1Potom si Jákob zavolal synov a povedal: Zhromaždite sa a oznámim vám, čo vás v budúcnosti čaká: 2Dajte sa dovedna, ó počujte synovia Jákobovi, a počúvajte svojho otca, Izraela! 3Ty, Rúben, si môj prvorodený, moja moc a prvotina mojej mužskosti, vrchol dôstojnosti, vrchol sily. 4Prekypel si sťa vody, nebudeš mať prednosť, lebo si vstúpil na posteľ svojho otca, poškvrnil si mi lôžko, na ktoré si vstúpil. 5Šimeón a Lévi sú bratia, ich zbrane sú nástrojmi násilia. 6Nech nevstúpi moja duša do ich kruhu a s ich zborom sa mi srdce nezdruží, lebo v svojom hneve vraždia mužov a vo svojej samovôli ochromujú býkov. 7Prekliaty buď ich hnev, lebo je prudký, a ich zlosť, lebo je krutá! Rozdelím ich v Jákobovi a rozptýlim ich v Izraeli. 8Ó Júda, nech ťa chvália tvoji bratia, tvoja ruka nech spočinie na šiji tvojich nepriateľov, nech sa ti klaňajú synovia tvojho otca. 9Júda je mladý lev, z lúpeže si sa povzniesol, syn môj! Skrčil sa, ľahol si ako lev a ako levica; ktože ho donúti povstať? 10Nevzdiali sa berla od Júdu ani veliteľské žezlo od jeho nôh, dokiaľ mu nepríde panovník, ktorého národy budú poslúchať. 11Osla si uviaže o vinič, o révu šľachetnú svoje osliatko, vo víne perie si šaty a v krvi hrozna svoje rúcho. 12Oči mu žiaria od vína, zuby sa belejú od mlieka. 13Zebulún bude bývať pri morskom brehu, prístavom bude lodiam a jeho pomedzie dosiahne Sidón. 14Jissáchár je osol kostnatý, čo leží medzi košiarmi. 15Keď videl, že odpočinok je príjemný a krajina je krásna, zohol si plecia pod bremeno a stal sa sluhom poddaným. 16Dán nech prisluhuje právo svojmu ľudu ako hociktorý z kmeňov Izraela. 17Dán bude hadom pri ceste a zmijou pri chodníku, čo štípe koňom kopytá, až jazdec padne dozadu. 18Na tvoju pomoc čakám, Hospodine! 19Gáda napadnú hordy, on ich však napadne odzadu. 20Ašérov chlieb bude chutný, dodávať bude kráľovské lahôdky. 21Naftálí, jelenica voľná, hovorí rozkošné reči. 22Jozef je plodný strom, plodný strom nad prameňom, výhonky ktorého pnú sa ponad múr. 23Roztrpčujú ho a podstreľujú, útočia naňho lukostrelci, 24jeho luk však ostáva pevný a obratné sú paže jeho rúk, zásahom Mocnára Jákobovho, pre meno Pastiera, Skaly Izraela, 25pre Boha tvojho otca, On ti pomáhaj! pre Boha všemohúceho, On ťa požehnaj! požehnaním nebies zhora, požehnaním prahlbiny, ktorá leží dolu, požehnaním pŕs a materského lona. 26Požehnania tvojho otca prevyšujú požehnania večných vrchov a vzácnosť odvekých výšin; kiež spočinú na hlave Jozefovej a na temeni vznešeného medzi bratmi. 27Benjamín, dravý vlk, za rána požiera korisť a večer rozdeľuje lup. 28Títo všetci sú dvanástimi kmeňmi Izraela a toto im hovoril ich otec, keď ich žehnal. Každého požehnal osobitným požehnaním. 29Potom im dal príkaz a povedal: Budem pripojený k svojmu ľudu; pochovajte ma k mojim otcom do jaskyne, ktorá je na poli Chetejca Efróna, 30do jaskyne na poli Machpéla oproti Mamré v Kanaáne, ktorú Abrahám aj s poľom kúpil od Chetejca Efróna na dedičné pohrebisko. 31Tam pochovali Abraháma i jeho ženu Sáru, tam pochovali aj Izáka a jeho ženu Rebeku, tam som pochoval aj Leu; 32pole s jaskyňou kúpili od Chetejcov. 33Keď Jákob ukončil príkazy svojim synom, vyložil si nohy na posteľ a skonal; nato bol pripojený k svojmu ľudu.
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.