Jacob Blesses His Sons
Comments for Study 27
Pick to read this Bible passage in a separate window.
I. Manasseh and Ephraim (48)
* Abraham's family tree is in a book by Goeree, Willem (1635-1711). The book is titled: "Mosaize historie der Hebreeuwse kerke : zoo als dezelve was in de stam-huyzen der H. Vaderen des Ouden Verbonds, voor en onder de belofte : en in alle die plegtelijke toebereydzelen van het dienstbaar Ierusalem ... : uyt d'aller oudste geheugnissen der Hebreen, Kaldeen, Zabeen, Egyptenaaren ... en Romeynen opgehelderd, en doorgans met veel naauwkeurige printverbeeldingen gestofferd ..."
A diagram of Abraham's family and descendants, including the ancestors of Jesus according to Matthew's genealogy.
Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu.
>1. When Jacob was nearing the end of his life in this world what did Joseph do? What did Jacob tell Joseph? (3-4) What does "a community of nations" mean? Why is this significant to those who believe in Jesus and are not of Israel?
Genesis 48:1-4 "Some time later Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to you," Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me and said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and will increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.'"
* "Some time later" -Jacob was in Egypt seventeen years total (47:28) with only the first five famine years (45:11). The last twelve years of Jacob life was a prosperous time for Egypt.
* "Joseph was told" -Someone sent word to Joseph, probably Jacob himself; or perhaps Joseph had one of his servants bring his father food and assistance every day or at least quit often. This is only speculation.
* "his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim" -They were born before Jacob arrived seventeen years earlier. Joseph had already been in Pharaoh's service for nine years when Jacob arrived. This is arrived by adding seven good years with the two bad years before Jacob arrived. Joseph married at the beginning of the seven good years (41:45) and could of been a father one year later. Therefore, his sons were no more than twenty-five years old (17 + 9 - 1) and probably not teenagers.
* "along with him" -Joseph knew his father would die soon. He wanted his sons to receive his father's blessing. Respect for the elderly, especially if they are of the LORD, is something lost in my generation, and the younger generation. How many have lost being blessed by the spiritual elders?
* "Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed" -Jacob is called Israel, the name given to him by God. We can be assured that he intended to bless Joseph's sons and that this was God's will. (See not on the previous study about his name.)
* "God Almighty" -El Shaddia in Hebrew.
* "Luz in Canaan" -The city name for a place Jacob called Bethel. (28:19) Jacob had been running away from his brother. The Lord appeared to him above a stairway with angles ascending and descending it.
* "there he blessed me" -The Lord's words were, "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (28:13-15)
* "community of peoples" -Isaac's word for word blessing to Jacob just before the Lord appeared to him. The LORD did not say this word for word, but it was meant in the words he did say.
* "Community of peoples" was the blessing Israel had in mind and heart for Joseph's sons. They were half Egyptians, half Israel. Joseph was his favorite son from his loved wife Rachel. Joseph certainly was blessed by God from birth. Israel was now full of the Spirit of God, seeing what God would do for and thru Joseph's sons, thus fulfilling the blessing he had received. The blessing Israel gave to Manasseh and Ephraim would be for all gentiles who would call on the name of the Lord there after, me included. (Rom. 9-11)
* "everlasting possession" -We are waiting for this to be fulfilled.
>2. What did Jacob tell Joseph he wanted him to do? Why Joseph and not any of his other sons?
>3. Who were Joseph's son's mother? (41:45, 50-52) What did Jacob do that was against custom of those days? (5-9) What is significant about the crossing of the hands? (12-14) What did Joseph try to do? What did Jacob tell him the reason for what he had done? (19-21)
Genesis 48:5-9 "Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.
6 Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers.
7 As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath" (that is, Bethlehem).
8 When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, "Who are these?"
9 "They are the sons God has given me here," Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, "Bring them to me so I may bless them."
* "will be reckoned as mine" -Israel was adapting Joseph's sons, a very remarkable step for that age as well as any age.
* "just as Reuben and Simeon" -The first two born to Jacob thru Leah has now been moved down in the "blessing" list and Ephraim and Manasseh are the new first and second on the blessing list. We should never take anything for granted. God exults the humble, but opposes the proud. (Jam. 4:6, and 1 Peter 5:5)
* "Any children born to you after them will be yours" -Joseph never had any more physical children (None of the lists show any.) although it could said that through faith gentiles became his spiritual children thus becoming the "multitude of nations" Israel was blessed to become. Israel is directly adopting Joseph's only two physical sons and indirectly (as grandchildren) any afterward sons, something Joseph was more than happy to have happen to receive because it meant that he now received a double portion of the blessing compared to his brothers.
* "they will be reckoned" -"Qara" in Hebrew meaning "called", "proclaimed" and "named".
* "under the names of their brothers" -Ephraim and Manasseh. The gentiles have been "grafted into Israel" as Apostle Paul wrote. (Rom. 11:13-24)
* "When Israel saw the sons of Joseph" -The next verse says that Israel was hard to see. Now he was able to see Joseph's sons.
* "so I may bless them" -The official blessing.
Genesis 48:10-14 "Now Israel's eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.
11 Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too."
12 Then Joseph removed them from Israel's knees and bowed down with his face to the ground.
13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel's left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel's right hand, and brought them close to him.
14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn."
* "Then Joseph removed them from Israel's knees" -The seat of honor, respect, and love.
* "bowed down with his face to the ground" -In his youth Joseph had a dream and interpreted it to his father that his father and mother were bowing down to him. As far as the Bible states this did not happen. And hear, perhaps as a sign of change and respect Joseph, through ruler of all in Egypt bowed down to his father.
* "right hand" -The favored hand of blessing.
* "Ephraim on his right toward Israel's left hand" -Ephraim was the second born. Joseph though the second born would receive the favored blessing.
* "reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head" -Israel did what his father and grandfather had done, bless the second born over the first born. Why? As mentioned in those passages, God election reigned, not man's ways.
Genesis 48:15-16 "Then he blessed Joseph and said, "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,
16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm --may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth."
* "Then he blessed Joseph" -Israel's hands were on his sons; yet it meant that through them Joseph was doubly blessed.
* "May the God before whom" -Abraham and Isaac followed God's lead.
* "my shepherd" -This is the first place (with many to follow, i.e. Ps. 23) in the Bible that being shepherd leads God's people. Jesus called himself the good shepherd (John 10:14), referring back to this very statement. Jacob and his family were shepherds. He knew very well all about sheep and caring for them. Sheep are not very smart. For example if a cold wind blows they stand with their faces to the wind, not their backs. And for example they run away from running water because its to noisy even if they are very thirsty. And for example they wll eat themselves away from the heard, putting themselves in danger.
* "all my life to this day" -Since Jesus said he claimed to be the good shepherd he was claiming to be the God who lead Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
* "the Angel who has delivered me from all harm" -Angel is capital here. Angel is "malak" in Hebrew. Jacob saw the LORD who appeared to him in several forms including an angle with the ones on the stairway and perhaps the one he wrestled. (32:29)
* "name" -meaning one of them.
* "increase greatly upon the earth" -Part of the blessing given to Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, and now these two boys. Israel wanted all people's of the world to be like these boys. Israel had world mission vision.
>4. What does "a group of nations mean?" What happened many years later after King Solomon died? What was the northern kingdom sometimes called? What happed to the northern kingdom? What did the Prophets have say about this? What does Paul teach us about this?
>5. What will happen at the end of the age we are now in? How is it that Jacob knew all this so that he could bless Joseph's sons so? What does this tell us about how God works in his people's lives?
Genesis 48:17-20 "When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
18 Joseph said to him, "No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."
19 But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations."
20 He blessed them that day and said, "In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh."
* "he was displeased" -He thought his poor sighted father was making a great mistake by not blessing the oldest more than the youngest.
* "I know my son, I know" -In a very kind way Israel was saying he knew the tradition, he knew what Joseph was thinking, and he knew what he was doing.
* "he to will become a people... great" -Manasseh was one the smallest tribe in Israel listed in Numbers 1. The next census six clans were less than his descendants. (Num. 26) His and Judah's territories were the largest when they entered the promised land over four hundred years after this day.
* "his younger brother will be greater than he" -Ephraim was the third smallest tribe in Israel listed in Numbers 1. The next census only one clan was less than Ephraim's descendants. (Num. 26) At the end of his life Moses blessed saying, "such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh." (Deut. 33:17) Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim. Joshua 14:4 states, "for the sons of Joseph had become two tribes--Manasseh and Ephraim..." Deborah was also from Ephraim. Samuel, a prophet Ephraimite, anointed Saul, a Benjamite and then David of Judah as kings of all Israel. After David's son Solomon died, Jerobaum, an Ephraimite rebelled against the southern tribes because Solomon heavily burdened all Israel. Israel was split in two and both eventually went into exile. The northern tribes were often called Ephraim (Isa. 7:2,5,8-9; Hos. 9:13; 12:1,8) because it was the biggest tribe and most of their kings came from the tribe of Ephraim. The southern tribes kings followed in David's line and Judah was the largest tribe.
* "his descendants will become a group of nations" -The fulfilment of which was the gentiles grafted in (see above).
* 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 state, "The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father's marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph)"
* As mentioned in an earlier Genesis study Leah was older than Rachel.
Genesis 48:21-22 "Then Israel said to Joseph, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers. And to you, as one who is over your brothers, I give the ridge of land I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow."
* "God will be with you" -not only reassurance, but a prophecy.
* "take you back to the land of your father" -Joseph would not forget this and as far as we know the rest of Israel's sons were buried in Egypt.
* "as one who is over your brothers" -At that time. Did he mean beyond too? The rest of the blessing seems to be so.
* "the ridge of land I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow" -Genesis does not record this except perhaps what Simeon and Levi did. (34:25-29) The Hebrew for this phrase is identical with the place-name Shechem, where Joseph was later buried in a plot of ground inherited by his descendants (Jos. 24:32, 33:19; John 4:5) Jacob had also bought land there. (33:18-20)
II. What Will Happen in the Days to Come (49)
>6. How did Jacob bless his two oldest sons? Why? (In those days the oldest normally received a double portion of the blessing.)
Genesis 49:1 "Then Jacob called for his sons and said: "Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come."
* "Then Jacob called his sons" -They must have gathered when Joseph arrived. Slowly they must have walked into the tent and saw and heard Israel blessing Joseph's sons, naming then his own and giving them the first inheritance blessing.
* "what will happen to you in days to come" -Prophecy was given to Israel concerning his sons. The prophecy is based in part on their character and the actions their character had already displayed and would display again in the future. Jesus said, "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matt. 7:16-20)
* The prophecy was also given according to what God had already planned for each son and their descendants. All tribes would make it to the promised land. However, the tribes would not be equal in blessing and status. Some tribes would grow in size while others would disappear due to war or natural means.
Genesis 49:2-4 "Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel. Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father's bed, onto my couch and defiled it."
* "my might, the first sign of my strength" -A common phase due to the fact the oldest is born when a father is young, vibrant and full of ambition. The firstborn should be the father's pride. (Deut. 21:17, Ps. 78:51)
* "excelling in honor, excelling in power" -Reuben had continually tried to be the leader of the family. He was responsible. However, none of his direction went well.
* "Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel" -Ruebin's ancestors were indecisive not answer the call of Deborah and Barak. (Jud. 5:15-16) No national leader would come from Reuben. They were the first to settle, not wanting to wait to cross the Jordan (Num. 32) Slowly they faided from history.
* "your father's bed" -Jacob never said anything at the time, but now he remembers. (35:22) His grasp for leadership in a very evil act was a sign of his spiritual weakness that would be passed down to his descendants.
Genesis 49:5-7 "Simeon and Levi are brothers-- their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel."
* "Simeon and Levi are brothers" -The second and third oldest bound together in more times then to attach their neighbors.
* "their swords are weapons of violence" -They attacked the Shechemites, killing all including women, children and animals for the wrong act of one Shechemite.
* "Let me not enter their council" -Israel would have nothing to do with this violence. Israel was humble and meek.
* "in their anger" -We can be angry at our sin and unbelief, but we must not let anger master us. Psalm 4:4 says, "In your anger do not sin." (also Eph. 4:31-32) Colossians 3:5-8 says, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."
* "hamstrung oxen as they pleased" -Showing their uncontrolled anger.
* "Cursed" -The did not receive a blessing because of their nature. They tried to justify their act. They did not repent. (Gen. 37)
* "I will scatter them" -For their own good and the good of the other tribes they would not be able to join and go out in violence and rage. The conquest of the promised land was not about rage and violence. Rather, it was about God's judgement. (Gen. 15:16) Similarly, the judgement of fire to come and has just shown its beginnings is not about violence and cruel rage.
* The tribe of Simeon slowly decreased in size. Their allotment was a few cities within the boarders of Judah in not very good territory. (Josh. 19:1) Some were even captured and lived in Edom. (1 Chron. 4:39-43) In the divided kingdom they were part of Judah and faded from existence.
* The tribe of Levi redeemed itself in part through Moses and Aaron, and their parents faith. Also by making a stand at a crucial time, though in excess. (Ex. 32:25-29) Aaron became the first priest. However, they never received a land of their own. Instead they lived in cities scattered in every tribal territory. (Josh. 21:1-3)
>7. How did Jacob bless Judah? What does this mean to the future of his tribe? How did Jacob prophecy about Jesus in this blessing?
Genesis 49:8-12 "Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you.
9 You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.
11 He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk."
* "Judah" -the fourth oldest. His name means praise.
* "your brothers will praise you... bow down to you" -Judah would receive the honor of the tribes, but not until the time of David. Until that time Judah produced no national leaders. Starting with David, Judah produced many kings non-stop until Israel ceased being a nation through the exile.
* "scepter" -This is the first time it is used in Genesis to symbolize power and authority.
* "lion's cub" -The lion would be the sign David's kingdom used. (1 Sam. 17:36-37, 2 Sam. 17:10, 1 Kings 10:19)
* "tether his donkey to a vine" -Judah's descendants received among the best of the promised land. Very fertile and well watered.
* "eyes... teeth" -signs of good health.
* "until he comes to whom it belongs" -Referring to the Messiah. The KJV puts the Hebrew word "Shiloh" (related to Shalom meaning peace) instead of translating it "he comes to whom it belongs" as the NIV does. Israel's hope was in the Messiah, the prince of peace. (Micah 5:1-5, Isa. 7:14, 8:6, 9:6) He knew the true leader and looked forward to his coming. Ezekiel 21:27 repeats it when Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, is told to "remove the crown" from his head because dominion over Jerusalem will ultimately be given to the one "to whom it rightfully belongs". Jesus is called in Revelation 5:5, "the Lion of the tribe of Judah." Those before him were regents.
* "the obedience of the nations is his" -Israel knew that the Messiah would draw to himself people from every nation, of him and not of him (gentile). After the exile many tribes blended into other nations and into Judah until no one can tell of which tribe they came from and even for many, if they are even of Israel.
Genesis 49:13-15 "Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon.
14 "Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down between two saddlebags.
15 When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor."
* Zebulun is believed to have been "almost" landlocked by and between Asher and Manasseh; though its border is unclear. Zebulun and Issachar were close enough to the Mediterranean (ten miles) and Sea of Galilee to "feast on the abundance of the sea." (Deut. 33:19)
* "lying down" -lazy
* "two saddlebags" -well supplied by the futile land.
* "forced labor" -probably referring to Solomon's forced labor and high tax. They were als6 subject to invasions and raids.
* Much of Jesus' ministry would be in these two and Naphtali's territories, later called Galilee. (Matt. 4:14-15) Jesus' parents' were from Galilee, the general area of these tribes, and Capernaum, Jesus' home until his crucifixion, may was within these tribes areas. Jesus' disciples were mainly fisherman and from Galilee with the exception of Judas who was from Judah.
Genesis 49:16-21 "Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider tumbles backward.
18 "I look for your deliverance, O Lord.
19 "Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels.
20 "Asher's food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king.
21 "Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns."
* Dan would be considered one of he tribes as was the other sons of Leah's and Rachel's handmaids as verse 16 states.
* "serpent by the roadside..." -The smallest land alotment with the possible exception on Simeon's cities. Yet, Dan would protect the northern boarder of Israel from invading armies on horses repelling them back to the north. Yet, serpent is used because they introduced idol worship to Israel and Jeroboam was from Dan. Perhaps that is why Israel looked for the LORD's deliverance as was told to Eve and Satan at the fall of man. (Gen. 3:15)
* "I look for your deliverance" -As mentioned above Israel looked for the LORD's deliverance as was told to Eve and Satan at the fall of man. (Gen. 3:15) The word he used is Yeshuah, the Jewish name translated Jesus in English. This is the first time that the word Yeshuah is used. It means "deliverance" and "salvation".
* Dan is not listed as one of the tribes in Revelation 7:4-8. Menassah takes his place. Neither is Ephraim listed in Revelation's list. Joseph is.
* "heels" -The attach method of a snake is given to two brothers.
* Gad east of the Jordan was often attacked but always good fighters. (1 Chron. 5:18, 12:8, etc.)
* Asher was in very fertile land.
* Naphtali was home of poets as seen in Barak and Deborah's song. (Judges 5) He is also the area where Jesus' ministry is from and the location of
>8. How did Jacob bless Joseph? Since Joseph's belssing went to his two sons how much blessing did he actually recieve?
Genesis 49:22-27 "Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.
23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father's God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
27 "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder."
* "fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall" -Perhaps referring to the blessing going outside the house of Israel, to the gentiles because of the spring Jesus. Jesus referred to himself as a spring to drink from. (John 2, 3:5, 4:10, 7:37-39) See note below on "the Rock of Israel".
* "the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob" -A name for the LORD. Mighty God (or Mighty One) is "abir" in Hebrew and used only six times and always referring to God, especially his saving and redeeming work. Isaiah 49:26 states, "I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
* "the Shepherd" -A name for the Messiah (see above, 48:15).
* "the Rock of Israel" -A name for the Messiah. (Deut. 32:4, 15, 18, 30-31 and many times in Psalms and Isaiah.) Jesus referred to building our houses (lives) on the rock (7:24-25) and when Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Chosen One of God Jesus said his statement was the rock on which he would build his church. (Matt. 16:18) Peter and Paul quoted the scripture saying that Jesus is the rock. (1 Peter 2:8, Rom. 9:33) "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." And Paul wrote, "They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert." (1 Cor. 10:3-5)
* "your father's God" -God is the Hebrew "el" here and father is the Hebrew "ab".
* "Almighty" -The Hebrew "shaddai" or "shadday".
* "blesses you with blessings" -Israel wanted Joseph to know that it was God who blessed him. Joseph should not be proud of himself. Being that Israel's blessing to Joseph's sons point to the gentiles (group of nations) those who are gentile should remember that all our blessings have come to us from God for the purpose of our Shepherd Jesus.
* "brow of the prince" -Anointing with oil for a king as Joseph was not over Egypt and his brothers.
* Israel, is his blessings uses new terms for God; a shepherd and a rock and a new illustration of water flowing.
* Benjamin's blessing is short and perhaps fulfilled in Judges 20 and other places. Saul was a Benjamite and as we know was not a good king.
Genesis 49:28-33 "All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.
29 Then he gave them these instructions: "I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
30 the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field.
31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah.
32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites."
33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people."
* "giving each the blessing appropriate to him" -Can not be doubted.
* Jacob wanted to be buied in Canaan
III. God Intended it for Good (50)
>9. What did Joseph have done to Jacob's body?
>10. What did Joseph ask permission to do? Why did he have to? What can we learn about Pharaoh's impression of Joseph here? What did the Canaanites say?
Genesis 50:1-9 "Joseph threw himself upon his father and wept over him and kissed him.
2 Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him,
3 taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
4 When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh's court, "If I have found favor in your eyes, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him,
5 'My father made me swear an oath and said, "I am about to die; bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan." Now let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.'"
6 Pharaoh said, "Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do."
7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh's officials accompanied him--the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt--
8 besides all the members of Joseph's household and his brothers and those belonging to his father's household. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen.
9 Chariots and horsemen also went up with him. It was a very large company."
* Pharaoh honored Israel.
Genesis 50:10-14 "When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father.
11 When the Canaanites who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, "The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning." That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim.
12 So Jacob's sons did as he had commanded them:
13 They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field.
14 After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father."
* "returned to Egypt" -They awaited God's leading.
>11. How did Joseph comfort his brothers? What does this show about them? About him? What did Joseph tell about the future?
Genesis 50:15-21 "When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?"
16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died:
17 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them."
* Joseph was kind to his brothers.
Genesis 50:22-26 "Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father's family. He lived a hundred and ten years
23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim's children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph's knees.
24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
25 And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath and said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place."
26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt."
* Joseph lived into the second and third generation.
|
