Sharper Iron — In the Beginning – Genesis 49:1-27: The Testament of Israel

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Before he dies, Jacob gathers his twelve sons to him to bless them by speaking prophetically concerning the days to come for each of his sons and their descendants. He speaks first to the sons of Leah, then to the sons of the maidservants, and finally to the sons of Rachel. The first three sons of Jacob hear words that recount former sins. Through the fourth son, Judah, the line of the Christ will continue by God’s grace. Many of the sons hear words that prove true geographically in the history of Israel. To Joseph especially Jacob reserves words of great favor and love. The prayer that Jacob includes right in the middle expresses his faith: “I wait for your salvation, O LORD.”

Rev. James Uglum, pastor at Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church in St. Peter’s, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Genesis 49:1-27.

To learn more about Chapel of the Cross, visit chapelofthecrosslutheran.org.

“In the Beginning” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies Genesis. The first book of Moses sets the stage for God’s entire story of salvation. As we learn the beginning of the story, God prepares us to receive the fulfillment of the story: Jesus Christ, the Offspring of the woman who has crushed our enemy’s head.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.

Genesis 49:1-27

Jacob Blesses His Sons

[1] Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.

[2] “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,

listen to Israel your father.

[3] “Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,

preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.

[4] Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,

because you went up to your father’s bed;

then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!

[5] “Simeon and Levi are brothers;

weapons of violence are their swords.

[6] Let my soul come not into their council;

O my glory, be not joined to their company.

For in their anger they killed men,

and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.

[7] Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,

and their wrath, for it is cruel!

I will divide them in Jacob

and scatter them in Israel.

[8] “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;

your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;

your father’s sons shall bow down before you.

[9] Judah is a lion’s cub;

from the prey, my son, you have gone up.

He stooped down; he crouched as a lion

and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?

[10] The scepter shall not depart from Judah,

nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

until tribute comes to him;

and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

[11] Binding his foal to the vine

and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,

he has washed his garments in wine

and his vesture in the blood of grapes.

[12] His eyes are darker than wine,

and his teeth whiter than milk.

[13] “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;

he shall become a haven for ships,

and his border shall be at Sidon.

[14] “Issachar is a strong donkey,

crouching between the sheepfolds.

[15] He saw that a resting place was good,

and that the land was pleasant,

so he bowed his shoulder to bear,

and became a servant at forced labor.

[16] “Dan shall judge his people

as one of the tribes of Israel.

[17] Dan shall be a serpent in the way,

a viper by the path,

that bites the horse’s heels

so that his rider falls backward.

[18] I wait for your salvation, O LORD.

[19] “Raiders shall raid Gad,

but he shall raid at their heels.

[20] “Asher’s food shall be rich,

and he shall yield royal delicacies.

[21] “Naphtali is a doe let loose

that bears beautiful fawns.

[22] “Joseph is a fruitful bough,

a fruitful bough by a spring;

his branches run over the wall.

[23] The archers bitterly attacked him,

shot at him, and harassed him severely,

[24] yet his bow remained unmoved;

his arms were made agile

by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob

(from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),

[25] by the God of your father who will help you,

by the Almighty who will bless you

with blessings of heaven above,

blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,

blessings of the breasts and of the womb.

[26] The blessings of your father

are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,

up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.

May they be on the head of Joseph,

and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.

[27] “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,

in the morning devouring the prey

and at evening dividing the spoil.”