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Genesis 49
1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days (1 of 14 occurrences. Compare to Numbers 24:14, Deuteronomy 4:30, Deuteronomy 31:29, Isaiah 2:2, Jeremiah 23:20, Jeremiah 30:24, Jeremiah 48:47, Jeremiah 49:39, Ezekiel 38:16, Daniel 2:28, Daniel 10:14, Hosea 3:5, Micah 4:1).
2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
If you remember from Genesis 37:21-22, it was Reuben who took up for Joseph whereby his brother's wouldn't murder him.
4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
Referring to Genesis 35:22-23.
5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.
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 selfwill they digged down a wall.
Referring to Genesis 34:25-31.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
See Joshua 19:1, 1 Chronicles 4:39-43, Leviticus 25:32-34. Levi's curse was later changed to a blessing (Exodus 32:26-29, Deuteronomy 10:8-9).
8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.
And through Judah would come the king-line, in which would eventually come the KING of kings and the LORD of lords (JESUS CHRIST). And regardless of race/skin color, all are one in CHRIST JESUS (Galatians 3:26-29).
9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
As we witnessed throughout this book, Judah matured as he aged, as he was willing to give himself up for Benjamin (Genesis 44:33-34). Throughout history, the tribe of Judah would always have the victory.
10 The sceptre (symbolic of kingship) shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Again, CHRIST would come through the offspring of Judah, and ultimately all who dwell in HIM, will be gathered together at the return of HIM (the last trumpet [the seventh]), and in the eternity (Heaven).
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:
This is a figure of speech which means that his tribe will be filled with great wealth, and indeed it was, with CHRIST our SAVIOR coming through it. As for this expression, today it is like saying "he is so rich, he could bathe in champagne".
12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
In other words, his tribe will have all it will need. The wine-filled-eyes symbolizing he will always have plenty and the milk symbolizing his flock will always be blessed.
13 Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea (i.e. the cove); and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon (= fishery).
14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:
15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
In other words, he would rather carry the burdens from others than to stand up and fight back for what's right.
16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
This would come to pass in Judges 15:20.
17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder (i.e. horned snake) in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
As it's written in Judges 18:30, his tribe would become involved in idolatry, which is why his tribe is also not mentioned in Revelation 7.
18 I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.
And with CHRIST's ultimate, loving, sacrifice on the cross, this would come to pass, as salvation was made available to all in CHRIST JESUS, and HE crushes all of the works by the serpent, who is satan (Revelation 12:9). See also: Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 25:8-9, Matthew 24:13.
19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.
20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.
In other words, his tribe is going to be very prosperous, which is what happens to those who serve and revere the LORD.
21 Naphtali is a hind (= doe) let loose (i.e. symbolic of freedom): he giveth goodly words (see Judges 5:18 with the song of Deborah).
22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
As we've seen from this book, it was Joseph who helped save Egypt and his family from the famine, as he made sure there was enough food stored up, from the first seven years of plenteous, to last the next seven years of famine. In other words, he stored up enough to overcome.
23 The archers have sorely grieved him (compare Amos 6:6), and shot at him, and hated him:
When you think about this in the futuristic sense, concerning the nations that would come through Joseph (United States, United Kingdom, British Commonwealth nations), it is the kenites who strive to destroy and take away the wealth of those nations due to their wickedness and jealousy. We already see this taking place with the many corrupt "leaders" and politicians in our offices, as they seek to weaken our nations in these days. It is also our nations which give prosperously to other nations, and in return, all we get is hate.
24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
And so it is, GOD's people who are truly walking in HIM, will not fail, as we will always overcome. Think about our nations today as we have become the super power of all super power nations, which is no accident, as GOD blesses and takes care of those who love HIM. This "shepherd" and "stone" mentioned here, is in reference to CHRIST, as HE is our STONE of faith, our solid foundation, and is the SHEPHERD of all CHRISTians. See also: Deuteronomy 32:3-4, Deuteronomy 32:31, 1 Samuel 2:2.
25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
And again, our nations have been greatly blessed throughout the years, as we have an abundance of food, water, materials, along with the most powerful military in the world. The "blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:" is in reference to the children of our nations, as they have received the blessed inheritance.
26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they (i.e. Ephraim and Manasseh) shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
"The blessings of my progenitors" is in reference to the promised blessings that GOD made to Abraham, which was passed on to Isaac, Israel (Jacob), Joseph and his sons (Ephraim and Manasseh).
27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
In other words, his tribe will strive with intense energy and commitment.
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.
Today, we can see the effect of these blessings and how they still exist today.
29 And he charged (= commanded) them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers (i.e. Isaac and Abraham) in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.
In reference to Genesis 23:15-18.
31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
32 The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.
33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost (i.e. died), and was gathered unto his people (See Ecclesiastes 12:7).
2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
If you remember from Genesis 37:21-22, it was Reuben who took up for Joseph whereby his brother's wouldn't murder him.
4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
Referring to Genesis 35:22-23.
5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.
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 selfwill they digged down a wall.
Referring to Genesis 34:25-31.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
See Joshua 19:1, 1 Chronicles 4:39-43, Leviticus 25:32-34. Levi's curse was later changed to a blessing (Exodus 32:26-29, Deuteronomy 10:8-9).
8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.
And through Judah would come the king-line, in which would eventually come the KING of kings and the LORD of lords (JESUS CHRIST). And regardless of race/skin color, all are one in CHRIST JESUS (Galatians 3:26-29).
9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
As we witnessed throughout this book, Judah matured as he aged, as he was willing to give himself up for Benjamin (Genesis 44:33-34). Throughout history, the tribe of Judah would always have the victory.
10 The sceptre (symbolic of kingship) shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Again, CHRIST would come through the offspring of Judah, and ultimately all who dwell in HIM, will be gathered together at the return of HIM (the last trumpet [the seventh]), and in the eternity (Heaven).
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:
This is a figure of speech which means that his tribe will be filled with great wealth, and indeed it was, with CHRIST our SAVIOR coming through it. As for this expression, today it is like saying "he is so rich, he could bathe in champagne".
12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
In other words, his tribe will have all it will need. The wine-filled-eyes symbolizing he will always have plenty and the milk symbolizing his flock will always be blessed.
13 Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea (i.e. the cove); and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon (= fishery).
14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:
15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
In other words, he would rather carry the burdens from others than to stand up and fight back for what's right.
16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
This would come to pass in Judges 15:20.
17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder (i.e. horned snake) in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
As it's written in Judges 18:30, his tribe would become involved in idolatry, which is why his tribe is also not mentioned in Revelation 7.
18 I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.
And with CHRIST's ultimate, loving, sacrifice on the cross, this would come to pass, as salvation was made available to all in CHRIST JESUS, and HE crushes all of the works by the serpent, who is satan (Revelation 12:9). See also: Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 25:8-9, Matthew 24:13.
19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.
20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.
In other words, his tribe is going to be very prosperous, which is what happens to those who serve and revere the LORD.
21 Naphtali is a hind (= doe) let loose (i.e. symbolic of freedom): he giveth goodly words (see Judges 5:18 with the song of Deborah).
22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
As we've seen from this book, it was Joseph who helped save Egypt and his family from the famine, as he made sure there was enough food stored up, from the first seven years of plenteous, to last the next seven years of famine. In other words, he stored up enough to overcome.
23 The archers have sorely grieved him (compare Amos 6:6), and shot at him, and hated him:
When you think about this in the futuristic sense, concerning the nations that would come through Joseph (United States, United Kingdom, British Commonwealth nations), it is the kenites who strive to destroy and take away the wealth of those nations due to their wickedness and jealousy. We already see this taking place with the many corrupt "leaders" and politicians in our offices, as they seek to weaken our nations in these days. It is also our nations which give prosperously to other nations, and in return, all we get is hate.
24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
And so it is, GOD's people who are truly walking in HIM, will not fail, as we will always overcome. Think about our nations today as we have become the super power of all super power nations, which is no accident, as GOD blesses and takes care of those who love HIM. This "shepherd" and "stone" mentioned here, is in reference to CHRIST, as HE is our STONE of faith, our solid foundation, and is the SHEPHERD of all CHRISTians. See also: Deuteronomy 32:3-4, Deuteronomy 32:31, 1 Samuel 2:2.
25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
And again, our nations have been greatly blessed throughout the years, as we have an abundance of food, water, materials, along with the most powerful military in the world. The "blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:" is in reference to the children of our nations, as they have received the blessed inheritance.
26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they (i.e. Ephraim and Manasseh) shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
"The blessings of my progenitors" is in reference to the promised blessings that GOD made to Abraham, which was passed on to Isaac, Israel (Jacob), Joseph and his sons (Ephraim and Manasseh).
27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
In other words, his tribe will strive with intense energy and commitment.
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.
Today, we can see the effect of these blessings and how they still exist today.
29 And he charged (= commanded) them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers (i.e. Isaac and Abraham) in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.
In reference to Genesis 23:15-18.
31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
32 The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.
33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost (i.e. died), and was gathered unto his people (See Ecclesiastes 12:7).