1Jaakob berief seine Söhne und sprach: Gesellt euch zueinander, daß ich euch melde, was euch begegnet in der Folge der Tage. 2Tretet zuhauf und hört, Söhne Jaakobs, hört auf Jissrael euren Vater! 3Ruben, mein Erstling bist du, meine Kraft, meiner Mächtigkeit Anfang! Ragende Würde, ragender Trotz! 4Überschwall wie Wassers - ragest nimmer! Denn du erstiegst das Bett deines Vaters, damals gabst du ihn preis, der mein Lager erstieg. 5Schimon und Lewi die Brüder, Geräte der Unbill ihre Karste! 6Nimmer komme in ihren Rat meine Seele, nimmer eine, meine Ehre, dich ihrer Versammlung! Denn in ihrem Zorn erwürgen sie Männer, in ihrem Mutwill lähmen sie Stiere. 7Fluch ihrem Zorn, daß er trotzt, ihrem Grimm, daß er so hart ist! Ich zerteile sie in Jaakob, ich zerstreue sie in Jissrael. 8Jehuda, du, dir danken deine Brüder. Deine Hand deinen Feinden im Nacken! Deines Vaters Söhne neigen sich dir. 9Ein Löwenjunges Jehuda - vom Zerfleischen, mein Sohn, steigst du empor! Er kauert, er lagert, wie der Leu, wie die Löwin, wer reizt ihn auf! 10Nicht weicht von Jehuda das Szepter, nicht zwischen seinen Füßen der Richtstab, bis daß kommt Dems-zusteht, - ihm der Völker Botmäßigkeit! 11An die Rebe bindet sein Füllen er, an die Purpurranke sein Eslein, wäscht im Wein sein Gewand, seinen Umhang im Blut der Trauben, 12die Augen funkelnd von Wein, die Zähne weißschimmernd von Milch. 13Sbulun, am Gestade des Meers wohnt er, er an der Schiffe Gestad, den Rücken an Sidon gelehnt. 14Jissachar, ein knochiger Esel, lagernd zwischen den Hürden - 15er sah Ruhe, daß sie ein Gut, das Land, daß es freundlich war, zum Lasttragen neigte er seine Schulter und wurde ein Fronknecht. 16Dan dient um Recht seinem Volk, wie nur einer von Jissraels Zweigen. 17Eine Schlange wird Dan am Weg, eine Hornotter am Pfad, die beißt die Fersen des Rosses, und rückwärts stürzt sein Reiter. 18Zu deiner Freiheit streck ich mich, DU! 19Gad, Gedräng der Raubschar umdrängt ihn, doch schon drängt auf der Ferse er nach. 20Ascher, seine Nahrung ist Fettigkeit, Königsleckerein gibt er her. 21Naftali, eine losgelassene Hindin, er der Wohllaut-Sprüche ausgibt. 22Sprossender Fruchtstock Jossef, sprossender Fruchtstock am Quell, Tochtergesproß schwingt sich mauerhinan ... 23Wider ihn erbittert beschießen, befehden die Pfeilmeister ihn, 24doch im Urstand bleibt sein Bogen, seiner Hände Arme schnellen: von den Händen des Recken Jaakobs her, von dort her, dem Hirten vom Jissraels-Stein. 25Vom Gott deines Vaters - er helfe dir, von dem Gewaltigen -er segne dich: Segnungen des Himmels von droben, Segnungen des Wirbels, der drunten lagert, Segnungen von Brüsten und Schoß! 26Die Segnungen deines Vaters wuchsen an die Segnungen der ewigen Berge, an die Lust der Weltzeit-Höhn - sie mögen sich senken auf Jossefs Haupt, auf den Scheitel des Geweihten unter seinen Brüdern! 27Binjamin, ein Wolf, der zerfleischt, am Morgen noch frißt er den Raub, am Abend verteilt er schon Beute. 28All diese sind Jissraels Zweige, zwölf, und das ist, was ihr Vater redete zu ihnen; er segnete sie, jeden mit dem, was ihm als Segen gehörte, segnete er sie. 29Er gebot ihnen und sprach sie an: Ich werde nun eingeholt zu meinem Volke, begrabt mich zu meinen Vätern in die Höhle, die auf dem Anger Efrons des Chetiters, 30in der Höhle, der auf dem Anger Machpela, angesichts von Mamre, im Lande Kanaan, welchen Anger Abraham von Efron dem Chetiter zur Grabhufe erwarb. 31Dorthin begrub man Abraham und sein Weib Ssara, dorthin begrub man Jizchak und sein Weib Ribka, dorthin habe ich Lea begraben - 32den Anger und darauf die Höhle, Erwerb von den Söhnen Chets. 33Als Jaakob geendet hatte, seinen Söhnen zu gebieten, holte er seine Füße ins Bett und verschied und wurde zu seinen Volkleuten eingeholt.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 All Jacob's sons were living. His calling them together was a precept for them to unite in love, not to mingle with the Egyptians; and foretold that they should not be separated, as Abraham's sons and Isaac's were, but should all make one people. We are not to consider this address as the expression of private feelings of affection, resentment, or partiality; but as the language of the Holy Ghost, declaring the purpose of God respecting the character, circumstances, and situation of the tribes which descended from the sons of Jacob, and which may be traced in their histories.
3 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 his family. Let us never do evil, then we need not fear being told of it. Simeon and Levi were passionate and revengeful. The murder of the Shechemites is a proof of this. Jacob protested against that barbarous act. Our soul is our honour; by its powers we are distinguished from, and raised above, the beasts that perish. We ought, from our hearts, to abhor all bloody and mischievous men. Cursed be their anger. Jacob does not curse their persons, but their lusts. I will divide them. The sentence as it respects Levi was turned into a blessing. This tribe performed an acceptable service in their zeal against the worshippers of the golden calf, Exodus 32. Being set apart to God as priests, they were in that character scattered through the nation of Israel.
8 Judah's name signifies praise. God was praised for him,
Gen 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 a lion raging and ranging, but to a lion enjoying the satisfaction of his power and success, without creating vexation to others; this is to be truly great. Judah should be the royal tribe, the tribe from which Messiah the Prince should come. Shiloh, that promised Seed in whom the earth should be blessed, that peaceable and prosperous One, or Saviour, he shall come of Judah. Thus dying Jacob at a great distance saw Christ's day, and it was his comfort and support on his death-bed. Till Christ's coming, Judah possessed authority, but after his crucifixion this was shortened, and according to what Christ foretold, Jerusalem was destroyed, and all the poor harassed remnant of Jews were confounded together. Much which is here said concerning Judah, is to be applied to our Lord Jesus. In him there is plenty of all which is nourishing and refreshing to the soul, and which maintains and cheers the Divine life in it. He is the true Vine; wine is the appointed symbol of his blood, which is drink indeed, as shed for sinners, and applied in faith; and all the blessings of his gospel are wine and milk, without money and without price, to which every thirsty soul is welcome.
Isa 55:1.
13 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, and to improve it; if Zebulun dwell at the heaven of the sea, let him be for a haven of ships. Concerning Issachar: he saw that the land was pleasant, yielding not only pleasant prospects, but pleasant fruits to recompense his toils. Let us, with an eye of faith, see the heavenly rest to be good, and that land of promise to be pleasant; this will make our present services easy. Dan should, by art, and policy, and surprise, gain advantages against his enemies, like a serpent biting the heel of the traveller. Jacob, almost spent, and ready to faint, relieves himself with those words, I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord! The salvation he waited for was Christ, the promised Seed; now that he was going to be gathered to his people, he breathes after Him to whom the gathering of the people shall be. He declared plainly that he sought heaven, the better country,
Hebre 11:13,
Hebre 11:14. Now he is going to enjoy the salvation, he comforts himself that he had waited for the salvation. Christ, as our way to heaven, is to be waited on; and heaven, as our rest in Christ, is to be waited for. It is the comfort of a dying saint thus to have waited for the salvation of the Lord; for then he shall have what he has been waiting for.
19 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 at last. It represents the Christian's conflict. Grace in the soul is often foiled in its conflicts; troops of corruption overcome it, but the cause is God's, and grace will in the end come off conqueror, yea, more than conqueror,
Roma 8:37. Asher should be a rich tribe. His inheritance bordered upon Carmel, which was fruitful to a proverb. Naphtali, is a hind let loose. We may consider it as a description of the character of this tribe. Unlike the laborious ox and ass; desirous of ease and liberty; active, but more noted for quick dispatch than steady labour and perseverance. Like the suppliant who, with goodly words, craves mercy. Let not those of different tempers and gifts censure or envy one another.
22 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, but through his trials he bore all his burdens with firmness, and did not do anything unbecoming. All our strength for resisting temptations, and bearing afflictions, comes from God; his grace is sufficient. Joseph became the shepherd of Israel, to take care of his father and family; also the stone of Israel, their foundation and strong support. In this, as in many other things, Joseph was a remarkable type of the Good Shepherd, and tried Corner Stone of the whole church of God. Blessings are promised to Joseph's posterity, typical of the vast and everlasting blessings which come upon the spiritual seed of Christ. Jacob blessed all his sons, but especially Joseph, who was separated from his brethren. Not only separated in Egypt, but, possessing eminent dignity, and more devoted to God. Of Benjamin it is said, He shall ravin as a wolf. Jacob was guided in what he said by the Spirit of prophecy, and not by natural affection; else he would have spoken with more tenderness of his beloved son Benjamin. Concerning him he only foresees and foretells, that his posterity should be a warlike tribe, strong and daring, and that they should enrich themselves with the spoils of their enemies; that they should be active. Blessed Paul was of this tribe,
Roma 11:1;
Phili 3:5; he, in the morning of his day, devoured the prey as a persecutor, but in the evening divided the spoils as a preacher; he shared the blessings of Judah's Lion, and assisted in his victories.
28 Jacob blessed every one according to the blessings God in after-times intended to bestow upon them. He spoke about his burial-place, from a principle of faith in the promise of God, that Canaan should be the inheritance of his seed in due time. When he had finished both his blessing and his charge, and so had finished his testimony, he addressed himself to his dying work. He gathered up his feet into the bed, not only as one patiently submitting to the stroke, but as one cheerfully composing himself to rest, now that he was weary. He freely gave up his spirit into the hand of God, the Father of spirits. If God's people be our people, death will gather us to them. Under the care of the Shepherd of Israel, we shall lack nothing for body or soul. We shall remain unmoved until our work is finished; then, breathing out our souls into His hands for whose salvation we have waited, we shall depart in peace, and leave a blessing for our children after us.