Genesis 49

Jacob [Israel] Blesses His 12 Sons

1 Jacob called for his sons and said, “Come here, and let me tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.2 “Gather around and listen, sons of Jacob.Listen to your father Israel.3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,my strength, the very first son I had,first in majesty and first in power.4 You will no longer be firstbecause you were out of control like a floodand you climbed into your father’s bed.Then you dishonored it.He climbed up on my couch.5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers.Their swordst are weapons of violence.6 Do not let me attend their secret meetings.Do not let me join their assembly.In their anger they murdered men.At their whim they crippled cattle.7 May their anger be cursed because it’s so fierce.May their fury be cursed because it’s so cruel.I will divide them among the sons of Jacoband scatter them among the tribes of Israel.8 “Judah, your brothers will praise you.Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies.Your father’s sons will bow down to you.9 Judah, you are a lion cub.You have come back from the kill, my son.He lies down and rests like a lion.He is like a lioness. Who dares to disturb him?10 A scepter will never depart from Judahnor a ruler’s staff from between his feetuntil Shiloh comesand the people obey him.11 He will tie his donkey to a grapevine,his colt to the best vine.He will wash his clothes in wine,his garments in the blood of grapes.12 His eyes are darker than wine.His teeth are whiter than milk.13 “Zebulun will live by the coast.He will have ships by the coast.His border will go as far as Sidon.14 “Issachar is a strong donkey,lying down between the saddlebags.15 When he sees that his resting place is goodand that the land is pleasant,he will bend his back to the burdenand will become a slave laborer.16 “Dan will hand down decisionst for his peopleas one of the tribes of Israel.17 Dan will be a snake on a road,a viper on a path,that bites a horse’s heelsso that its rider falls off backwards.18 “I wait with hope for you to rescue me, O Lord.19 “Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders,but he will strike back at their heels.20 “Asher’s food will be rich.He will provide delicacies fit for a king.21 “Naphtali is a doe set freethat has beautiful fawns.22 “Joseph is a fruitful tree,a fruitful tree by a spring,with branches climbing over a wall.23 Archers provoked him,shot at him,and attacked him.24 But his bow stayed steady, and his arms remained limberbecause of the help of the Mighty One of Jacob,because of the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,25 because of the God of your father who helps you,because of the Almighty who gives youblessings from the heavens above,blessings from the deep springs below the ground,blessings from breasts and womb.26 The blessings of your father are greater thanthe blessings of the oldest mountainsand the riches of the ancient hills.May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph,on the crown of the prince among his brothers.27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf.In the morning he devours his prey.In the evening he divides the plunder.”28 These are the 12 tribes of Israel and what their father said to them when he gave each of them his special blessing.29 Then he gave them these instructions, “I am about to join my ancestors in death. Bury me with my ancestors in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.30 Abraham bought the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre in Canaan, from Ephron the Hittite to use as a tomb.31 Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried there. Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried there. I also buried Leah there.

32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.”
33 When Jacob finished giving these instructions to his sons, he pulled his feet into his bed. He took his last breath and joined his ancestors in death.

Genesis 49

Jacob blesses his sons

1-2 Jacob called his sons together and said:
My sons, I am Jacob,
your father Israel.
Come, gather around,
as I tell your future.

3 Reuben, you are my eldest,
born at the peak of my powers;
you were an honoured leader.

4 Uncontrollable as a flood,
you slept with my wife
and disgraced my bed.
And so you no longer deserve
the place of honour.

5 Simeon and Levi,
you are brothers,
each a gruesome sword.

6 I never want to take part
in your plans or deeds.
You slaughtered people
in your anger,
and you crippled cattle
for no reason.

7 Now I place a curse on you
because of
your fierce anger.
Your descendants
will be scattered
among the tribes of Israel.

8 Judah, you will be praised
by your brothers;
they will bow down to you,
as you defeat your enemies.

9 My son, you are a liont
ready to eat your victim!
You are terribly fierce;
no one will bother you.

10 You will have power and rule
until nations obey yout
and come bringing gifts.

11 You will tie your donkey
to a choice grapevine
and wash your clothes
in wine from those grapes.

12 Your eyes are darker than wine,
your teeth whiter than milk.

13 Zebulun, you will settle
along the seashore
and provide safe harbours
as far north as Sidon.

14 Issachar, you are a strong donkey
resting in the meadows.t

15 You found them so pleasant
that you worked too hard
and became a slave.

16 Dan,t you are the tribe
that will bring justice
to Israel.

17 You are a snake that bites
the heel of a horse,
making its rider fall.

18 Our Lord, I am waiting
for you to save us.

19 Gad,t you will be attacked,
then attack your attackers.

20 Asher, you will eat food
fine enough for a king.

21 Naphtali, you are a wild deer
with lovely fawns.t

22 Joseph, you are a fruitful vine
growing near a stream
and climbing a wall.t

23 Enemies attacked with arrows,
refusing to show mercy.

24 But you stood your ground,
swiftly shooting back
with the help of Jacob's God,
the All-Powerful One—
his name is the Shepherd,
Israel's mighty rock.t

25 Your help came from the God
your father worshipped,
from God All-Powerful.
God will bless you with rain
and streams from the earth;
he will bless you
with many descendants.

26 My son, the blessings I give
are better than the promise
of ancient mountains
or eternal hills.t
Joseph, I pray these blessings
will come to you,
because you are the leader
of your brothers.

27 Benjamin, you are a fierce wolf,
destroying your enemies
morning and evening.

28 These are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is how Jacob gave each of them their proper blessings.

Jacob's death

29-31 Jacob told his sons:tt
Soon I will die, and I want you to bury me in Machpelah Cave. Abraham bought this cave as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, and it is near the town of Mamre in Canaan. Abraham and Sarah are buried there, and so are Isaac and Rebekah. I buried Leah there too.

32 Both the cave and the land that goes with it were bought from the Hittites.
33 When Jacob had finished giving these instructions to his sons, he lay down on his bed and died.t