Lesson date: 12/115858AA
Verse 1-2 – “called” = H7121 – קָרָא – qârâ’ – kaw-raw’ – A primitive root (rather identical with H7122 through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (that is, properly address by name,
“befall” – H7122 – קָרָא – qârâ’ – kaw-raw’ – A primitive root; to encounter, whether accidentally or in a hostile manner: – befall, (by) chance, (cause to) come (upon), fall out, happen, meet.
“Last days” – H319 – אַחֲרִית – ‘achărı̂yth – akh-ar-eeth’ – From H310; the last or end, hence the future; also posterity: – (last, latter) end (time), hinder (utter) -most, length, posterity, remnant, residue, reward.
In other words Yisra’el is giving his sons a prophecy for our time. Think about that as we go through the descriptions of each of the sons that this was a description so as to be able to recognize his sons.
Verse 3 – Re’uben – 1- רְאוּבֵן – Strong’s H7205 – ‘behold a son’ (1st son of Lĕ’ah). Re’uben had great strength and potential but because of his emotion he was unfit to lead his brothers. What he did, he did in anger. By defile Bilhah he hoped that his father would not sleep with her again and instead would favor Leah, Re’uben’s mother.(Ber. 35:22)
Ya’aqob notes his power and strength but “boiling like water” his lack of self control. The word used for “boiling” does not mean boiling like at 212F degrees. A better translation would be “roiling” or frothy like the foam that is on a wave of water in the ocean or at the bottom of a waterfall. It literally means unstable.
Notice: at no time rior to this are we told that Y’aqob took any action to address Re’uben’s sin. He waited until his death bed to address it. So he kindled his wrath: Eph 4:26 “Be wroth, but do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down on your rage,
Verses 5-7 – (2) Shim’on and (3) Levi – (2nd and 3rd sons of Leah)
Shim’on – H8095 – heard
Levi – H3878 – joined to
Remember, it was in Ber. 34:25 that Shim’on and Levi killed all the men of Shekem because Hamor defiling their sister, Dinah. In verse 7 we see Ya’aqob use both names of Ya’aqob and Yisra’el in his division of the brothers. In other words he is saying that the two should be kept apart because together they are a force to reckon with. Herein lies the reason,I believe, that Levi did not have an inheritance among Yisra’el but was scattered throughout the tribes of Yisra’el.
Ya’aqob is not saying that their passion for war is bad but that they should not be allowed to unite together, because together they have a blood lust. Note too, that when their was sin in the camp it was the tribe of Levi that took out their swords and killed their brothers to eradicate the sin.(Shem. 32:26-28)
Verses 8-12 – (4) – Yehudah – H3063 – praised (4th son of Leah). The name Yehudah comes for “yadah” – H3034 – to praise or a public profession; which in turn comes for “yad”- H3027 – hand (it comes with the idea of extending or raising the hand in praise) 1Ti 2:8 So I resolve that the men pray everywhere, lifting up hands that are set-apart, without wrath and disputing.
The idea of the “hand” is under appreciated in our day and age. It is a part of the “MARK” of our covenant with YHVH: Exo_13:16 “And it shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand יהוה brought us out of Mitsrayim.”
Deu_6:8 and shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
Deu_11:18 ‘And you shall lay up these Words1 of Mine in your heart and in your being, and shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
Is your hand doing Yah’s will? Is your mind thinking on Yah’s WORD? Jos_1:8 “Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you guard to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and act wisely.
Psa_63:6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
Psa_119:48 That I might lift up my hands to Your commands, Which I have loved; While I meditate on Your laws.
“A lion’s cub” pointing to the coming Messiah: Rev_5:5 And one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Yehuḏah, the Root of Dawiḏ, overcame to open the scroll and to loosen its seven seals.”
I think it is at this point that Ya’aqob realizes that Yehudah has changed as a man; “you have gone up”. Yisra’el is using the attributes of the lion to describe Yehudah. Bowing down in service(to a Master) or in rest but in doing so goes into the position that the lion uses to pounce on it’s prey or enemy.
H7626 – שׁבט – shêbeṭ – BDB Definition: 1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe: Num 24:17 “I see Him, but not now; I observe Him, but not near. A Star shall come out of Yaʽaqoḇ, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Yisra’ĕl, and shall smite the corners of Mo’aḇ, and shall destroy all the sons of Shĕth.
Heb_1:8 But to the Son He says, “Your throne, O Elohim, is forever and ever, a sceptre of straightness is the sceptre of Your reign.
H7886 – שׁילה – shı̂ylôh – BDB Definition: 1) he whose it is, that which belongs to him, tranquillity, or the epithet of the Messiah. Shiloh was a city whose name meant “a place of rest” and here is what the Scripture says about Yeshua: Heb 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering into His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
Heb 4:2 For indeed the Good News was brought to us as well as to them, but the word which they heard did not profit them, not having been mixed with belief in those who heard it.
Heb 4:3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, if they shall enter into My rest…” And yet His works have come into being from the foundation of the world.
Heb 4:4 For somewhere He has said thus about the seventh day, “And Elohim rested on the seventh day from all His works,”
Heb 4:5 and in this again, “If they shall enter into My rest…”
Heb 4:8 For if Yehoshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.
Heb 4:9 So there remains a Sabbath-keeping for the people of Elohim.
Heb 4:10 For the one, having entered into His rest, has himself also rested from his works, as Elohim rested from His own.
Heb 4:11 Let us therefore do our utmost to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.
Next we see “the obedience of peoples” but, were the people obedient to Him?
Donkey number 1 – H5895 – עיר – ‛ayir – BDB Definition: 1) he-ass, male ass
Donkey number 2 – H860 – אתון – ‘âthôn – BDB Definition: 1) she-ass, she-donkey. Remember when we discussed Bila’m of Beor and how in the tale the donkey represented Torah. Once again we see an allusion to this fact, ‘athon comes from ‘eythan: H386 – איתן – ‘êythân – BDB Definition:1) perpetual, constant, perennial, ever-flowing
Isa 40:8 “Grass shall wither, the flower shall fade, but the Word of our Elohim stands forever.”
Mat 5:18 “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.
Mat 24:35 “The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but My words shall by no means pass away.
1Pe 1:24 because “All flesh is as grass, and all the esteem of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away,
1Pe 1:25 but the Word of Elohim remains forever.” And this is the Word, announced as Good News to you.
We have the idea of the donkey constantly plodding away in the path, a constant gait, never turning aside. Deu_17:11 “Do according to the Torah in which they teach you, according to the right-ruling which they say to you. You do not turn to the right or to the left from the word which they declare to you.
Deu_17:20 so that his heart is not lifted up above his brothers, and so as not to turn aside from the command, right or left, so that he prolongs his days in his reign, he and his children, in the midst of Yisra’ĕl.
Deu_28:14 “And do not turn aside from any of the Words which I am commanding you today, right or left, to go after other mighty ones to serve them.
Is it possible that this is also a reference to Matt. 21:1-6; Mark 11:1-8; Luke 19:30-35; John 12:14-15?
Zec_9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Tsiyon! Shout, O daughter of Yerushalayim! See, your Sovereign is coming to you, He is righteous and endowed with deliverance, humble and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.
H8321 – שׂרקה / שׂורק / שׂרק – śôrêq / śôrêqâh – BDB Definition:1) choice species of vine, choice grapes
Joh 15:1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener.
Isa 5:2 And He dug it up and cleared it of stones, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a watchtower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it. And He waited for the yielding of grapes, but it yielded rotten ones.
Jer 2:21 “Yet I had planted you a choice vine, all of it a true seed. How then have you turned before Me into the degenerate plant of a strange vine?
When you use the Septuagint you will see the same word in Greek being used G228 – aleithinos – true in all the Scriptures. There is a mistake in the ABP+ in Ber. 49:11 in the definition. It gives a cognate word G1666 – Elissaios(which is the name of an Israelite) instead of aleithinos.
“Washed his garments in wine” produces a purple-like stain and the blood of grapes (not wine) would produce a reddish stain. Rev_7:14 And I said to him, “Master, you know.” And he said to me, “These are those coming out of the great distress, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Verse 12 – This is referring to the blessings of Yehudah in that it is saying he will have an abundance of vineyards and cattle. This is not a mistranslation but rather an analogy.
Verse 13 – (5) Zebulun – exalted – (10th born and Leah’s 6th son). What does “dwells at the seacoast” and “a haven for ships mean”? Zebulun’s entire inheritance is landlocked. (See map on page 1250; Josh. 19:10-16) What else do we know about Zebulun? Deu 33:18 And of Zeḇulun he said, “Rejoice, O Zeḇulun, in your going out, and Yissasḵar in your tents!
Notice how Zebulun is followed by Yissasḵar in both Scriptures. Why is this unusual? Dwells at the seashore may represent a leisurely lifestyle and ships may represent commerce or richness. (Even in prophecy Yissakar and Zebulun are linked together, Eze 48:26 “And by the border of Yissasḵar, from the east side to the west side, Zeḇulun: one.)
Verse 14-15 – (6) Yissakar – “there is recompense” (9th born and Leah’s 5th son). We see that the birth sequence is reversed for these two brothers. Is the donkey resting from the two burdens? Perhaps it is tryng to decide which burden it should carry. Perhaps it will carry both burdens so we won’t have to: Mat_11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. The Messiah came to give us rest from our burdens. Yissasḵar had a son, Tola: Gen_46:13 And the sons of Yissasḵar: Tola, and Puwʽah, and Yoḇ, and Shimron.
Tola is an interesting name: H8439 – תּולע – tôlâ‛ – BDB Definition: Tola = “worm”. Tola is not just any worm but rather the crimson worm. This is the worm for which the red dye would be made. The worm climbs a tree and lays eggs and then literally “pukes it guts out” so that when the eggs hatch the babies will feed on what is left of the mother. In other words the worm dies so that others may live. Sound familiar? Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Messiah also has loved us, and gave Himself for us, a gift and an offering to Elohim for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
Verses 16-18 – (7) Dan – judge – (5th born – 1st son of Bilhah) One of the most famous judges in Scripture was Shimson from the tribe of Dan: Jdg 13:2 And there was a certain man from Tsorʽah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manowaḥ. And his wife was barren and had not borne.
Jdg 13:3 And a Messenger of יהוה appeared to the woman and said to her, “See now, you are barren and have not borne, but you shall conceive, and you shall bear a son.
Jdg 13:24 So the woman bore a son and called his name Shimshon. And the child grew, and יהוה blessed him.
But Dan was the first tribe to select their own priests and turn to paganism and for this reason they are not found in the list of tribes in Revelation 7 to comprise the 144,000. In this way Dan was a “serpent” and was partially responsible for the other 9 tribes to turn away from YHVH during the time of Yarob’am.
Is verse 18 relative to Dan or an outburst by Yisra’el in praise to YHVH?
Verse 19 – (8) Gad – troop – (7th born – 1st of Zilpah) Remember, the tribe of Gad chose some of the best land on the east side of the Yarden but was faithful in their promise to aid their brethren in conquering their lands before returning to their family and livestock on the other side of the river.
Verse 20 – (9) Asher – (8th born – 2nd son of Zilpah) The inheritance of Asher was along the northern coast and was very rich farmland. The blessing is speaking of the richness and abudnance of Asher.
Verse 21 – (10) Naptali – wrestling – (6th born – 2nd son of Bilhah) This is exciting! A deer let loose – (swift feet) – Isa 52:7 How pleasant upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings good news, who proclaims deliverance, who says to Tsiyon, “Your Elohim reigns!”
Who proclaimed the Reign of Elohim? And where? Isa 9:1 But there is no gloom upon her who is distressed, as when at first He humbled the land of Zeḇulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward more heavily oppressed her, by the way of the sea, beyond the Yardĕn, in Galil of the nations.
Isa 9:2 The people who were walking in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death a light has shone.
Mat 4:13 And leaving Natsareth, He came and dwelt in Kephar Nahum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zeḇulun and Naphtali,
Mat 4:14 to fill what was spoken by Yeshayahu the prophet, saying,
Mat 4:15 “Land of Zeḇulun and land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Yardĕn, Galil of the gentiles –
Mat 4:16 the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and upon those who sat in the land and shadow of death, light arose to them.”
Mat 4:17 From that time יהושע began to proclaim and to say, “Repent, for the reign of the heavens has drawn near.”
Verses 22-26 – (11) Yoseph – he adds, he increases (11th born – first son of Rahel) Yoseph was a type and shadow of the coming Messiah. We, like Yoseph, are supposed to bear fruit for the Reign of Elohim. Yeshua’s coming broke down or ran over the wall of separation between Yisra’el and Gentile so now we can freely come to the Creator through the miracle of the Messiah.
The archers inverse 23 who shot arrows or accusations at Yeshua in an effort to kill him and they did hate Him: Psa 55:3 Because of the noise of the enemy, Because of the outcry of the wrong; For they bring down wickedness upon me, And in wrath they hate me.
What bitterly grieved the Messiah? That His chosen people were not keeping His Father’s Commands and following the teachings of men rather than Torah: Mar 7:7 And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.’
Verse 24 shows us that the arms of the Messiah were empowered, or strengthened by His Father and I feel that this is also a reference to the good shepherd Joh_10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Joh_10:14 “I am the good shepherd. And I know Mine, and Mine know Me,
and the chief cornerstone that the builders rejected: Act_4:11 “This is ‘the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
In our politically correct world we forget that having children is a direct blessing for Elohim: Exo_23:26 “None shall miscarry or be barren in your land. I shall fill the number of your days.
Deu_7:14 “Blessed are you above all peoples – there is not going to be a barren man or a barren woman among you or among your livestock.
In verse 26 we see that Yoseph receives the greatest blessing, far beyond those of his brothers.
Verse 27 – (12) Binyamin – son of the right hand – (12th born – 2nd son of Rahel) The first king of Yisra’el was for the tribe of Binyamin, Sha’ul, and did tear at the heart of the nation until David united it. Sha’ul exhibited the qualities of the wolf and it was dividing the “spoil” where Sha’ul sinned against the command of YHVH.
Verses 28-33 – This is the final act of Ya’aqob and after giving the blessings he tells his sons where he wants to be buried and then completes his discourse and then dies.
CahalTx 