The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 581

HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-33.-The patriarchal bleIJsing, or tlie last words of Jacob. I. THE soNs OF LEAR. 1. Tiu blessing on Reube:n. (1) A declaration of Reuben's natural pre- cedence, as the first-born in Jacob's family, the beginning of Jacob's strength, and therefore the legitimate heir of Ja.cob's house. (2) A proclamation of Reuben's deposition from this honourable position : 11 Boiling as water, thou shalt not have the precedence," i. e. the birthright is taken from thee, and assigned to another. (3) A i,tatement of Reuben's sin, as the reason of this forfAiture of the firsthorn's place: "because thou wentest up to thy father's bed : then defiledst thou it; he went up to my couch." 2. The bleIJsings on Simeon and Levi. It is only by a species of irony that the words pronounced on the authors of the Shechem massacre can be styled a blessing. (I) The patriarch expresses his abhorrence of their atrociou~ wickedness, describing them with a refined sarcasm as brethren, confederates in sin as well as the offspring of common parents, characterising their swords, or their compacts, or their rage, or their machinations, according to the translation adopted, as instruments of violence, and shudderingly recoiling from the least association with two such reckless murderers, who in their wrathful fury spared neither man nor beast: "Man they slew, and ox they houghed." (2) He pronounces a solemn cµrse upon their sin. Not upon themselves, it is noticeable, but upon their deed, meaning that while God might mer- cifully pardon transgressors such as they had been, he could not do otherwise than renal his wrath against appalling wickedness like theirs. (3) He allots to them n punishment appropriate to their offence: "I will_ divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." 3. The bleIJsing upon Judah. Recalling probably the part which his fourth son had played with reference to Benjamin, Jacob fervently declares that Judah should be-(1) The admiration of his brethren: "Judah, thou art 110 whom thy brethren shall praise;'' and II thy father's children shall bow down unto thee." (2) The terror of his foes: 11 thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies;" "Judah is a lion's whelp," &c. (3) The ancestor of the Messiah, whose character he defines by the term Shiloh, whose advent he marks by the time: "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver (or ruler's staff) from between !,is feet, until Shiloh come ; " and the result of his appearance: 11 unto him shall the gathering of the people be." (4) The possessor of a prosperous do1:1ain, whose vin~-trees should be abundant, and whose pasture grounds should be fertile. 4. The blessing on Zebulun. With allusion to the import of his name, Jacob prophesies that Leah's sixth son should be the ancestor of a flourishing community devoted to commercial pursuits, with a territory reaching towards the sea-coast, where ships should come to load nnd unload their cargoes of merchandise. 5. The blessing on Issac/tar. The last men- tioned son of Leah, though the fift~ in the_ order of birth, the patriarc~ predicts sho1;1ld develop into a powerful and sagacious tnbCl, capable of great exertion nnd warhko achievements but addicted to pastoral pursuits, and so fond of luxuriant repose, that for the sake ~f resting among his sheepfolds and in his fnt meaclows he shonlcl be willing to fulfil the mute anticipation of his name, and render tribute to his more heroic brethren. II. THE SONS OF TIIE CONCUDINEB, 1. The blessuig on Dan. Dan was the firstborn en. XLIX. 1--33.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 531