Ge. 49: You call that a blessing?

Chapter 49 is basically the blessing of Jacob's sons before he dies. So after blessing Joseph and his sons in private, he calls the remaining eleven in.

Reuben - Jacob's firstborn, and symbol of his strength. He is told he will no longer excel, because he defiled his father's bed. This is in reference to the tryst he had with Jacob's concubine back in Gen. 35:22. Interesting that Jacob didn't say anything much about it back then, but waited all these years to bring it up, and it was severe enough that Reuben would continue life with unease.

Simeon, Levi - Jacob denounces their anger and violence, referring to their pillaging of Shechem in Gen. 34. So much does Jacob want to distance himself from their anger, that he reports that they will be dispersed. Simeon and Levi were probably about as close as brothers could be, that part of this was that they would have to be separated. The Bible doesn't say that, its just a guess. Their rampage had them listed together, as did this ... curse, I guess.

Judah - In spite of the rather bizarre circumstances in which Judah placed himself in chapter 38, he gets off pretty good. At least from a material standpoint. He will have an advantage over his enemies, his brothers will bow before him, he will be in a place of lordship, have choice wine, and white teeth. Who wouldn't want that?

Zebulun - Basically told he will become a harbormaster, and have a border to Sidon. Neat. Good for you, Zeb.

Isaachar - He will labor doggedly like a strong donkey. He will become a slave or a forced laborer. That stinks. But he probably did something to deserve such a curse. Maybe he was lazy around the house?

Dan - He will provide justice for his people. He will be a serpent by the roadside, and will bite the horses heels so that its rider tumbles backward. The third reference so far to striking the heel, along with Gen. 3:15, and Gen. 25:26.

Verse 18 is kind of an interjection: "I look for your deliverance, O LORD." I don't know if that is part of what Israel is saying bout Dan, in that he will be a deliverer, or if he needs strength to finish talking to the boys. I'm not sure.

Gad - He will be attacked by raiders, but will attack them at their heels. So...the heels again. He'll have the last laugh on whoever will attack him? His name also had something to do with

Asher - Apparently will become some sort of a gourmand, providind delicacies fit for a king. But he will not be the king. Perhaps a servant in some king's court, frying up the mozz sticks.

Naphtali - A doe set free that bears beautiful fawns. So he will create something beautiful. Not sure if that means his kids, maybe some sort of art...KJV says "goodly words." Songs, I don't know.

Joseph - Ever the favorite, blessings are heaped upon him. A fruitful vine, near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. Lots of land, territory? God steadied him while arrows flew. God was his help. Blessings from above, from the deep, in offspring. Blessings greater than that of the mountains, than the fruit of the hills. He is declared to be prince among his brothers...he will be elevated above them all. That's pretty slick.

Benjamin - A ravenous wolf, devouring the prey in the morning, dividing the plunder in the evening. So, he will take what he wants first and fast, and then split it up in the evening.

And here were established the twelve tribes of Israel. And each of them received the blessing due.

Israel then gives instructions on how he is to be buried. First off, he says he is about to be gathered to his people. I don't know what the deal is with the afterlife just yet. The Bible doesn't yield much about the afterlife to this point. Heaven is a place. Angels went up and down a staircase from it. A tower was built in attempt to reach it. I may have missed something, but in Genesis, I don't recall anything being mentioned about an afterlife or a next world or anything like that. There is a belief that life continues beyond death, as Israel mentioned in verse 29. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Anyway, he wants to be buried in the cave of the field of Ephron the Hittite, the one Abraham bought at a high price in chapter 23. It is after all where Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Leah are buried. Rachel was buried in Bethlehem, at Benjamin's birth.

Verse 33 is where Israel breathes his last, and is gathered to his people, as with Isaac. So the Bible says this, rather than reporting what someone said. Which is different. So wherever Jacob went, there were his ancestors.