Gen. 49 Jacob calls his sons to bless them before his death, Gen. 49:1. Bespeaks their attention, Gen. 49:2. Condemns Reuben’s incest, Gen. 49:3–4; Simeon’s and Levi’s cruelty, Gen. 49:5–7. Extols Judah; prophesieth of Christ, and the calling of the Gentiles, Gen. 49:9–12. Of Zebulun, Gen.

Or, in the following times, or latter days, when you shall enter into and be settled in the Land of Promise. Hereby he signifies, that he speaks here of things which concern not so much their persons as their posterity.

The beginning of my strength; the first instance or evidence of my might or strength, or of that masculine rigour whereby God enabled me to beget a child. Compare Deut. 21:17, Ps. 105:36.

Unstable as water: this may concern either, 1. Something past, or Reuben’s fault; and so he is said to have been unstable, or light, and vain, as the word is used, Judg. 9:4, Zeph.

Simeon and Levi are brethren; not only by nature, but in iniquity; of like cruel and bloody disposition, confederate in the same wicked design, Gen. 34:25. So the word brother is elsewhere used, for him that agrees much with another in his temper, or employment, or designs, as Job 30:29, Prov.

Their secret; or, counsel, or company, as the word is used, Ps. 64:2, Jer. 15:17; i.e. do not partake with them in their secret and wicked designs. Hereby he signifies to all posterity, that that bloody enterprise was undertaken without his consent or approbation, and that he could not think of it…

Cursed be their anger, or, cursed was. It was execrable and abominable both before God and men; such as deserved and brought the curse of God upon themselves, which I, as God’s instrument, am now to pronounce against them.

Or rather, Thou art Judah, thy brethren shall praise or celebrate thee. So the expression is like that 1 Sam. 25:25. As his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him, or in him. So here the sense is, As thy name signifies praise, Gen.

Judah is as a lion’s whelp, or as a young lion, for courage, and strength, and terror to his enemies. The particle as is here wanting, as also Gen. 49:14, Gen. 49:17, Gen. 49:21–22, and in many other places, as Ps. 11:1, Ps. 12:6, Ps. 22:6;c.

The secptre, i.e. the dominion or government, which is oft expressed by this word, as Num. 24:17, Ps. 45:6, Isa. 14:5, Ezek. 19:11, Ezek. 19:14, Amos 1:5, Amos 1:8, Zech. 10:11, because it is an ensign of government, Est. 4:11.

He signifies the plenty of vines in Judah’s portion, that they shall be planted every where, even in the commons and highways where men travel, and where upon occasion they use to tie the beasts on which they ride to any tree which is near them.

Which shows not only the plenty of wine, but also the excellency and strength of it, which, though not drunk in great quantity, or to excess, will make the eyes red. See Prov. 23:29.

Acknowledge here and adore the Divine Providence, which directed Jacob thus exactly to foretell the portion of Zebulun, which fell to them two hundred years after this, and that not by choice, or any design of men, but merely by lot.

A strong ass, Heb. an ass of bone, i.e. of great bulk and bones, and strength of body, but of little spirit and courage, couching down between two burdens, which are laid upon his back, and which he is contented to bear. Or, lying down, i.e.

Rest, or rather, his resting-place, as this very word signifies, Gen. 8:9, Ps. 116:7, Ps. 132:8, Isa. 11:10, i.e. his portion or habitation, as the Chaldee and Syriac translate it.

i.e. Rule and govern them. Though he be the son of my concubine, yet he shall not be subject to any other tribe, but shall have an absolute power within himself.

An adder in the path, which covereth and hideth itself in the sand or dust of the highway, watching for men or beasts that pass that way. He notes the subtlety of that tribe, which should conquer their enemies more by craft and cmlning, than by strength or force of arms.

I do earnestly wait, and hope, and pray for thy helping hand to save me and my posterity from the manifold temporal calamities which I foresee will come upon them, and especially from spiritual and eternal mischiefs, by that Messiah which thou hast promised.

i.e. Troops of enemies shall frequently invade his country, and for a time conquer and spoil it. And so it came to pass, because the inheritance of that tribe lay beyond Jordan, near to the Ammonites and Moabites, two inveterate enemies of Israel, and to other hostile nations on the east.

i.e. Out of the land of Asher. Or, As for or concerning Asher, his bread-corn shall be fuller and sweeter and better than ordinary; and he shall yield royal dainties; not only oil for ointments, but also delicious and excellent fruits, fit to be presented to a king. See Deut. 33:24–25.

A hind let loose; not pursued by hunters, nor shut up in some little enclosure, but wholly left to its own freedom, to feed upon the best pastures: see Deut. 33:23.

A fruitful bough, in regard of those two numerous tribes which proceeded from his two sons. By a well, or fountain, or water-course, which situation doth much further the growth of trees. See Ps. 1:3, Ezek. 19:10. Whose branches run over the wall, i.

i.e. His adversaries, as well his own brethren as his master and mistress; with their scoffs, and slanders, and injuries, which in the Scripture are oft compared to arrows.

His bow, wherewith he opposed his enemies; which was no military bow, but that which he opposed to all their injuries, to wit, his own virtue, his innocence, his patience, his temperance, his faith and hope in God, whereby he resisted and vanquished all the temptations and difficulties which he met…

Here he explains and determines that doubtful expression from these, by adding even by (or rather from as this particle mem properly signifies, and was just now used) the God of thy Father, i.e.

The blessings which I thy father have conferred upon thee, are much more considerable than those which I received from my father Isaac, or from my grandfather Abraham This was true, 1.

He notes the warlike and fierce disposition and carriage of that tribe. Instances whereof we have Judg. 3:15, Judg. 19—20, 1 Sam. 13—15. This may be understood, either of the same wolf, which in the morning, being more hungry and greedy, devours his prey alone; but in the evening, being in some…

The twelve tribes, i.e. the heads and parents of the twelve tribes. A metonomy of the effect. The tribes are generally accounted twelve, though they were thirteen, because the land was divided only into twelve parts, Levi having no distinct part of his own. Every one according to his blessing, i.e.

In Canaan. Whereby he designed to withdraw their minds from Egypt, and fix them upon Canaan.

He describes it so particularly, both for their direction, because they had been some years absent thence; and to express how much his heart was set upon this matter; and thereby to oblige them to the more careful performance of his command.

Commanding his sons, to wit, concerning the place of his burial. Whilst he was employed in that most solemn and religious work of blessing his children in the name and by the Spirit of God, he used as reverent a posture as his infirm body would permit, and therefore is supposed to sit upon his…