Women of the Word, April 7

Genesis 49

Most of this chapter is a lengthy poem on Jacob’s deathbed blessing of his twelve sons. His description of what will happen to each one is written on scrolls by a series of scribes during the Babylonian exile to account for each tribe’s varying fortunes. As we have seen before, blessings in ancient cultures carried great weight and, once given, could not be removed or reversed.

Reuben: Although he was the first-born, he would “not excel” because he “defiled” his father’s concubine (Rachel’s maid, Bilhah). Historically, the tribe became isolated and had practically disappeared by the time of the monarchy.

Simeon and Levi: Jacob curses them for killing “men wantonly” in the slaughter of Prince Hamor’s village over the incident of their sister Dinah’s engagement to an outsider. Simeon was reduced to a handful of cities and the Levites became the priestly class who could not own land.

Judah: Judah, although fourth in line, now receives the blessing forfeited by his three older brothers. He is described as the “lion’s whelp” and is assured of the leadership of all the tribes and a fruitful territory. His blessing is lengthy because, at the time of this writing, Judah’s tribe was in ascendency. Judah, along with Benjamin, ruled the Southern Kingdom, including Jerusalem, while the other ten (Israel) comprised the Northern Kingdom.

Zebulun: This tribe’s lands touched the Phoenician coastline at Sidon and profited from its maritime traffic.

Issachar: Although a robust and hardy race, this group submitted to foreign invasion and servitude in exchange for dubious peace and prosperity.

Dan: Although the name means “to judge,” the tribe was constantly pressed by its warlike neighbors and would need to be a “viper on the road . . . so that the rider tumbles backwards.”

Gad were a tribe of nomads; Asher settled in productive land along the coast and became famous for its olive oil; and Naphtali, on the Sea of Galilee, flourished like a tree with lovely branches or, fluent with words and artistic achievement.

Joseph: Still the favorite, he is singled out as the “prince among his brethren.” Jacob bestowed on Joseph the blessings of the eternal (“the heaven above…the deep that lurks below…the everlasting pools…the bounty of the eternal hills”), and his own blessing as his successor. However, Jacob described Joseph as a “fruitful tree . . . with branches climbing over the wall,” since Joseph’s tribe will disappear into the tribes of his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

Benjamin: Unfortunately, the beloved child of Jacob’s old age, evolved into a warlike small tribe of raiders and marauders.

After Jacob finished speaking, he made a last request to his sons that, on his death, he be returned to Canaan and buried in the cave at Machpelah along with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Leah.

Submitted by Karilyn Jaap