The patriarchal blessing, or the last words of Jacob,
I. THE SONS OF LEAH.
1. The blessing on Reuben.
2. The blessings on Simeon and Levi. It is only by a species of irony that the words pronounced on the authors of the Shechem massacre can be styled a blessing.
3. The blessing upon Judah. Recalling probably the part which his fourth son had played with reference to Benjamin, Jacob fervently declares that Judah should be—
4. The blessing on Zebulun. With allusion to the import or ms name, Jacob prophesies that Leah's sixth son should be the ancestor of a flourishing community devoted to commercial pursuits, with a territory reaching towards the sea-coast, where ships should come to load and unload their cargoes of merchandise.
5. The blessing on Issachar. The last mentioned son of Leah, though the fifth in the order of birth, the patriarch predicts should develop into a powerful and sagacious tribe, capable of great exertion and warlike achievements, but addicted to pastoral pursuits, and so fond of luxuriant repose, that for the sake of resting among his sheepfolds and in his fat meadows he should be willing to fulfill the mute anticipation of his name, and render tribute to his more heroic brethren.
II. THE SONS OF THE CONCUBINES.
1. The blessing on Dan. Dan was the firstborn of Bilhah, the maid of Rachel; and concerning him the patriarch announces—"That though the child of a secondary wife, his descendants should attain to the position of an independent and self-governing tribe"—"Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel"
2. The blessing on Gad. The firstborn of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, obtains the next place in the order of the sons, and concerning him it is declared with a threefold play upon his name, which signifies a troop, that—
3. The blessing on Aslant. The happy one should he the occupier of a territory exceeding fertile, and capable of yielding rich and dainty fruits for royal tables.
4. The blessing on Naphtali. Naphtali was Bilhah's child, which Rachel named in honor of her triumphant wrestling or contending with her sister; and for him were reserved the gifts of a graceful exterior, agile movements, and attractive speech both in eloquence and song.
III. THE SONS OF RACHEL.
1. The blessing on Joseph. With a fullness and tenderness of paternal emotion like that with which already he had spoken of Judah, the expiring patriarch declares the fortunes of Joseph, setting forth—
2. The blessing on Benjamin. Though latest born of Jacob's family, he should not be the least important,, but should show himself possessed of a warlike and adventurous disposition, causing him with eagerness and animation to take the field against the foe, and to desist not from battle till he could lead back his legions as rejoicing conquerors, enriched with the spoils of glorious victory.
Learn—
1. That God is the great arbiter of human destiny.
2. That each man's sphere in life, as well as each nation's place on earth, is adapted to his or its peculiar character.
3. That though fore-appointed and fore-known, the destinies of men and nations are freely wrought out by themselves. And—
4. That in Providence as well as Grace, it often happens that the first becomes last, and the last first.
HOMILIES BY R.A. REDFORD