Message Notes

25 February 2014

Text: Genesis 49:1-15
PROPHETIC STATEMENTS OF JACOB CONCERNING HIS SONS

(The first 6 sons)

A. Jacob summons all his sons together

1. Gathering of the sons (Genesis 49:1-2)

2. Admonition to hear him as their father (Genesis 49:2)

B. Prophetic Statements about the children

1. Reuben (Genesis 49:3-4)

a) Identified as firstborn (Genesis 49:3a)

b) Might and the beginning of strength (Genesis 49:3b)

c) Excellency of dignity and excellence of power (Genesis 49:3c)

d) Unstable as water (Genesis 49:4a)

e) You shall not excel (Genesis 49:4b)

f) Because he defiled his father’s bed (Genesis 35:22; Bilhah was Rachel’s maid)

2. and 3. Simeon and Levi (Genesis 49:5-7)

a) Instruments of cruelty (Genesis 49:5)

b) Let not my soul enter their council (Genesis 49:6a)

c) Let not my honour be united to their assembly (Genesis 49:6b)

d) In their anger they slew a man (Genesis 49:6c)

e) In their self-will they hamstrung an ox (Genesis 49:6d)

f) Cursed be their anger and wrath; fierce and cruel were their expressions (Genesis 49:7a)

g) They will be divided and scattered in Israel (Genesis 49:7b)

4. Judah (Genesis 49:8-12)

a) His brothers will praise him (Genesis 49:8a)

b) His hand will be on the neck of his enemies (Genesis 49:8b)

c) His brothers will bow to him (Genesis 49:8c)

d) Judah is a young lion (Genesis 49:9)

e) The sceptre will not depart from him (Genesis 49:10a)

f) The lawgiver will come from him (Genesis 49:10b)

g) Until Shiloh comes (“To whom it belongs”) (Genesis 49:10c)
(Reference to the Messiah)

h) To Him shall be the obedience of the people (Genesis 49:10d)

i) He will wage war (Genesis 49:11)

j) Garments/clothes in the blood of grapes (Genesis 49:11)

k) His eyes darker than wine (Genesis 49:12a)
Vitality

l) His teeth whiter than milk
Healthy

5. Zebulun (Genesis 49:13)

a) He will dwell by the haven of the sea (Genesis 49:13a)

b) He will be a safe haven for ships (Genesis 49:13b)

c) He will situate himself next to Sidon (Genesis 49:13c)

6. Issachar (Genesis 49:14)

a) A strong donkey bearing heavy burdens (Genesis 49:14)

b) Became a band of slaves (Genesis 49:15)