Jacob calls his sons together to give them his final words to them. He frames this less as a blessing, and more as prophecy, “That I may tell you what will happen to you.”
Jacob start his prophecy with the oldest Ruben. It starts positively, calling him the first fruit of his strength, preeminent in dignity and power, but ultimately unstable as water. Ruben went to his father’s bed, ie. he slept with Bilhah, the mother of his half-brothers. (This was when Ruben was mad at his Dad naming the youngest son Benjamin his right hand.) Ultimately, Ruben will not have preeminence. Again, an elder son’s jealousy is a driving motivation for sin just like with Cain and Abel, voiding an eldest son’s natural leadership role.
Simeon and Levi are called out for their violence with a sword. Apparently they killed men and hamstrung some oxen. Jacob curses their anger and cruelty and says that they will be scattered.
Judah is called a lion, and a leader of his brothers. The scepter will not part until tribute, or Shiloh, meaning peace, comes. Jacob starts describing a person with a donkey’s colt tied to a vine, clothes washed in wine. This can be symbolic of royalty, dressed in purple, or blood. Fast forward, these images and descriptions occur in the story of king David and later Jesus, both in the lineage of Judah.
Zebulun is to be a haven for ships at the sea shore. Issachar is like a strong donkey, forced to serve. Dan will judge his people and be like snake biting heels. Israel says awaits for the Lord’s salvation. It’s almost as if he is receiving the prophecy while he is saying it, and then reacting to it.
Gad will be raided and will raid back. Asher’s food will be rich with delicacies. Naphtali is a doe with beautiful fawns. Joseph is a tree by a stream, spilling fruit over a wall. Archers attacked him, yet his “arms were made agile” by the holy one.
Instead of attributing Joseph’s struggles to a simple falling out between brothers, his journey is described as more like a epic battle between good and evil. God is referenced as the Shepherd and the Stone of Israel.
Joseph’s blessings include what crouches beneath, and blessings of the breast and womb: fertility, growth and abundance. He also receives bounties of his parents and everlasting hills and mountains.
Finally, Jacob prophesies over his youngest son. Benjamin will be like a ravenous wolf. Devouring prey and dividing the as spoils. Okay.
Why would Israel say all this to his sons when they can just wait to see how things play out? Time. There will be gaps in when some of these prophecies come true of hundreds even thousands of years in the future. These words are going to carry the Israelites through periods of doubt and hardship. Prophecy helps people recognize the hand of God in their lives.
