Chapter 49:
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis 49
Concise Complete
Jacob calls his sons to bless them. (1,2) Reuben,
Simeon, Levi. (3-7) Judah. (8-12) Zebulun, Issachar, Dan. (13-18) Gad, Asher,
Naphtali. (19-21) Joseph and Benjamin. (22-27) Jacob's charge respecting his
burial, His death. (28-33)
Verses 1-2 All
Jacob's sons were living. His calling them together was a precept for them to
unite in love, not to mingle with the Egyptians; and foretold that they should
not be separated, as Abraham's sons and Isaac's were, but should all make one
people. We are not to consider this address as the expression of private
feelings of affection, resentment, or partiality; but as the language of the
Holy Ghost, declaring the purpose of God respecting the character,
circumstances, and situation of the tribes which descended from the sons of
Jacob, and which may be traced in their histories.
Verses 3-7 Reuben
was the first-born; but by gross sin, he forfeited the birthright. The character
of Reuben is, that he was unstable as water. Men do not thrive, because they do
not fix. Reuben's sin left a lasting infamy upon his family. Let us never do
evil, then we need not fear being told of it. Simeon and Levi were passionate
and revengeful. The murder of the Shechemites is a proof of this. Jacob
protested against that barbarous act. Our soul is our honour; by its powers we
are distinguished from, and raised above, the beasts that perish. We ought, from
our hearts, to abhor all bloody and mischievous men. Cursed be their anger.
Jacob does not curse their persons, but their lusts. I will divide them. The
sentence as it respects Levi was turned into a blessing. This tribe performed an
acceptable service in their zeal against the worshippers of the golden calf,
exodus 32. Being set apart
to God as priests, they were in that character scattered through the nation of
Israel.
Verses 8-12
Judah's name signifies praise. God was praised for him, chap. 29:35, praised by
him, and praised in him; therefore his brethren shall praise him. Judah should
be a strong and courageous tribe. Judah is compared, not to a lion raging and
ranging, but to a lion enjoying the satisfaction of his power and success,
without creating vexation to others; this is to be truly great. Judah should be
the royal tribe, the tribe from which Messiah the Prince should come. Shiloh,
that promised Seed in whom the earth should be blessed, "that peaceable and
prosperous One," or "Saviour," he shall come of Judah. Thus dying Jacob at a
great distance saw Christ's day, and it was his comfort and support on his
death-bed. Till Christ's coming, Judah possessed authority, but after his
crucifixion this was shortened, and according to what Christ foretold, Jerusalem
was destroyed, and all the poor harassed remnant of Jews were confounded
together. Much which is here said concerning Judah, is to be applied to our Lord
Jesus. In him there is plenty of all which is nourishing and refreshing to the
soul, and which maintains and cheers the Divine life in it. He is the true Vine;
wine is the appointed symbol of his blood, which is drink indeed, as shed for
sinners, and applied in faith; and all the blessings of his gospel are wine and
milk, without money and without price, to which every thirsty soul is welcome.
Isa 55:1.
Verses 13-18
Concerning Zebulun: if prophecy says, Zebulun shall be a haven of ships, be sure
Providence will so plant him. God appoints the bounds of our habitation. It is
our wisdom and duty to accommodate ourselves to our lot, and to improve it; if
Zebulun dwell at the heaven of the sea, let him be for a haven of ships.
Concerning Issachar: he saw that the land was pleasant, yielding not only
pleasant prospects, but pleasant fruits to recompense his toils. Let us, with an
eye of faith, see the heavenly rest to be good, and that land of promise to be
pleasant; this will make our present services easy. Dan should, by art, and
policy, and surprise, gain advantages against his enemies, like a serpent biting
the heel of the traveller. Jacob, almost spent, and ready to faint, relieves
himself with those words, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord!" The
salvation he waited for was Christ, the promised Seed; now that he was going to
be gathered to his people, he breathes after Him to whom the gathering of the
people shall be. He declared plainly that he sought heaven, the better country,
hebrews 11:13,14.
Now he is going to enjoy the salvation, he comforts himself that he had waited
for the salvation. Christ, as our way to heaven, is to be waited on; and heaven,
as our rest in Christ, is to be waited for. It is the comfort of a dying saint
thus to have waited for the salvation of the Lord; for then he shall have what
he has been waiting for.
Verses 19-21
Concerning Gad, Jacob alludes to his name, which signifies a troop, and foresees
the character of that tribe. The cause of God and his people, though for a time
it may seem to be baffled and run down, will be victorious at last. It
represents the Christian's conflict. Grace in the soul is often foiled in its
conflicts; troops of corruption overcome it, but the cause is God's, and grace
will in the end come off conqueror, yea, more than conqueror,
romans 8:37. Asher should
be a rich tribe. His inheritance bordered upon Carmel, which was fruitful to a
proverb. Naphtali, is a hind let loose. We may consider it as a description of
the character of this tribe. Unlike the laborious ox and ass; desirous of ease
and liberty; active, but more noted for quick despatch than steady labour and
perseverance. Like the suppliant who, with goodly words, craves mercy. Let not
those of different tempers and gifts censure or envy one another.
Verses 22-27
The blessing of Joseph is very full. What Jacob says of him, is history as well
as prophecy. Jacob reminds him of the difficulties and fiery darts of
temptations he had formerly struggled through. His faith did not fail, but
through his trials he bore all his burdens with firmness, and did not do
anything unbecoming. All our strength for resisting temptations, and bearing
afflictions, comes from God; his grace is sufficient. Joseph became the shepherd
of Israel, to take care of his father and family; also the stone of Israel,
their foundation and strong support. In this, as in many other things, Joseph
was a remarkable type of the Good Shepherd, and tried Corner Stone of the whole
church of God. Blessings are promised to Joseph's posterity, typical of the vast
and everlasting blessings which come upon the spiritual seed of Christ. Jacob
blessed all his sons, but especially Joseph, "who was separated from his
brethren." Not only separated in Egypt, but, possessing eminent dignity, and
more devoted to God. Of Benjamin it is said, He shall ravin as a wolf. Jacob was
guided in what he said by the Spirit of prophecy, and not by natural affection;
else he would have spoken with more tenderness of his beloved son Benjamin.
Concerning him he only foresees and foretells, that his posterity should be a
warlike tribe, strong and daring, and that they should enrich themselves with
the spoils of their enemies; that they should be active. Blessed Paul was of
this tribe,
3:5; he, in the
morning of his day, devoured the prey as a persecutor, but in the evening
divided the spoils as a preacher; he shared the blessings of Judah's Lion, and
assisted in his victories.
Verses 28-33
Jacob blessed every one according to the blessings God in after-times intended
to bestow upon them. He spoke about his burial-place, from a principle of faith
in the promise of God, that Canaan should be the inheritance of his seed in due
time. When he had finished both his blessing and his charge, and so had finished
his testimony, he addressed himself to his dying work. He gathered up his feet
into the bed, not only as one patiently submitting to the stroke, but as one
cheerfully composing himself to rest, now that he was weary. He freely gave up
his spirit into the hand of God, the Father of spirits. If God's people be our
people, death will gather us to them. Under the care of the Shepherd of Israel,
we shall lack nothing for body or soul. We shall remain unmoved until our work
is finished; then, breathing out our souls into His hands for whose salvation we
have waited, we shall depart in peace, and leave a blessing for our children
after us.
Chapter 49:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
