Jacob called all his sons around him to speak to them prophetic blessing as he was about to depart this life. First he spoke to his firstborn Reuben who excelled in honour and power but whose tribe will no longer excel because of his sin in Genesis 35:22. Next he spoke to Simeon and Levi who were two of a kind. They were cursed by Jacob for their violent vendetta of Genesis 34. Then came the lion of the tribes, Judah, "whose blessing in length and eloquence is only matched by that of Joseph, which it far outdistances in its range of prophecy. It is a miniature of the biblical scheme of history." (Kidner) It predicts leadership of the nations for Judah, and involves the exuberant abundance of the golden age of the Coming One. Jacob then blessed Zebulun, Issachar and Dan with brief comments. Dan's call was to judge, but his choice as a tribe was violence and treachery as in Judges 18. This was followed by brief words to Gad, Asher and Naphtali before launching in to eloquent words to Joseph, remembering his past tribulations but focusing on his victories through trust in God. Thus copious blessings are called down upon Joseph for the future. Then came the final brief blessing for Benjamin. Jacob then reminded the family that he wanted to be buried in the ancestral burial cave near Mamre in Canaan and then he breathed his last.
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