Genesis Term Paper

I finally got around to posting my term paper from Genesis class. We were able to write anything we wanted (as long as it had to do with the book of Genesis, of course), so I decided to write about Jacob's blessings to his sons in Genesis chapter 49 (who later became the tribes of Israel, if ya didn't know!). Basically, the history of Israel back then and even today comes from this very night. Pretty neat stuff!


Jacob’s Last Words: The Prophetic Blessings in Genesis 49 - By Me

Undoubtedly, one of the most important prophetic passages in the Bible is in the forty-ninth chapter of the Book of Genesis. Jacob, a patriarch, a husband, and a father, resides on his deathbed and calls his twelve sons to gather, so that he may speak what will happen to each one of them. This is widely known as a prophetic blessing. Jacob’s sons later fulfilled the prophecy overall in becoming what we now know as the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, and Benjamin. Today, many bible-believing Christians may not know that the tribes of Israel were prophesied by Jacob well before its establishment. In addressing these blessings that Jacob poured onto his sons, God’s hand can be seen at work in beginning His chosen nation of Israel.
Often being a man led by the flesh, Jacob became known, by God, as Israel. “And God said to him: ‘Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.’” (Gen. 35:10). From this change in name, God rightly spoke to a man now led by the Spirit, saying, “‘...I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body...’” (Gen. 35:11). Throughout his life, Jacob was known by both of these names, as he was often times warring against the flesh and spirit. At the very beginning of his blessing in chapter forty-nine, he makes this distinction to point out the type of man he was. “Gather together and hear; you sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel your father” (Gen. 49:2). It can be concluded that, “Jacob realized he was both Jacob and Israel, and his sons are sons of each. This was a place of spiritual maturity, realizing both what God made him (Israel) and what he had to battle against (Jacob)” 1.
He continues on to speak to Reuben, his firstborn. Reuben defiled Jacob’s bed with his concubine Bilhah, so while Jacob announced to Reuben that he was an “excellency of dignity... and power” (Gen. 49:3), he labeled him “unstable as water” (v. 4) and said he would not inherit any rights he had as a firstborn, such as land, title, or authoritative power. Reuben’s birthright ends up being divided among the brothers and the Reubenites themselves do not end up producing any rulers, prophets, or kings worth mentioning in the Scriptures.
Simeon and Levi both received the same blessing from Jacob, based on the cruel actions they committed in Genesis 34. Because of the anger that emerged from the defilement of their sister Dinah, which led to the killing of the male Shechemites in their city, the Simeonites and Levites were scattered and divided. How this division gains prophetic acknowledgement is because “Simeon was largely disintegrated (with its land inside that of Judah), but Levi was afforded an honorable dispersion because it was the priestly tribe.” 2 The Levites were ultimately scattered but, as many commentators agree with, their scattering became a blessing to the tribe and most probably fulfills the verse, “...scatter them in Israel” (Gen. 49:7). In the book of Joshua, it mentions that this tribe received no land inheritance, but received something better; they received the Lord God as their inheritance (Josh. 13:33). In contrast, Simeon’s tribe was “...divided in Jacob” (Gen. 49:7) and led to be cursed in the land, having it inflicted upon themselves as Jacob said, “cursed be their anger, for it is fierce...” (Gen. 49:7). They didn’t receive any blessings and their tribal number even diminished over time.
Then, Jacob proceeds to bless Judah, whose name means, “praise”. The Scriptures clearly tell us that Judah’s tribe becomes a significant part of Israel’s history. Part of their prophecy becomes fulfilled in King David, for example, who came from the tribe of Judah and spoke to the Lord after his deliverence by Saul’s enemies, in Psalm 18. David sings, “you have also given me the necks of my enemies, so I destroyed those who hated me” (Ps. 18:40). Jacob seemingly uttered these same words to Judah centuries before, and added that all other tribes will bow down to the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:8). Jacob prophesied about the strength and authority that Judah’s descendants will have throughout the generations. He also spoke of a now infamous messianic prophecy to Judah in Genesis 49:10. “The sceptor shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes...” Judah was to maintain its leadership as the head of Israel until Shiloh came. Many ancient Jewish historians and modern biblical scholars conclude that “Shiloh” was speaking of Jesus Himself . “Jesus is referred to as Shiloh, the name meaning, “He whose right it is” and a title anciently understood to speak of the Messiah.” 3 This conclusion can be comprised from many phrases in Judah’s blessing that describe Savior Jesus, such as its reference to lions, how Judah will be praised, and how many will bow down before them (Gen 49:8-9). It is also known that the sceptor Jacob speaks of did depart from the tribe of Judah in A.D. 07. 4 Since written historical evidence proves that Jesus was born and living sometime before this date 6, either this prophecy was fulfilled or the Messiah did not come. It could be said that many faithfully practicing Jews today, who are still eagerly waiting for the Savior to come and redeem the world, have not come to the realization that this passage in the Scriptures speaks of the Messiah and that the passage was fulfilled by God Himself, through Jesus’ cruxifiction and bodily resurrection.
Zebulun was told that his tribe would, “dwell by the haven of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships...” (Gen. 49:13). This prophecy was mainly fulfilled when the tribe ending up somewhat bordering the Mediterranean Sea, as written in Joshua 19:10-15. It did become well known as a sea trading village, however, and thus beautifully connecting with The Gospel’s recording of Jesus’ interest in his activities, parables, and teachings: “Although Jesus by birth was of the tribe of Judah, through his residence in Nazareth he was of the tribe of Zebulun. The Gospels’ record Jesus’ interest in ships and fishing, and the body of water on which he fished is the same body of water with which the Zebulunites are associated in the blessing of Jacob.” 6 Jacob’s next son, Issachar, was blessed by Jacob with, “land that was pleasant” (Gen 49:15) but as prophesied, the tribe eventually became a, “band of slaves” (v.15). They consistently became suseptible to invasions by neighboring armies and had to bear the burden of laboring the land they were given.
The tribe of Dan was to, “judge his people” (Gen. 49:16) as the name Dan implies, and “shall be a serpent by the way” (v.17). These prophetic verses were fulfilled by the Danites’ later dealings of idolatrous practices and in the birth of Samson, one of the more significant Judges, into the tribe of Dan (Judg. 13:2).
Gad was recognized as a tribe that would be trampled upon but become triumphant in the end (Gen 49:19). 1 Chronicles 12:8 describes what Jacob had blessed Gad with: “Gadites joined David... mighty men of valor, men trained for battle...” This tribe ended up having to fight against the Moabites and the Ammonites because of their regional location, but nevertheless, they were victorious in the end. Asher, whose name meant “happy” or “blessed,” was told by Jacob that “bread... shall be rich, and he shall yield royal dainties” (Gen. 49:20). The Asherites ended up settling along Canaan’s northern coastline, which had rich, fertile land and became known in the entire nation of Israel for their successful farming of corn and in their production of oil. Moses later spoke about their abundance in oil, to confirm with Jacob’s blessing, when he proclaimed that Asher is “most blessed of sons; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil” (Deut. 33:24).
Jacob’s blessing to his son Naphtali was that he was, “... a deer let loose; he uses beautiful words” (Gen. 49:21). The meaning behind this particular prophecy is said to be that the, “tribe of Naphtali would be located in a territory so fertile and peaceable, that, feeding on the richest pasture, he would spread out, like a deer, branching antlers.” 7 This visual carries a lot of importance because Naphtali’s land settled and surrounded the Sea of Galilee. Centuries later, as Matthew 4:12-16 records, Jesus begins his ministry, “...in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali...”, which actually fulfilled the prophet Isaiah’s words as well, when he said in Isaiah 9:1-2: “...the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned.” Naphtali was where Jesus mainly taught and spoke, so the connotation is that Jesus is mentioned briefly, in Jacob’s blessing to Naphtali.
With Joseph, Jacob proclaimed to his son many words that were prophetic, but also historical. They were historical in a sense that Jacob expanded on how Joseph was afflicted by his brothers, but reminding him that he never lost his faith and strength: “the archers... shot at him and hated him... but his bow remained in strength... the arms of his hand were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob...” (Gen. 49:23-24). Prophetically, Joseph did receive a “fruitful bough” (v.22) in that God blessed him with prosperous land. Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were blessed, as well as their tribes. Many worthy people came through the line of Joseph; such as Joshua, the prophetess Deborah, Samuel, and Gideon. Joseph’s blessing is an example of how a son unjustly disowned by his family, can be justified in the end. Better said is that, “...once separated from his brothers through spite is now separated through his brothers by blessing.” 8
Benjamin’s blessing was one that commentators describe as “violent in spirit”. 9 Jacob called Benjamin a “ravenous wolf” (Gen. 49:27), and this characteristic later echoed in the lives of King Saul (1 Sam. 9:1-2) and in the apostle Paul, who violently killed Christians before his conversion. The Benjamites initiated a lot of warfare and corruption throughout their history, especially during the time of Judges (Jugd. 20).
Jacob’s blessings on all twelve sons serve as an account of God working through Jacob to tell the Israelites of what would “befall them in the last days” (Gen. 49:1). Each, in turn, received a blessing, “according to his own blessing” (Gen 49:28), making this chapter a specific prophecy of each son being told what their future purpose would be. Jacob’s life was reflected as one of little faith to a life that fully trusted and devoted his life in the name of the Lord. “He learned in his life where the real blessings came from, and he fought with God and man to be privileged to hand them on to his sons.” 10 Jacob’s blessings in this chapter of Genesis are an important prophecy to understand because of its fulfillments throughout the Bible and also in the significance that Israel has in our world today. It is an extraordinary working of the Lord revealing his pre-determined plan through one man that, at his last moment, feared the power of the Lord.

Footnotes:
1. David Guzik, “Blue Letter Bible Commentaries,” Blue Letter Bible, http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=2&contentID=7369&commInfo=31&topic=Genesis&ar=Gen_49_1 (accessed November 12th, 2010).

2. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: an Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty (United States of America: SP Publications, 1985), 98.

3. David Guzik, “Blue Letter Bible Commentaries”.

4. David Guzik, “Blue Letter Bible Commentaries”.

5. Gary R. Habermas, The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ (Joplin, Missouri: College Press Publishing Company, 1996), 29-33.

6. Victor P. Hamilton, The New International Commentary of the Old Testament: The Book of Genesis Chapters 18-50 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1995), 664.

7. Robert Jamieson , “Blue Letter Bible Commentaries,” Blue Letter Bible, http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=7&contentID=1930&commInfo=6&topic=Genesis&ar=Gen_49_1 (accessed November 13th, 2010).

8. Victor P. Hamilton, The New International Commentary of the Old Testament: The Book of Genesis Chapters 18-50, 686.

9. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 99.

10. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 99.

Winter Break

I'm on winter break right now. For those who may not know, after a long month of working, pulling together funds, and eating lots of pbj's, God provided tuition for a second semester! Will be updating again once school starts!