Genesis 49b Commentary
The blessing of Dan, being a snake by the roadside, is difficult to understand from the current context. We may look at Israel’s history and apply Dan’s blessing to the many times that Israel inflicted pain on herself. The nation tumbled backward. Dan would become a center for idol worship during the times of Israel’s Judges – the Book of Judges.
Gad pictures Israel under attack but not without response. Asher talks of agricultural activities on which the nation would depend. Naphtali pictures a free (actually freed) Israel bearing fruit. There is an indication that only in freedom would the nation of Israel find fruitfulness. The connection to Christ’s mission to free prisoners can be seen here.
Like Judah, Joseph has a lion’s share of words from the patriarch Jacob. The blessing speaks of fruitfulness and strength. Jacob’s strength is in essence the strength of the ‘Mighty one of Jacob’. It is deep and personal.
Jacob is fully aware of the LORD’S presence with Joseph and the blessing reflects this intimate relationship.
Jacob saw himself in Joseph. Joseph’s story is Jacob’s story. Joseph’s blessing is mostly “past tense” and “present tense”. Parts of Jacob’s blessing that lay in the future went to Judah. We see how Judah’s blessing is mostly “future tense”.
Benjamin is a mystery character in the Book of Genesis. He is the subject when Rachel dies. He is the subject when Judah and his brothers show up in Egypt. He is the ‘reason’ Simeon is detained. He is the reason the brothers won’t go back to Egypt. He is the recipient of gifts from Joseph. He is accused of stealing the cup and must be detained but ‘forgiven’ on account of Judah’s sacrificial intervention. For all this, Benjamin says and does nothing, not even in the third person. Is there something to be said of Benjamin based on the blessing that comes through him?
The general observation is that the main lines of the blessing come to the nation through Joseph and Judah. Judah underlines salvation (rule and dominion) – of first importance. Joseph looks at the fruitfulness (prosperity) and increase and resilience of the saved soul. Compare the main lines of the blessing to Gen 1 verse 28.
The rest of the sons get what may be referred to as prophetic utterances regarding Israel’s long history. At different stages, the nation is both free and fruitful (Naphtali), or complacent and enslaved (Issachar), or prosperous in terms of commerce and industry (Asher and Zebulun). At other times the nation would be seen as fighting and barely finding its feet. This too is reflected in the prophetic utterances of Jacob to his sons.
Each receives an appropriate blessing. In the immediate context, individual tribes would enjoy either low or high moments accordingly.
The last portion of chapter 49 contains instructions for Jacob’s burial. What a journey! The patriarch wants his sons to keep to a rich tradition by reminding them of the significance of Mamre. That is where Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried. That is where Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried. And there Leah was buried. It’s a place for a man and his wife and not a man and his wives. So Abraham’s other wives are not named. Even Jacob’s other wives are not named. Interesting!
Surrounded by his sons, Jacob breathes his last and transitions in peace.
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