7 Cursed H779 be their anger, H639 for it was fierce; H5794 and their wrath, H5678 for it was cruel: H7185 I will divide H2505 them in Jacob, H3290 and scatter H6327 them in Israel. H3478
And the second H8145 lot H1486 came forth H3318 to Simeon, H8095 even for the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Simeon H8095 according to their families: H4940 and their inheritance H5159 was within H8432 the inheritance H5159 of the children H1121 of Judah. H3063 And they had in their inheritance H5159 Beersheba, H884 or Sheba, H7652 and Moladah, H4137 And Hazarshual, H2705 and Balah, H1088 and Azem, H6107 And Eltolad, H513 and Bethul, H1329 and Hormah, H2767 And Ziklag, H6860 and Bethmarcaboth, H1024 and Hazarsusah, H2701 And Bethlebaoth, H1034 and Sharuhen; H8287 thirteen H7969 H6240 cities H5892 and their villages: H2691 Ain, H5871 Remmon, H7417 and Ether, H6281 and Ashan; H6228 four H702 cities H5892 and their villages: H2691 And all the villages H2691 that were round about H5439 these cities H5892 to Baalathbeer, H1192 Ramath H7414 of the south. H5045 This is the inheritance H5159 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Simeon H8095 according to their families. H4940 Out of the portion H2256 of the children H1121 of Judah H3063 was the inheritance H5159 of the children H1121 of Simeon: H8095 for the part H2506 of the children H1121 of Judah H3063 was too much H7227 for them: therefore the children H1121 of Simeon H8095 had their inheritance H5157 within H8432 the inheritance H5159 of them.
The sons H1121 of Simeon H8095 were, Nemuel, H5241 and Jamin, H3226 Jarib, H3402 Zerah, H2226 and Shaul: H7586 Shallum H7967 his son, H1121 Mibsam H4017 his son, H1121 Mishma H4927 his son. H1121 And the sons H1121 of Mishma; H4927 Hamuel H2536 his son, H1121 Zacchur H2139 his son, H1121 Shimei H8096 his son. H1121 And Shimei H8096 had sixteen H8337 H6240 sons H1121 and six H8337 daughters; H1323 but his brethren H251 had not many H7227 children, H1121 neither did all their family H4940 multiply, H7235 like to the children H1121 of Judah. H3063 And they dwelt H3427 at Beersheba, H884 and Moladah, H4137 and Hazarshual, H2705 And at Bilhah, H1090 and at Ezem, H6107 and at Tolad, H8434 And at Bethuel, H1328 and at Hormah, H2767 and at Ziklag, H6860 And at Bethmarcaboth, H1024 and Hazarsusim, H2702 and at Bethbirei, H1011 and at Shaaraim. H8189 These were their cities H5892 unto the reign H4427 of David. H1732
Then came near H5066 the heads H7218 of the fathers H1 of the Levites H3881 unto Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and unto Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun, H5126 and unto the heads H7218 of the fathers H1 of the tribes H4294 of the children H1121 of Israel; H3478 And they spake H1696 unto them at Shiloh H7887 in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 commanded H6680 by the hand H3027 of Moses H4872 to give H5414 us cities H5892 to dwell in, H3427 with the suburbs H4054 thereof for our cattle. H929 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 gave H5414 unto the Levites H3881 out of their inheritance, H5159 at the commandment H6310 of the LORD, H3068 these cities H5892 and their suburbs. H4054 And the lot H1486 came out H3318 for the families H4940 of the Kohathites: H6956 and the children H1121 of Aaron H175 the priest, H3548 which were of the Levites, H3881 had by lot H1486 out of the tribe H4294 of Judah, H3063 and out of the tribe H4294 of Simeon, H8099 and out of the tribe H4294 of Benjamin, H1144 thirteen H7969 H6240 cities. H5892 And the rest H3498 of the children H1121 of Kohath H6955 had by lot H1486 out of the families H4940 of the tribe H4294 of Ephraim, H669 and out of the tribe H4294 of Dan, H1835 and out of the half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh, H4519 ten H6235 cities. H5892 And the children H1121 of Gershon H1648 had by lot H1486 out of the families H4940 of the tribe H4294 of Issachar, H3485 and out of the tribe H4294 of Asher, H836 and out of the tribe H4294 of Naphtali, H5321 and out of the half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh H4519 in Bashan, H1316 thirteen H7969 H6240 cities. H5892 The children H1121 of Merari H4847 by their families H4940 had out of the tribe H4294 of Reuben, H7205 and out of the tribe H4294 of Gad, H1410 and out of the tribe H4294 of Zebulun, H2074 twelve H8147 H6240 cities. H5892 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 gave H5414 by lot H1486 unto the Levites H3881 these cities H5892 with their suburbs, H4054 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 by the hand H3027 of Moses. H4872 And they gave H5414 out of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Judah, H3063 and out of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Simeon, H8095 these cities H5892 which are here mentioned H7121 by name, H8034 Which the children H1121 of Aaron, H175 being of the families H4940 of the Kohathites, H6956 who were of the children H1121 of Levi, H3878 had: for theirs was the first H7223 H7223 lot. H1486 And they gave H5414 them the city H7151 of Arba H704 H7153 the father H1 of Anak, H6061 which city is Hebron, H2275 in the hill H2022 country of Judah, H3063 with the suburbs H4054 thereof round about H5439 it. But the fields H7704 of the city, H5892 and the villages H2691 thereof, gave H5414 they to Caleb H3612 the son H1121 of Jephunneh H3312 for his possession. H272 Thus they gave H5414 to the children H1121 of Aaron H175 the priest H3548 Hebron H2275 with her suburbs, H4054 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Libnah H3841 with her suburbs, H4054 And Jattir H3492 with her suburbs, H4054 and Eshtemoa H851 with her suburbs, H4054 And Holon H2473 with her suburbs, H4054 and Debir H1688 with her suburbs, H4054 And Ain H5871 with her suburbs, H4054 and Juttah H3194 with her suburbs, H4054 and Bethshemesh H1053 with her suburbs; H4054 nine H8672 cities H5892 out of those two H8147 tribes. H7626 And out of the tribe H4294 of Benjamin, H1144 Gibeon H1391 with her suburbs, H4054 Geba H1387 with her suburbs, H4054 Anathoth H6068 with her suburbs, H4054 and Almon H5960 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892 All the cities H5892 of the children H1121 of Aaron, H175 the priests, H3548 were thirteen H7969 H6240 cities H5892 with their suburbs. H4054 And the families H4940 of the children H1121 of Kohath, H6955 the Levites H3881 which remained H3498 of the children H1121 of Kohath, H6955 even they had the cities H5892 of their lot H1486 out of the tribe H4294 of Ephraim. H669 For they gave H5414 them Shechem H7927 with her suburbs H4054 in mount H2022 Ephraim, H669 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Gezer H1507 with her suburbs, H4054 And Kibzaim H6911 with her suburbs, H4054 and Bethhoron H1032 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892 And out of the tribe H4294 of Dan, H1835 Eltekeh H514 with her suburbs, H4054 Gibbethon H1405 with her suburbs, H4054 Aijalon H357 with her suburbs, H4054 Gathrimmon H1667 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892 And out of the half H4276 tribe H4294 of Manasseh, H4519 Tanach H8590 with her suburbs, H4054 and Gathrimmon H1667 with her suburbs; H4054 two H8147 cities. H5892 All the cities H5892 were ten H6235 with their suburbs H4054 for the families H4940 of the children H1121 of Kohath H6955 that remained. H3498 And unto the children H1121 of Gershon, H1648 of the families H4940 of the Levites, H3881 out of the other half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh H4519 they gave Golan H1474 in Bashan H1316 with her suburbs, H4054 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Beeshterah H1203 with her suburbs; H4054 two H8147 cities. H5892 And out of the tribe H4294 of Issachar, H3485 Kishon H7191 with her suburbs, H4054 Dabareh H1705 with her suburbs, H4054 Jarmuth H3412 with her suburbs, H4054 Engannim H5873 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892 And out of the tribe H4294 of Asher, H836 Mishal H4861 with her suburbs, H4054 Abdon H5658 with her suburbs, H4054 Helkath H2520 with her suburbs, H4054 and Rehob H7340 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892 And out of the tribe H4294 of Naphtali, H5321 Kedesh H6943 in Galilee H1551 with her suburbs, H4054 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Hammothdor H2576 with her suburbs, H4054 and Kartan H7178 with her suburbs; H4054 three H7969 cities. H5892 All the cities H5892 of the Gershonites H1649 according to their families H4940 were thirteen H7969 H6240 cities H5892 with their suburbs. H4054 And unto the families H4940 of the children H1121 of Merari, H4847 the rest H3498 of the Levites, H3881 out of the tribe H4294 of Zebulun, H2074 Jokneam H3362 with her suburbs, H4054 and Kartah H7177 with her suburbs, H4054 Dimnah H1829 with her suburbs, H4054 Nahalal H5096 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892 And out of the tribe of Reuben, H7205 Bezer H1221 with her suburbs, and Jahazah H3096 with her suburbs, Kedemoth H6932 with her suburbs, and Mephaath H4158 with her suburbs; four H702 cities. H5892 And out of the tribe H4294 of Gad, H1410 Ramoth H7433 in Gilead H1568 with her suburbs, H4054 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Mahanaim H4266 with her suburbs, H4054 Heshbon H2809 with her suburbs, H4054 Jazer H3270 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities H5892 in all. So all the cities H5892 for the children H1121 of Merari H4847 by their families, H4940 which were remaining H3498 of the families H4940 of the Levites, H3881 were by their lot H1486 twelve H8147 H6240 cities. H5892 All the cities H5892 of the Levites H3881 within H8432 the possession H272 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were forty H705 and eight H8083 cities H5892 with their suburbs. H4054 These cities H5892 were every one H5892 H5892 with their suburbs H4054 round about H5439 them: thus were all these cities. H5892 And the LORD H3068 gave H5414 unto Israel H3478 all the land H776 which he sware H7650 to give H5414 unto their fathers; H1 and they possessed H3423 it, and dwelt H3427 therein. And the LORD H3068 gave them rest H5117 round about, H5439 according to all that he sware H7650 unto their fathers: H1 and there stood H5975 not a man H376 of all their enemies H341 before H6440 them; the LORD H3068 delivered H5414 all their enemies H341 into their hand. H3027 There failed H5307 not ought H1697 of any good H2896 thing H1697 which the LORD H3068 had spoken H1696 unto the house H1004 of Israel; H3478 all came to pass. H935
And Absalom H53 spake H1696 unto his brother Amnon H550 neither good H2896 nor bad: H7451 for Absalom H53 hated H8130 Amnon, H550 because H1697 he had forced H6031 his sister H269 Tamar. H8559 And it came to pass after two full H3117 years, H8141 that Absalom H53 had sheepshearers H1494 in Baalhazor, H1178 which is beside Ephraim: H669 and Absalom H53 invited H7121 all the king's H4428 sons. H1121 And Absalom H53 came H935 to the king, H4428 and said, H559 Behold now, thy servant H5650 hath sheepshearers; H1494 let H3212 the king, H4428 I beseech thee, and his servants H5650 go H3212 with thy servant. H5650 And the king H4428 said H559 to Absalom, H53 Nay, my son, H1121 let us not all now go, H3212 lest we be chargeable H3513 unto thee. And he pressed H6555 him: howbeit he would H14 not go, H3212 but blessed H1288 him. Then said H559 Absalom, H53 If not, I pray thee, let my brother H251 Amnon H550 go H3212 with us. And the king H4428 said H559 unto him, Why should he go H3212 with thee? But Absalom H53 pressed H6555 him, that he let Amnon H550 and all the king's H4428 sons H1121 go H7971 with him. Now Absalom H53 had commanded H6680 his servants, H5288 saying, H559 Mark H7200 ye now when Amnon's H550 heart H3820 is merry H2896 with wine, H3196 and when I say H559 unto you, Smite H5221 Amnon; H550 then kill H4191 him, fear H3372 not: have not I commanded H6680 you? be courageous, H2388 and be valiant. H1121 H2428
And they went H3212 to the entrance H3996 of Gedor, H1446 even unto the east side H4217 of the valley, H1516 to seek H1245 pasture H4829 for their flocks. H6629 And they found H4672 fat H8082 pasture H4829 and good, H2896 and the land H776 was wide, H7342 H3027 and quiet, H8252 and peaceable; H7961 for they of Ham H2526 had dwelt H3427 there of old. H6440
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 49
Commentary on Genesis 49 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 49
Ge 49:1-33. Patriarchal Blessing.
1. Jacob called unto his sons—It is not to the sayings of the dying saint, so much as of the inspired prophet, that attention is called in this chapter. Under the immediate influence of the Holy Spirit he pronounced his prophetic benediction and described the condition of their respective descendants in the last days, or future times.
Ge 49:3, 4. Reuben forfeited by his crime the rights and honors of primogeniture. His posterity never made any figure; no judge, prophet, nor ruler, sprang from this tribe.
Ge 49:5-7. Simeon and Levi were associate in wickedness, and the same prediction would be equally applicable to both their tribes. Levi had cities allotted to them (Jos 21:1-45) in every tribe. On account of their zeal against idolatry, they were honorably "divided in Jacob"; whereas the tribe of Simeon, which was guilty of the grossest idolatry and the vices inseparable from it, were ignominiously "scattered."
Ge 49:8-12. Judah—A high pre-eminence is destined to this tribe (Nu 10:14; Jud 1:2). Besides the honor of giving name to the Promised Land, David, and a greater than David—the Messiah—sprang from it. Chief among the tribes, "it grew up from a lion's whelp"—that is, a little power—till it became "an old lion"—that is, calm and quiet, yet still formidable.
10. until Shiloh come—Shiloh—this obscure word is variously interpreted to mean "the sent" (Joh 17:3), "the seed" (Isa 11:1), the "peaceable or prosperous one" (Eph 2:14)—that is, the Messiah (Isa 11:10; Ro 15:12); and when He should come, "the tribe of Judah should no longer boast either an independent king or a judge of their own" [Calvin]. The Jews have been for eighteen centuries without a ruler and without a judge since Shiloh came, and "to Him the gathering of the people has been."
Ge 49:13. Zebulun was to have its lot on the seacoast, close to Zidon, and to engage, like that state, in maritime pursuits and commerce.
Ge 49:14, 15. Issachar—
14. a strong ass couching down between two burdens—that is, it was to be active, patient, given to agricultural labors. It was established in lower Galilee—a "good land," settling down in the midst of the Canaanites, where, for the sake of quiet, they "bowed their shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute."
Ge 49:16-18. Dan—though the son of a secondary wife, was to be "as one of the tribes of Israel."
17. Dan—"a judge."
a serpent … an adder—A serpent, an adder, implies subtlety and stratagem; such was pre-eminently the character of Samson, the most illustrious of its judges.
Ge 49:19. Gad—This tribe should be often attacked and wasted by hostile powers on their borders (Jud 10:8; Jer 49:1). But they were generally victorious in the close of their wars.
Ge 49:20. Asher—"Blessed." Its allotment was the seacoast between Tyre and Carmel, a district fertile in the production of the finest corn and oil in all Palestine.
Ge 49:21. Naphtali—The best rendering we know is this, "Naphtali is a deer roaming at liberty; he shooteth forth goodly branches," or majestic antlers [Taylor, Scripture Illustrations], and the meaning of the prophecy seems 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.
Ge 49:22-26. Joseph—
22. a fruitful bough, &c.—denotes the extraordinary increase of that tribe (compare Nu 1:33-35; Jos 17:17; De 33:17). The patriarch describes him as attacked by envy, revenge, temptation, ingratitude; yet still, by the grace of God, he triumphed over all opposition, so that he became the sustainer of Israel; and then he proceeds to shower blessings of every kind upon the head of this favorite son. The history of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh shows how fully these blessings were realized.
Ge 49:27-33. Benjamin
27. shall ravin like a wolf—This tribe in its early history spent its energies in petty or inglorious warfare and especially in the violent and unjust contest (Jud 19:1-20:48), in which it engaged with the other tribes, when, notwithstanding two victories, it was almost exterminated.
28. all these are the twelve tribes of Israel—or ancestors. Jacob's prophetic words obviously refer not so much to the sons as to the tribes of Israel.
29. he charged them—The charge had already been given and solemnly undertaken (Ge 47:31). But in mentioning his wishes now and rehearsing all the circumstances connected with the purchase of Machpelah, he wished to declare, with his latest breath, before all his family, that he died in the same faith as Abraham.
33. when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons—It is probable that he was supernaturally strengthened for this last momentous office of the patriarch, and that when the divine afflatus ceased, his exhausted powers giving way, he yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.