Genesis 49

Genesis 49:4

Whatever power or dignity the Reubenites had at first, they quickly lost it; Num. x

Genesis 49:18-21

Josh. iv. 12, 13. and xxii. with Judg. v. 15, 16. 1 Chron. xv. 18—26. They never rendered themselves famous by any noted exploit; nor did any judge, king, or prophet, that we know of, proceed from among them. Ver. 6. They digged down the walls of the house where Hamor and Shechem secured themselves; or they seized upon oxen, and carried them off for a spoil. Ver. 7. The Simeonites had their inheritance in Canaan out of the lot of Judah; Josh. xix. 1—9. this being too small for them, they had to seize for themselves part of Arabia; 1 Chron. iv. 39—43: and it is said that many of them dispersed themselves among the other tribes, in the character of teachers. The Levites lived scattered among all the other tribes; and were the spiritual instructors of their brethren, and the collectors of the sacred revenues; Josh. xxi. 1 Chron. vi. xxiii—xxvi. Ver. 8—12. The tribe of Judah was the most numerous and powerful of all; Num. i. 27. and xxvi. 22. 2 Sam. xxiv. 9. 2 Chron. xiv. 8. and xvii. 14—16. To them their fellow-tribes often submitted themselves; Judg. i. 2. and iii. 9, 10. and xx. 18; chiefly under David and Solomon; 1 Chron. xii. 1 Kings iv.; many individuals of these adhered to them in the days of Rehoboum; 1 Kings xii. 17. 2 Chron. xi. 16, 17; Asa, 2 Chron. xv. 9. and xvi. 6. and xvii. 2; Hezekiah, 2 Chron. xxx. 11; and after their return from Babylon; Ezek. xxxvii. 15—22. The tribe of Benjamin almost always adhered to them. In the march of the tribes, and in their going forth to war, God appointed them the precedence; Num. x. 14. Judg. i. 2. and xx. 18. The first of the Judges was one of them; Judg. iii. 9, 10. The only kings, that ever God in mercy granted to the Hebrew nation, were of them; 1 Sam. xvi. 2 Sam. vii. Psal. lxxxix.—Their conquests and spoils were peculiarly remarkable; Judg. i. 2 Sam. iii. 1. and viii. x. xxi. 2 Chron. xiii. xiv. xx. xxvi. Is. xxxiii. 4. and xxxvii. 36. In Canaan they had the first lot of the country assigned them; it was very extensive and fertile; it abounded with vines and pastures, which rendered wine and milk almost as common as water.—But the predictions respecting this tribe have their principal accomplishment in Jesus Christ, who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, to whom God hath given all power in heaven and in earth; Mat. xxviii. 18. Psal. lxxii. and whom he hath commanded all men to adore; John v. 22, 23. Phil. ii. 9—11. He conquers all his and his people’s enemies; Col. ii. 14, 15. Psal. cx. He bestows a fulness of grace and glory upon his people; Psal. lxviii. 12, 18. He is the true vine, who prepares for his people the wine and milk of gospel-truths, ordinances, influences, and blessings; Is. lv. 1. Joel iii. 18. He is called Shiloh, that is, the Author of our peace, prosperity, and salvation; Isa. ix. 6, 7. i. 6. Mat. i. 21. Till he came in the flesh; Mat. i. Luke xi. the tribe of Judah not only retained its distinct form as a tribe, (which none of the rest, no not that of Benjamin, properly did,) but retained a governing power in its princes, judges, kings, deputies of the Chaldean, Persian, and Grecian, monarchs, Maccabean governors or kings, or in the Sanhedrim, or great council of their elders. Scarcely had Jesus appeared in the flesh, when Judea was altogether reduced into a Roman province, having no sovereign but the Roman emperor; John xix. 12, 15. No sooner had the gathering of the Gentiles to Shiloh taken place by the spread of the gospel, than the city and temple of Jerusalem were destroyed, the constitution of their church and state dissolved, and themselves scattered, as vagabonds, among all nations, to be standing witnesses for many generations that he is come. Ver. 16, 17. Though the Danites were the offspring of a concubine, they had as much power as the other tribes sprung of free women. They harassed the Philistines in Sampson and others; Judg. xiii—xvi. But they proved a stumbling-block to the other tribes by their idolatry; Judg. xviii

Genesis 49:29-31

Ver. 18. I pray for, and expect the promised deliverances to myself and posterity, but especially that spiritual and eternal salvation, to be accomplished by the Son of God in human nature. Ver. 19. The Gadites were exceedingly exposed to the invasions and ravages of the Ammonites, Arabians, Syrians, Assyrians, &c. Judg. x. 8. 1 Sam. xi. 1, 2. 2 Kings x. 33. and xv. 29. 1 Chron. v. 26. Ver. 22. Joseph’s posterity spread themselves far and wide, dwelling on both sides of Jordan; Josh. xii. 6. xiii. 7. and xvi. 17. Ver. 24. Joseph’s graces continued firm; enabling him to withstand temptations, endure injuries, and perform duties: and his honours were secured to him. He was a shepherd, to direct and provide for the Hebrews in Egypt, and the stone, under God, upon whom their happiness and safety were founded in that country. Joshua, who brought them into Canaan, sprung of him. 2 Ver. 25. God blessed his posterity with plenteous rains and dews, with fountains of water, and with multitudes of children, richly supplied with every enjoyment. Ver. 26. Jacob’s blessings excelled those of Abraham and Isaac; (1) In their extent; none of his children being excluded, as Ishmael and Esau had been. (2) In their distinct clearness: the land of Canaan, which had been formerly bequeathed in general, was now distributed to Joseph and his brethren. (3) In the apparent nearness of fulfilment; his posterity now increasing fast. Joseph was separated from his brethren, when he was sold into Egypt, and afterwards by his distinguished honours there

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XLIX.—How important is the proper work of a death-bed! for dying parents solemnly to pray for, to warn and to direct, their surviving children, is useful and becoming. The sins of parents often entail disgrace and misery upon their posterity: and the blessing of God fixes most remarkably where, for a time, there is the least appearance of it. But the lots of mankind, even in the same family, are greatly diversified. Let me therefore, first of all, and above all, make choice of Jesus, the once promised SHILOH, and now glorified Lord and Christ, and of his salvation, and then be content with such things as I have. Amidst all my work on earth, let me seek and wait for the salvation of God, that when I have finished my course I may be gathered to Jesus and his people above!—But is not the now-departed patriarch a glass to shew me my Redeemer? Is not he justly named Jacob and Israel? How long expected, earnestly desired, and supernatural was his birth! Divinely was he chosen to be the Father of the saved nations of elect men, the peculiar people of God. He took the first Adam by the heel, fulfilling the covenant which he had broken: he supplanted and overthrew Satan and his works in the world: and, by his bloody service and suffering, he purchased his mediatorial heirship of all things. What inestimable blessings he obtained for men, by offering himself to God in the likeness of sinful flesh! In this his work of love how exposed to trouble from Jewish brethren, from Satan, the father of his bride, and from JEHOVAH, his offended Father above! How distressful his earthly exile! Hard was his service, numerous his sorrows, unsettled his lot, and remarkable his plainness and integrity. What love he bears to his mother and spouse the church! Faithful was he in his work, prevalent is he in his intercession, and glorious and extensive is his reward; for in the multitude of his redeemed he shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. Having finished his work, and blessed his disciples, he retired to his rest in the heavenly Canaan—the midst of the throne of God. And innumerable multitudes of spiritual seed spring from his twelve apostles, those dignified patriarchs in the gospel-church