In Genesis 49 we find the first use of an often used expression in religious conversation. Even though it is found only five times in the Bible most Bible students have used the expression “The twelve tribes of Israel.” The Bible says, “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.” (Genesis 49:28) After Jacob blessed Joseph and his sons, he spoke to all his other sons also. Sadly he did not bless them all. Reuben, Simeon and Levi received no blessings from Jacob because of their evil deeds. He did speak to them, but he did not bless them. The things that were said by Jacob where said as prophecies and could have come only from God. It must have been a great blessing to each of the sons and their families to be a part of that great nation that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The descendants of these sons, along with Ephraim and Manasseh’s descendants became “the twelve tribes of Israel.” God promised to build a great nation, to give them the land of Canaan and to send the Messiah to earth through this people as a blessing to all nations. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16) God kept all of these promises by sending Jesus to earth though the Jewish nation. In this most unusual chapter Jacob’s sons assemble around their dying father. He passed on a prophetic message about each son. Then the Bible says, “And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.” (Genesis 49:33)

A message for Reuben, Simeon and Levi – Genesis 49:1-7: Jacob gave prophecies to each of his sons. These prophecies had to come from God. He called his sons to him. He told them to gather around and he would tell them their future. He could only do this by the blessing and power of God. God literally told him what to say. This is why he was able to speak precisely about these matters. Jacob likewise spoke accurately about past events. He could have done this by recall or again by God’s inspiration. In speaking to his sons he identified himself as both as Jacob and Israel their father. Jacob had great hopes for Ruben being the head of the nation. Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn, “his might, and the beginning of his strength, the excellency of his dignity, and the excellency of his power.” Reuben messed up his life by having sex with Bilhah. (Genesis 35:22) Bilhah was Jacob’s concubine. (1 Chronicles 5:1-2) Jacob also remembered the wicked behaviour of Simeon and Levi. In their anger they killed their enemies. Jacob prophesied that their tribes would not live together. Simeon had a small tribe and a small amount of land. Levi received cities scattered among the others tribes. (Joshua 21) The tribe of Levi became the priestly tribe in Israel. Moses was from that tribe. The prophecies that Jacob gave actually happened because they were from God.

A message for Judah – Genesis 49:8-12: Judah became a large and important tribe in Israel. Judah laid hands on the necks of his enemies, and routed and subdued them. This was a picture of total subjugation. Judah was terribly fierce; no one would bother him. Judah ruled over other nations. Jesus was the ultimate king who would rule all nations. Jesus achieved this by His death, burial and resurrection for us. Genesis 49:10 says, “The sceptre 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.” (Genesis 49:10) The term Shiloh refers to the Messiah. Jesus was that Shiloh or “Rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” (Isaiah 11:1) The people are gathered to Him. In a remarkable verse the Bible says, “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.” (Genesis 49:11) This was a picture of the fertile land that God gave to Judah. It was from this area that grapes were taken when the spies came to the land. “And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. (Numbers 13:23) A donkey would be needed to carry the fruit from one bush! In an unusual and beautiful expression God described someone who is strong and healthy. “His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.”   

Prophesies concerning other sons – Genesis 49:13-27: Jacob gave some brief statements to several tribes. He said “Zebulun would settle along the seashore and provide safe harbors as far north as Sidon.” Men from this tribe would be involved in trade. Men from the tribe of Issachar became farmers. Their land was good. They worked hard like a donkey bearing burdens. Dan was a tribe that brought justice to Israel. God used them to fight for his people. Samson was from the tribe of Dan. (Judges 13:2) Like a snake winning over a larger animal, God used Dan to defeat much more powerful enemies. The tribe of Dan was successful because God used them. Gad was a small tribe that was attacked by Ammon, Moab and Aram. (Judges 3) The people of Gad were attacked, but with the help of God, they fought successfully against their attackers. The tribe of Asher received a good land. They provided food for the king. When Solomon was king they helped to provide his food. (1 Kings 4:22-28) Jacob said, “Naphtali, you are a wild deer with lovely fawns.” The patriarch pictures the happy state of Naphtali living in a land that is fertile and quiet. Barak was from this tribe. (Judges 4:1-24) Joseph had many troubles during his life. But God protected and bless him. Joseph was a good man and God blessed Pharaoh because of him. Joseph received a special blessing in that God gave him two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh. They both were large tribes with strong influence in the nation of Israel. The people of Benjamin had a tendency to fight. “Benjamin, you are a fierce wolf, destroying your enemies morning and evening.” King Saul came from this tribe. The apostle Paul was also from the tribe of Benjamin. Each tribe had its own special qualities.

          Jacob’s final orders and his death – Genesis 49:28-33: Here, for the first time, we read of the twelve tribes of Israel. “These are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is how Jacob gave each of them their proper blessings.” (Genesis 49:28) Jacob told his sons that he was dying. He used an unusual expression when he spoke of his death. He said, “I am to be gathered unto my people.” This shows us again that there is life after death. He let them know that he did not want to be buried in Egypt. He told them to bury him in the cave at Machpelah. This is the place that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite as a burying place for Sarah. It was located near the town of Mamre. Jacob said of that place, “There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.” (Genesis 49:31) When Jacob had finished giving these instructions to his sons, he lay down on his bed and died. “Jacob insisted that his sons should bury him in Canaan. Canaan was the country that God had promised to them. His sons needed to remember that their descendants would not always remain in Egypt.” The dying words of men should not be taken lightly. This is especially true concerning these words as they were spoken by a patriarch who spoke by inspiration of God.

One day, like Jacob, we all will die. Let us prepare for that moment by accepting God's wonderful good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and resurrected? Will you be baptized into Christ to put on Christ so that your sins can be forgiven by His blood? "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27) Believers contact Christ's saving blood by being baptized into His death. If you are not yet a Christian, it is my earnest prayer that you may heed the call of our Lord while you still have life and opportunity. If you are a Christian but have not been faithful why not come back to God in repentance and prayer. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)