Stone of Israel,

25from the God of your father who helps you, and Shaddai who blesses you, with blessings of heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of breasts and womb.

26The blessings of your father surpassed the blessings of the ancient mountains, the desire of the everlasting hills. May they be upon Joseph’s head, upon the crown of the one set apart from his brothers.

27Benjamin is a ravening wolf— in the morning he devours spoils, and in the evening divides plunder.

28These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this is what their father spoke to them. He blessed them, each one he blessed with a suitable blessing.

29Then he charged them and said to them, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

30in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, that is next to Mamre in the land of Canaan—the field that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite as a property for burial.

31There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, and there I buried Leah.

32The field was purchased along with the cave in it from the sons of Het.”

33When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, then breathed his last and was gathered to his peoples.

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Genesis 49

Jacob Blesses His Sons

1Jacob called his sons together and said:

My sons, I am Jacob,

your father Israel.

2Come, gather around,

as I tell your future.

3Reuben, you are my oldest,

born at the peak of my powers;

you were an honored leader.

4Uncontrollable as a flood,

you slept with my wife

and disgraced my bed.

And so you no longer deserve

the place of honor.

5Simeon and Levi,

you are brothers,

each a gruesome sword.

6I never want to take part

in your plans or deeds.

You slaughtered people

in your anger,

and you crippled cattle

for no reason.

7Now I place a curse on you

because of

your fierce anger.

Your descendants

will be scattered

among the tribes of Israel.

8Judah, you will be praised

by your brothers;

they will bow down to you,

as you defeat your enemies.

9 # Nu 24.9; Rev 5.5. My son, you are a lion

ready to eat your victim!

You are terribly fierce;

no one will bother you.

10You will have power and rule

until nations obey you#49.10 until … you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

and come bringing gifts.

11You will tie your donkey

to a choice grapevine

and wash your clothes

in wine from those grapes.

12Your eyes are darker than wine,

your teeth whiter than milk.

13Zebulun, you will settle

along the seashore

and provide safe harbors

as far north as Sidon.

14Issachar, you are a strong donkey

resting in the meadows.#49.14 resting … meadows: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

15You found them so pleasant

that you worked too hard

and became a slave.

16Dan,#49.16 Dan: In Hebrew “Dan” means “justice” or “judgment.” you are the tribe

that will bring justice

to Israel.

17You are a snake that bites

the heel of a horse,

making its rider fall.

18Our Lord, I am waiting

for you to save us.

19Gad,#49.19 Gad: In Hebrew “Gad” sounds like “attack.” you will be attacked,

then attack your attackers.

20Asher, you will eat food

fancy enough for a king.

21Naphtali, you are a wild deer

with lovely fawns.#49.21 with lovely fawns: Or “speaking lovely words.”

22Joseph, you are a fruitful vine

growing near a stream

and climbing a wall.#49.22 wall: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

23Enemies attacked with arrows,

refusing to show mercy.

24But you stood your ground,

swiftly shooting back

with the help of Jacob's God,

the All-Powerful One—

his name is the Shepherd,

Israel's mighty rock.#49.24 mighty rock: The Hebrew text has “rock,” which is sometimes used in poetry to compare the Lord to a mountain where his people can run for protection from their enemies.

25Your help came from the God

your father worshiped,

from God All-Powerful.

God will bless you with rain

and streams from the earth;

he will bless you

with many descendants.

26My son, the blessings I give

are better than the promise

of ancient mountains

or eternal hills.#49.26 eternal hills: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

Joseph, I pray these blessings

will come to you,

because you are the leader

of your brothers.

27Benjamin, you are a fierce wolf,

destroying your enemies

morning and evening.

28These are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is how Jacob gave each of them their proper blessings.

Jacob's Death

29-31 # Gn 23.3-20; Gn 25.9,10; Gn 35.28,29. Jacob told his sons:

Soon I will die, and I want you to bury me in Machpelah Cave. Abraham bought this cave as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, and it is near the town of Mamre in Canaan. Abraham and Sarah are buried there, and so are Isaac and Rebekah. I buried Leah there too. 32Both the cave and the land that goes with it were bought from the Hittites.

33 # Ac 7.15. When Jacob had finished giving these instructions to his sons, he lay down on his bed and died.

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