Genesis 49

Genesis 49:1

That I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

What shall come to pass in the following times, both soon upon my departure, and many ages after.

Genesis 49:3

Thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength.

Thou wert both begotten in the prime of my strength, and wert the first of my sons in whom my strength consisted: having as then all the privileges of the first born; pre-eminence over thy brethren, and a double portion above them.

Genesis 49:4

Thou shalt not excel.

Thou art run abroad as water, that is spilt, which cannot be gathered up; thou shalt no more be eminent above thy brethren, &c.

Genesis 49:5

Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

Simeon and Levi, which have too well consented together to do mischief, and were instruments of much cruelty in their agreement against the Shechemites.

Genesis 49:6

O 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 self-will they digged down a wall.

Let not my soul join with them in their consultations; neither let my reputation depend upon their meeting, which my heart abhorred; for in their wrath they slew the Shechemites, and in their self-will brake down the walls of their city.

Genesis 49:8

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise.

Judah, according as thy name imports, thou shalt have praise from thy brethren, who shalt acknowledge thy princedom, in thy posterity, over them, &c.

Genesis 49:10

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a law-giver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Judah shall have a known distinct tribe amongst his brethren and governors in the kingdom, of the same line, to bear rule until the time of Messiah coming; and the people shall yield their obedience to him.

Genesis 49:11

Binding 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.

He shall so abound with wines, that he shall load his asses with grapes, and even wash his garments with the juice of them.

Genesis 49:12

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

His posterity shall be abundantly furnished with wine and milk, vineyards and pastures.

Genesis 49:13

Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships.

Zebulun shall be commodiously situated for his traffic, by the sea side towards Zidon.

Genesis 49:14

Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burthens.

Issachar shall be laborious and strong, more fit for subjection, than command; and shall yield himself willingly to all impositions of labour and tributes.

Genesis 49:16

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

Dan, though he be the son of a bondwoman, yet shall attain unto the dignity of ruling amongst the tribes of Israel; and shall afford some that shall sway the government.

Genesis 49:17

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels.

His posterity shall enlarge their bounds, and prevail more by subtlety than strength; and therefore shall be like the serpent, &c.

Genesis 49:18

I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

And though this tribe shall pass through many oppressions and grievances, yet, O Lord, I do constantly expect thy gracious deliverance of him.

Genesis 49:19

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

Gad shall be sore annoyed with the Ammonites, and other neighbouring nations, but shall at last prevail.

Genesis 49:20

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

Concerning Asher, he shall be seated in a place of great fruitfulness and delicacy.

Genesis 49:21

Napthali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

Napthali, shall be both swift to war, and yet gentle, and friendly to embrace and maintain peace.

Genesis 49:22

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

Joseph shall be as a fruitful bough, set beside a fountain, whose branches shall run upon the wall, and have benefit of the reflection.

Genesis 49:23

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

His enemies bent themselves against him, as an archer doth his bow to shoot at a mark; and wrought all the mischief they could against him:

Genesis 49:24

But his bow abode in strength, &c. Of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel.)

But his strength was able to match them in their own kind, &c. The God of Jacob, of whom and by whom Joseph was appointed, as a nourisher and refuge unto Israel.

Genesis 49:26

The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.

The blessings of me, thy father, shall be the stronger upon thee, by being added unto the blessing of Abraham and Isaac, which all do light upon thee; and shall continue as long as there are hills upon the earth.

Genesis 49:27

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

Benjamin shall be fierce and terrible in his wars, devouring his enemies as a wolf his prey; and shall have his whole time taken up with the division and improving of the spoil.