Jacob Blesses His Sons

Jacob summoned his twelve sons to his bedside in Egypt to inform them of what would befall them in the days to come. He addressed each son individually, beginning with Reuben, his firstborn. Jacob described Reuben as his might and the beginning of his strength, yet declared he would not excel because he went up to his father's bed and defiled it (Genesis 49:3-4). The text does not say the specific emotional reaction of Reuben to this decree. Moving to Simeon and Levi, Jacob categorized them as instruments of cruelty who slew a man in their anger and hamstrung an ox. He stated they would be divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel (Genesis 49:5-7).

When addressing Judah, Jacob described him as a lion's whelp and stated that his brothers would praise him. The text records the prophecy that the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes (Genesis 49:8-10). Jacob then provided various pronouncements for his other sons, eventually reaching Joseph. He described Joseph as a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall. Jacob noted that although archers had sorely grieved Joseph and shot at him, Joseph's bow remained in strength because of the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (Genesis 49:22-24).

After blessing all twelve tribes, Jacob issued a final command regarding his death. He charged his sons to bury him with his fathers in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite. He specified that Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah were all buried there (Genesis 49:29-31). Once Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he gathered his feet into the bed and yielded up the ghost (Genesis 49:33). The text does not say the exact time of day these events concluded.