Genesis 49

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 49

1¶ And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you [that] which shall befall you in the last days.

2Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

3Reuben, thou [art] my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

4Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou [it]: he went up to my couch.

5¶ Simeon and Levi [are] brethren; instruments of cruelty [are in] their habitations.

6O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.

7Cursed [be] their anger, for [it was] fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

8¶ Judah, thou [art he] whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand [shall be] in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.

9Judah [is] a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him [shall] the gathering of the people [be].

11Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

12His eyes [shall be] red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

13¶ Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he [shall be] for an haven of ships; and his border [shall be] unto Zidon.

14Issachar [is] a strong ass couching down between two burdens:

15And he saw that rest [was] good, and the land that [it was] pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

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

17Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

18I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

19Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

20Out of Asher his bread [shall be] fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

21Naphtali [is] a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

22¶ Joseph [is] a fruitful bough, [even] a fruitful bough by a well; [whose] branches run over the wall:

23The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot [at him], and hated him:

24But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty [God] of Jacob; (from thence [is] the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

25[Even] by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

26The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

27Benjamin shall ravin [as] a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

28¶ All these [are] the twelve tribes of Israel: and this [is it] that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

29And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto 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, which [is] before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.

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

32The purchase of the field and of the cave that [is] therein [was] from the children of Heth.

33And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jacob, on his deathbed, gathers his twelve sons to impart prophetic blessings and judgments concerning their future tribal destinies. He foretells the characteristics and roles of each, notably predicting Judah's lasting kingship and Joseph's abundant fruitfulness. Jacob then instructs his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah before he peacefully dies.

Medium Summary

Genesis chapter 49 records Jacob's final prophetic pronouncements to his twelve sons before his death. He addresses Reuben, his firstborn, condemning his instability and defilement of his father's bed, stating he will not excel. Simeon and Levi are rebuked for their cruelty and violence, prophesying their dispersion within Israel. Judah receives a prominent blessing, foretelling his leadership, victory over enemies, and the enduring nature of his royal line until the coming of Shiloh. The prophecies continue for Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, and Benjamin, describing their future characteristics, territories, or roles. Joseph is singled out for extensive blessings of fruitfulness, divine strength, and abundant prosperity, overcoming past grievances. After delivering these individual prophecies, Jacob instructs his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah, alongside Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah. The chapter concludes with Jacob's peaceful death, gathering his feet into the bed and yielding up the ghost.

Long Summary

Genesis 49 commences with Jacob, nearing his death, summoning his twelve sons to impart prophetic insights into their future and the destiny of their respective tribes “in the last days.” He begins with Reuben, his firstborn, but strips him of his preeminence due to his instability and defilement of Jacob's bed, declaring he shall not excel. Simeon and Levi are sternly rebuked for their violent and cruel actions, specifically the slaughter of the Shechemites, and are prophesied to be divided and scattered throughout Israel. In stark contrast, Judah receives a powerful and extensive blessing, foretelling his leadership among his brethren, triumph over adversaries, and the enduring nature of his royal lineage, from which the “sceptre” will not depart until “Shiloh” comes, indicating a future messianic figure. The prophecies continue for the remaining sons: Zebulun is destined for a maritime dwelling, becoming a haven for ships. Issachar is depicted as a strong ass, content with rest and becoming a servant to tribute. Dan is prophesied to judge his people and act as a subtle, dangerous serpent. Gad will face initial conflict but ultimately overcome. Asher's land will yield rich food and royal dainties. Naphtali is described as a swift hind, giving goodly words. Joseph, despite past suffering from his brethren, is blessed with extraordinary fruitfulness, divine strength, and abundant blessings from heaven and earth, prevailing over his progenitors’ blessings. Benjamin is characterized as a ravenous wolf, devouring prey and dividing spoil. After delivering these specific blessings and judgments, Jacob reiterates his desire to be buried with his ancestors in the cave of Machpelah in the land of Canaan, detailing its purchase by Abraham. He reminds them that Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah are interred there. Having completed his final commands to his sons, Jacob peacefully gathers his feet into his bed, yields up his spirit, and is gathered to his people, marking the end of his earthly life.

Core Concepts

  • Prophetic Blessings and CursesJacob's final words to his sons are divinely inspired pronouncements concerning the future characteristics and destinies of their tribal descendants. These include both blessings of prosperity and leadership, and rebukes or judgments for past transgressions.
  • Judah's Sceptre and ShilohJudah receives the most significant prophecy, indicating that leadership and kingship ('the sceptre') will remain within his lineage until the coming of 'Shiloh,' a figure often interpreted as a messianic or kingly deliverer. This highlights Judah's future prominence among the tribes.
  • Consequences of Past ActionsJacob's prophecies directly address the past actions of his sons, such as Reuben's defilement of his father's bed and Simeon and Levi's violent cruelty. These deeds are linked to their future tribal fortunes and characteristics, demonstrating the principle of consequence.
  • Joseph's Abundant BlessingJoseph, despite being persecuted by his brothers, receives a profound and extensive blessing of fruitfulness, divine strength, and prosperity. This highlights God's faithfulness to Joseph and the future abundance of his descendants.
  • Tribal Destinies and CharacteristicsEach son's prophecy outlines specific traits, geographical locations, or future roles for their respective tribes. These descriptions use vivid imagery, like a lion for Judah or a serpent for Dan, to convey their inherent nature or future circumstances.
  • The Cave of MachpelahJacob's final request is to be buried in the family tomb at Machpelah, emphasizing its significance as a burial place for the patriarchs and a symbol of their claim to the land of Canaan. This act underscores the continuity of the covenant promises.
  • Jacob's Peaceful DeathThe chapter concludes with Jacob's serene passing, where he 'gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.' This signifies a peaceful end to a long and eventful life, joining his ancestors.