GENESIS 49

Verse 2 See Hebrews 11:21

 

Verse 3 Barnhouse sees the implication by beginning the speech “life began for me at Luz...” This is

another name for Bethel where Jacob received his blessing associated with the ladder to heaven.

 

Verse 4 Jacob wants their last memory of him to be an incident in which the glory is given only to God.

 

Verse 5 Notice that Jacob lists the two sons in reverse order of age, duplicating the pattern throughout 

Genesis. Reuben has been disqualified by sleeping with Jacob's concubine and Simeon has led the 

massacre at Shechem.

 

Verse 6 Jacob says that other sons of Joseph will be considered part of the two brothers' tribes.

 

Verse 7 Comments on Rachel seem to be a non sequitor, but probably indicate that Jacob is again 

thinking of Rachel's premature death and the sons she did not live to have (replaced by Joseph's sons). 

Can be thought of as typical of the meandering mind of an elderly man.

 

Verse 8 “Who are these?” may be a stereotyped formula beginning a blessing, or an indication that 

Jacob's memory was failing.

 

Verse 14 Confirms Jacob's choice of younger over older son. This time the choosing of younger son is 

done openly, not by trickery as in Jacob's own case. Hebrews 11:21 chooses this one incident of Jacob's 

as an act of faith, recognizing God's inscrutable plans.

 

One commentator has said, “How often does God reverse our order, and bless most that about which 

we had less concern, and seem to put a slight on that which has engrossed our best affection.”

 

Verse 15 or “who has been my shepherd?” Jacob stresses God's faithfulness rather than his own.

MT has “blessed Joseph” but other versions read “blessed them.” Importance of a tradition of godliness 

in a family. 

 

Verses 15-16 mention God in three contexts.

 

Verse 17 Barnhouse points out the sad event when our will and God's clash.

 

Verse 22 Alter explains his translation “with one accord” in place of a particular region. A hint here of 

Jacob's fleshly pride.