←Genesis 49→BSB

Jacob, by faith and as God’s spokesman, looked forward to Israel’s settlement in the land, and beyond that to the glorious future. Here at the end of the patriarchal age, he foretold what would happen to each tribe as he evaluated his sons one by one, just as Noah had done at the end of the primeval era (cp. 9:25–27). The character and acts of each ancestor affected the lives of his descendants (Exod 20:5–6; 34:6–7; Num 14:18; Jer 32:18).

Jacob’s words were deliberately chosen prophetic oracles. The days to come refer to the conquest and settlement of the Promised Land, and beyond that to the messianic age. They would all share in the blessing; all the tribes would enter the land with Joshua, but they would not all participate equally.

As firstborn, Reuben was entitled to be head of the family, but because he had the ungoverned impulses of boiling or turbulent waters (35:22), Jacob prophesied that Reuben would fail in leadership (see 37:21–22, 29; 42:22, 37–38; cp. Judg 5:15–16; 1 Chr 5:1–2).

• Simeon and Levi were violent and lawless; instead of serving justice, they indulged their uncontrolled anger and disregarded life (34:24–29).
• I will scatter them: Simeon’s land was largely absorbed into Judah’s (Josh 19:1, 9); Levi was given a more honorable future because the Levites became the priestly tribe (see Exod 32:25–29), but they had no region of their own (Josh 21).

The blessing on Judah commands the most attention. In this oracle, Jacob predicted the fierce, lion-like dominance of Judah over his enemies and over his brothers, who would praise him (cp. 29:35; see, e.g., Ruth 4:11–12; 1 Sam 18:6–7; Pss 2, 45, 72; Isa 11:1–13).

• These descriptions envision the abundance of the Messiah’s kingdom (see Isa 61:6–7; 65:21–25; Zech 3:10). When the Messiah comes, there will be paradise-like splendor and abundance on the earth.
• He ties his foal to a grapevine: Grapevines will be so abundant that they will be used for hitching posts, and wine will be as abundant as fresh water (see Amos 9:13–14; Zech 3:10).
• The coming one will have eyes . . . darker than wine and teeth . . . whiter than milk: He will be vigorous and healthy, as will be the era of his rule. Jesus’ miracle of changing water into wine (John 2:1–12), his first sign, was an announcement that the Messiah had come; it was a foretaste of even better things to come.

Like a sturdy donkey, the tribe of Issachar would be forced to work for others. Issachar was often subjugated by invading armies.

Dan was called to provide justice (Dan means “judge”), but the tribe would choose treachery, like a snake beside the road (see Judg 18).

This oracle treats Joseph more expansively than any of the others, for here the main blessing lay (see 1 Chr 5:1–2). Jacob lavished promises of victory and prosperity on Joseph’s two tribes. Ephraimites recorded as victorious in battle include Joshua (Josh 6, 8, 10, 12) and Deborah (Judg 4). Victorious descendants of Manasseh include Gideon (Judg 6–8) and Jephthah (Judg 11:1–12:7).

Five names for God introduce five blessings; God is the giver of all good things.

Bury me with my father: This grave in the land of Canaan represented hope for the future (cp. 47:29–30). Others buried at the cave of Machpelah near Hebron were Sarah (23:19), Abraham (25:7–9), Isaac (35:27–29), Rebekah, and Leah.