Genesis 49:1-33
Jacob’s Last Words
1 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather around, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.(a)(A)
3
4
Turbulent as water, you will no longer excel,
because you got into your father’s bed(D)
and you defiled it—he(b) got into my bed.
because you got into your father’s bed(D)
and you defiled it—he(b) got into my bed.
5
6
May I never enter their council;
may I never join their assembly.
For in their anger they kill men,
and on a whim they hamstring oxen.
7 may I never join their assembly.
For in their anger they kill men,
and on a whim they hamstring oxen.
Their anger is cursed, for it is strong,
and their fury, for it is cruel!
I will disperse them throughout Jacob
and scatter them throughout Israel.(F)
and their fury, for it is cruel!
I will disperse them throughout Jacob
and scatter them throughout Israel.(F)
8
9
Judah is a young lion(I)—
my son, you return from the kill.
He crouches; he lies down like a lion
or a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10
11 my son, you return from the kill.
He crouches; he lies down like a lion
or a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
He ties his donkey to a vine,
and the colt of his donkey to the choice vine.
He washes his clothes in wine
and his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 and the colt of his donkey to the choice vine.
He washes his clothes in wine
and his robes in the blood of grapes.
His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth are whiter than milk.
and his teeth are whiter than milk.
13
Zebulun will live by the seashore
and will be a harbor for ships,
and his territory will be next to Sidon.(L)
and will be a harbor for ships,
and his territory will be next to Sidon.(L)
14
15
He saw that his resting place was good
and that the land was pleasant,
so he leaned his shoulder to bear a load
and became a forced laborer.(M)
and that the land was pleasant,
so he leaned his shoulder to bear a load
and became a forced laborer.(M)
16
17
He will be a snake by the road,
a viper beside the path,
that bites the horses’ heels
so that its rider falls backward.
a viper beside the path,
that bites the horses’ heels
so that its rider falls backward.
22
23
The archers attacked him,
shot at him, and were hostile toward him.
24
25 shot at him, and were hostile toward him.
by the God of your father who helps you,
and by the Almighty who blesses you
with blessings of the heavens above,
blessings of the deep that lies below,
and blessings of the breasts and the womb.
26 and by the Almighty who blesses you
with blessings of the heavens above,
blessings of the deep that lies below,
and blessings of the breasts and the womb.
The blessings of your father excel
the blessings of my ancestors(j)
and(k) the bounty of the eternal hills.(l)(U)
May they rest on the head of Joseph,
on the crown of the prince of his brothers.
the blessings of my ancestors(j)
and(k) the bounty of the eternal hills.(l)(U)
May they rest on the head of Joseph,
on the crown of the prince of his brothers.
27
Benjamin is a wolf; he tears his prey.
In the morning he devours the prey,
and in the evening he divides the plunder.”(V)
In the morning he devours the prey,
and in the evening he divides the plunder.”(V)
28 These are the tribes of Israel, 12 in all, and this was what their father said to them. He blessed them, and he blessed each one with a suitable blessing.
Jacob’s Burial Instructions
29 Then he commanded them: “I am about to be gathered to my people.(W) Bury me with my fathers(X) in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.(Y)
30 The cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. This is the field Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.(Z)
31 Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried there,(AA) Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried there,(AB) and I buried Leah there.(AC)
32 The field and the cave in it were purchased from the Hittites.”
33 When Jacob had finished instructing his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and died. He was gathered to his people.
Footnotes:
a.
Genesis 49:1: Or in the last days
b.
Genesis 49:4: LXX, Syr, Tg read you
c.
Genesis 49:10: Or until tribute comes to him, or until Shiloh comes, or until He comes to Shiloh
d.
Genesis 49:14: Or sheepfolds
e.
Genesis 49:20: LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads their heel. 20 From Asher
f.
Genesis 49:22: Lit daughters
g.
Genesis 49:22: Hb obscure
h.
Genesis 49:24: Lit and the hands of his
i.
Genesis 49:24: Syr, Tg; MT reads Jacob, from there
j.
Genesis 49:26: Or of the mountains
k.
Genesis 49:26: Lit to
l.
Genesis 49:26: Hb obscure
Cross references:
A.
Genesis 49:1:
Numbers 24:14; Deuteronomy 4:30; Deuteronomy 31:29; Isaiah 2:2; Jeremiah 23:20; Daniel 2:28; Daniel 10:14
F.
Genesis 49:7:
Exodus 32:28; Numbers 3:5-13; Deuteronomy 33:10; Joshua 19:1-9; 1 Chronicles 4:24-39; 2 Chronicles 34:6; Nehemiah 11:25-28