Ten Blessings - Genesis 49:1-21; Deuteronomy 33:6-23

49:1-21 - Knowing that his time was pretty much up, Jacob calls his sons together again for their final blessings. We’ve seen this play out over and over again, with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, etc. Interestingly, Jacob started his blessings saying, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.” TB speculates that this could mean that “last days” is referencing the last days of Israel in Egypt, the last days of their individual lives, or even the last days before Jesus returns this second time. The IM suggests, “In Deuteronomy 33:6-29, Moses recounted again the blessings given to each tribe. This passage should be studied and compared to Jacob’s original blessings recorded in Genesis 49.

Reuben isn’t really told anything positive about himself, but more positive things about Jacob, that Reuben is the first born, “my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellecy of dignity, and the excellency of power.” Not a whole lot about Reuben personally, positive or negative. But then the ripping comes, “unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it.” Jacob is still pretty pissed that Reuben had sex with Bilhah, and all the other shenanigans that Reuben had gotten up to during his life. But in Deuteronomy 33:6, the blessing includes, “Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.” The “live and not die” comment doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.

Simeon and Levi are blessed together, and Jacob is not pleased with them either because of the incident in Shechem where they killed all the men, stole the women, and sacked the city. Jacob calls them “cruel” and “cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.” According to the map, there is a land assigned to Simeon, but it is completely contained within Judah’s land. Additionally, we know that Levi is given no set land, and instead is scattered throughout the territories, performing clerical duties.

The blessing for Levi in Deut 33:8-11 is quite a bit more positive, and I guess that makes sense because Levi’s tribe is going to take on a huge responsibility, so I wonder why that role was given to the tribe of Levi, if Jacob thought so little of this son. In Deut, it’s explained, “And od Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with they holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah.” I don’t know exactly what this is referencing, but from context, it seems to me like it is describing some instances where Levi demonstrated faithfulness to the Lord, but again I’m not sure.

Judah is given a large blessing, consisting of 5 verses, clearly earning the birthright blessing with his brother Joseph. Judah is given power and prestige over his brothers and his “father’s children.” Judah is compared to a lion, and he is appointed with a “sceptre” and “lawgiver… until Shiloh come.” There’s some stuff about a vine and blood and wine and teeth with milk, I’m not exactly sure what this means.

Zebulun is given a “haven of the sea… of ships.” Not a bad inheritance, but according to the map, he is land locked, bordering Asher, Naphtali, Issachar, and Manasseh, much like Cambodia is. Deut also comments of Zebulun that “they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall such of the abundance of the seas, and the treasures hid in the sand.” But again, he’s land locked, so I don’t know the significance there.

Issachar is kind of lumped in with Zebulun, even in Deut, and is compared to “a strong ass couching down between two burdens.”

Dan has an interesting one, he will “judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel” which sounds important and righteous, but in the next verse he is compared to a “serpent… an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.” That makes it sound very suspicious, like he’s going to be given power over others, but will use it corruptly.

Gad is only given a single sentence in Genesis for his blessing, but is given quite a bit more in Deut. In Genesis, Gad is simply foretold that he will be overcome by a “troop,” but eventually Gad will “overcome at the last.” That’s not very inspiring, but Deut says that those who live in Gad will be blessed, “as a lion,” who also is seated with the lawgivers, who, “executed the justice of the lord, and his judgments with Israel.” That makes it sound like a more important role which he will fulfill righteously.

Asher doesn’t have a whole lot, but is promised “his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.” Sounds pretty prestigious.

Naphtali is a “hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.” Goodly could mean uplifting, but maybe also flattering. Deut has him as being “satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord.” Sounds like a righteous start.