1Und Jakob rief seine Söhne und sprach: Versammelt euch, und ich sage euch an, was euch in späteren Tagen begegnen wird. 2Kommet zusammen und höret, ihr Söhne Jakobs, und höret auf Israel, euern Vater. 3Ruben, mein Erstgeborener bist du, meine Kraft und der Anfang meiner Vollkraft, hervorragend an Erhabenheit und hervorragend an Stärke! 4Leicht wie Wasser sollst du nicht hervorragen; denn du hast deines Vaters Lager bestiegen, da hast du es entweiht. Auf meine Lagerstätte ist er hinaufgestiegen. 5Simeon und Levi sind Brüder; Werkzeuge der Gewalttat sind ihre Dolche. 6In ihr Geheimnis gehe nicht ein, meine Seele, mit ihrer Versammlung vereine dich nicht, meine Herrlichkeit; denn in ihrem Zorn erwürgten sie einen Mann, und in ihrem Wohlgefallen lähmten sie einen Ochsen. 7Verflucht sei ihr Zorn, denn er ist stark und ihr Wüten, denn es ist hart. Ich werde sie verteilen in Jakob und sie zerstreuen in Israel. 8Judah bist du; es werden dich lobpreisen deine Brüder; deine Hand soll sein am Nacken deiner Feinde; es werden sich vor dir niederbeugen die Söhne deines Vaters. 9Das Junge eines Löwen ist Judah; vom Zerfleischten, mein Sohn, kommst du herauf. Er hat sich gebeugt und sich gelagert, wie der Löwe, wie ein gealterter Löwe! Wer will machen, daß er stehe? 10Nicht weggenommen wird von Judah das Zepter, noch der Gesetzgeber von zwischen seinen Füßen, bis daß Schiloh kommt; und ihm wird der Gehorsam der Völker. 11Er bindet an den Weinstock sein Eselsfüllen, und an die Edelrebe den Sohn seiner Eselin. Er wäscht im Weine seinen Anzug und im Blut der Weinbeeren seinen Mantel. 12Tiefrot sind seine Augen vom Wein, und die Zähne sind weiß von Milch. 13Sebulon wird wohnen am Hafen der Meere, an dem Hafen der Schiffe und seine Seite über Sidon. 14Isaschar ist ein knochiger Esel, der sich zwischen den Bürden lagert. 15Und er sieht die Ruhe, daß sie gut, und das Land, daß es lieblich sei, und neigt seine Schulter zum Lasttragen; und er wird ein zinsbarer Knecht. 16Dan wird rechten für sein Volk, als einer der Stämme Israels. 17Dan wird eine Schlange am Wege und eine Pfeilschlange auf dem Pfade sein, die das Pferd in die Fersen beißt, so daß sein Reiter Rücklings fällt. 18Auf dein Heil hoffe ich, Jehovah! 19Gad werden Scharen verwüsten, aber er verwundet die Ferse. 20Fett ist das Brot, das von Ascher kommt, und Wonnen des Königs gibt er. 21Naphthali ist eine losgelassene Hindin; er gibt zierliche Reden. 22Der Sohn einer Fruchtbaren ist Joseph, der Sohn einer Fruchtbaren an der Quelle, einer Tochter, die auf der Mauer einherschreitet. 23Es erbittern ihn und schießen und grollen ihm die Meister der Pfeile. 24Aber sie wird sitzen in der Tüchtigkeit seines Bogens; und gestärkt werden die Arme seiner Hände von den Händen des Gewaltigen Jakobs. Von dort her ist der Hirte, der Stein Israels. 25Von dem Gott deines Vaters, Der dir beistehen und mit Schaddai, Der dich segnen wird mit Segnungen des Himmels von oben, mit Segnungen des Abgrundes, der unten lagert, mit Segnungen der Brüste und des Mutterschoßes. 26Die Segnungen deines Vaters werden mächtiger sein, als die Segnungen meiner Erzeuger, bis zum Sehnen der Hügel des Zeitlaufs, sie werden sein auf Josephs Haupt und auf den Scheitel des Nasirs unter seinen Brüdern. 27Benjamin ist ein Wolf, der zerfleischt am Morgen, den Raub frißt und am Abend die Beute verteilt. 28Das sind alle die zwölf Stämme Israels, und das ist, was ihr Vater zu ihnen redete. Und er segnete sie; jeden Mann gemäß seinem Segen segnete er sie. 29Und er gebot ihnen und sprach zu ihnen: Ich werde zu meinem Volke versammelt. Begrabet mich bei meinen Vätern in der Höhle, die im Felde Ephrons, des Chethiters, ist. 30In der Höhle, die im Felde Machpelah ist, bei dem Angesichte Mamres, im Lande Kanaan, welches Abraham mit dem Felde von Ephron, dem Chethiter gekauft für ein Grabeigentum. 31Dorthin begruben sie Abraham und Sarah, sein Weib; dorthin begruben sie Isaak und Rebekah, sein Weib, und dorthin begrub ich Leah. 32Das Feld und die Höhle darin sind ein Ankauf von den Söhnen Cheths. 33Und Jakob vollendete seinen Söhnen zu gebieten, und er zog seine Füße zusammen in das Bett und verschied, und ward zu seinen Völkern versammelt.
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.