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The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:1-33
Last words. Jacob's benediction on his sons was a prophetic treasure, to be kept in store by future generations, and a foundation on which much faith could afterwards be built.. It has been called "the last full bloom o…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:2
Gather yourselves together,—the repetition indicates at once the elevation of the speaker's soul, and the importance, in his mind, of the impending revelation—and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your fat…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:3-7
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 hi…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:5-7
These were next in age to Reuben, and they also had been a grief and shame to Jacob, when they treacherously and barbarously destroyed the Shechemites, which he here remembers against them. Children should be afraid of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:5-7
Simeon and Levi are brethren (not in parentage alone, but also in their deeds; e.g. their massacre of the Shechemites (Genesis 34:25), to which undoubtedly the next words allude); instruments of cruelty are in their hab…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:8-12
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…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:8-12
Glorious things are here said of Judah. The mention of the crimes of the three elder of his sons had not so put the dying patriarch out of humour but that he had a blessing ready for Judah, to whom blessings belonged. J…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:8-12
Judah's portion. "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise," etc. This dying vision and the utterances of the dying patriarch seem in harmony with all the surroundings in this part of the sacred record. The age…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:8-12
Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise—literally, Judah thou, will praise thee thy brethren, the word יְהוּדָה being a palpable play on יודוךָ (cf. Genesis 29:35). Leah praised Jehovah for his birth, and his…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:10
The coming of Shiloh. Remarkable agreement of ancient interpreters, Jewish as well as Christian, to consider this a prophecy of Messiah. The former of special value, as being before the event. The Targum of Onkelos rend…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:13-18
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, an…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:13-21
Here we have Jacob's prophecy concerning six of his sons. I. Concerning Zebulun (Genesis 49:13), that his posterity should have their lot upon the seacoast, and should be merchants, and mariners, and traders at sea. Thi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:13
Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea;—not παρ ὅρμον πλοίων (LXX.), in statione navium (Vulgate), but to, or at, or beside, the. shore (from the idea of being washed by the waters of the ocean) of the waters, i…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:16-18
Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. With a play upon his name, the firstborn son of Rachel's handmaid, Bilhah, is described as one who should occupy an important place and exercise highly benefici…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:18
God's salvation. I. WHAT IT IS. Deliverance from evil, succor against foes, victory over sin and death. II. WHENCE IT COMES. The primal fountain is Jehovah, the covenant God of the believer. The salvation of the gospel…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:18
A dying saint's exercise. I. ADORATION. "O Lord!" Jehovah the God of redemption, the supreme object of worship. II. MEDITATION. "Thy salvation!" What a theme for the thoughts to dwell on God's salvation in its origin, i…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:19-21
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…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:19
Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. The threefold alliteration of the original, which is lost in the received translation, may be thus expressed: "Gad—a,press presses him, but he presses…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:20
Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties—literally, dainties of, or for, the king. The first clause may be otherwise rendered: Of Asher the bread shall be fat (Kalisch); fat shall be his br…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:21
Naphtaii is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. The LXX; followed by Dathe, Michaelis, Ewald, Bohlen, and others, read, Naphtali is a tall terebinth, that putteth forth beautiful boughs; but the word אַיָלָה signi…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:22-27
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…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:22-27
He closes with the blessings of his best beloved sons, Joseph and Benjamin; with these he will breathe his last. I. The blessing of Joseph, which is very large and full. He is compared (Genesis 49:22) to a fruitful boug…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:22-26
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall—literally, son of a fruit tree, Joseph; son o/a fruit tree at the well; daughters run over the wall. The structure of the cla…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:26
The separated one, or Joseph a type of Christ. Joseph was separated from his brethren— I. IN HIS FATHER'S AFFECTIONS. Jacob loved him more than any of his other sons. So was Christ the only-begotten and well-beloved Son…