Jacob called his sons in and prophesied about the
natures and roles of their respective descendants. Israel, old and weak, called
to them, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall
befall you in the last days."
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar,
Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph & Benjamin were all blessed and charged
by their father. Surely they didn't understand everything that he told them...
in fact, probably HE didn't even understand it all, but is was significant nonetheless.
And, he knew that he was prophesying.
There were many messianic references included in
Jacob's blessing, namely when he spoke of Judah's future. We know that the
Christ was from the tribe of Judah, so in retrospect it is easy to find Jesus
in every line of Judah's blessing. He would be praised and would conquer His
enemies. Men would bow to Him. He would be a lion (Revelation 5:5). He would be
a royal ruler and immortal lawgiver and would unify the nations. He would be a
judge of unrighteousness and bring tranquility to the race. Yes, all of that and more is found in this
chapter. Additionally, when Israel got to Joseph, he added that his God would
send from Himself "the shepherd" and "the stone of Israel"
(I Peter 5:4 & 2:7). What a
spiritual heritage (Revelation 21:12).
So, Israel left Judah, Levi and Joseph with what we
know as prominent positions in the nation. Then, after his sons promised to
take his body back and bury it with the bodies of his wife, parents and grandparents...
he died.
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