12 SONS (GEN. 49)
1) A television producer could use Gen. 49 for a new program—My 12 Sons.
2)
Jacob had lived in
3) He gathered his family members around him and said some important things.
4) Some of what he said can be described as prophecy.
5) Certain things would happen to his sons and their descendents.
6) Other statements in this chapter appear to be based upon his observations.
7) It has been estimated that Jacob’s youngest son was about 50 years old.
8) The outline of this chapter is pretty simple.
a)
The first six sons are Reuben, Simeon,
b) All of these children were brought into the world by Leah.
c) The next four sons (Dan, Gad, Asher, and Naphtali) came through Bilhah and Zilpah.
d) These ladies had been the handmaids of Jacob’s wives (Leah and Rachel).
9) The last two sons in this chapter are Joseph and Benjamin. Their mother was Rachel.
10) When Jacob described his sons several symbols were used.
a)
Dan as a serpent (verse 17); Naphtali as a deer (verse 21); and Benjamin as a
wolf (verse 27).
11) Reuben is described in verses 3-4.
a) Reuben was the firstborn. Jacob may have had high hopes for him.
b) Because this son did not control his passions he got into trouble.
c) This man was so filled with lust it was he was like a mountain stream that gushed water.
d) The word translated “uncontrolled” means “wild, reckless.”
e) Because this man could not control himself he lost the preeminence.
f) He did not maintain the rights of the first-born.
g)
Even in the history of this tribe the Reubenites were
never the leaders of
h)
When help was needed during the days of the Judges
(Judg.
i) This son was not a great credit to his family because he lacked self control.
12) The next two sons who are listed are Simeon and Levi. These men were very similar.
a) Together these two brothers massacred the Shechemites.
b) When their sister Dinah became involved with a young man they got angry.
c) These two brothers killed the men who lived in Shechem.
d) This violence caused Jacob to fear for his safety.
e) What these two brothers did went beyond getting justice.
f) These two sons were filled with the kind of anger that is related to cruelty.
g) Because these brothers had reacted too strongly they and their descendants didn’t do too well.
h)
Simeon’s family was absorbed into the tribe of
i)
The descendents of Levi (Levites) were scattered throughout
j)
They did not exist a tribe in
the sense that they had an inheritance in the
k) The actions of these brothers had far reaching consequences.
l) Even now the choices people make can have create lasting repercussions.
13) In verses 8-12 we come to the next son, Judah.
a)
The name “
b)
The thought was, “
c)
d) This was the tribe of royalty and kings came from this tribe.
e)
Also, this tribe would be the one from which “
f)
The word “
g) Part of the difficulty in understanding this term is that it is only found here in scripture.
h)
Whatever the meaning,
i) This promise shows that God was beginning to become more specific about the Messiah.
i) In Gen. 3:15 God promised that through a woman would come a special person.
ii) Because the saviour would come through a woman He would be a human being.
iii) He would not be an angel or some type of spaceman as alleged by some.
iv) The one who was promised would come and crush the devil’s head.
v) As some time passed this promise became more specific.
vi) The same promise was made to Shem, one of Noah’s sons.
vii) Noah had three sons.
viii) When Shem was specified 2/3rds of the world’s population was set aside.
ix) God showed that the Saviour would not be form Japheth.
x) This meant that He would not be an Arian or an Anglo-Saxon.
xi) The Messiah would not be from the line of Ham.
xii)
Thus, the Egyptians and Africans were excluded. The Messiah would come through
Shem.
xiii) Time passed and the promise concerning the Messiah was made to Abraham.
xiv) When the promise was passed on to Isaac the scope became even narrower.
xv) When Isaac was named the Arabs were excluded from bringing the Messiah into the world.
xvi) The promise was then passed to Jacob instead of Esau.
xvii) This showed that the Christ would not be an Edomite; He would be an Israelite.
xviii) Now in Gen. 49 the promise is narrowed down even more.
xix)
He would be an Israelite from the tribe of
xx) In 2 Sam. 7:12f we are further told the Messiah would come from David’s seed.
14) The fifth son was Zebulun, verse 13.
a) Apparently this son had been a merchant.
b) He had contact with the Sidonians and the Phoenicians that lived along the seashore.
c)
These seashore dwelling people sailed the
d) Members of his tribe continued to trade and do well.
e) This was an unusual way of life for the Hebrews but it was not wrong.
15) After Zebulun some things were said to Issachar (verses 14-15).
a) This son was described as a donkey—a working donkey.
b) This man had become a servant.
c) He was strong, capable, and he decided to help others.
d) One day this son found a place where he could take it easy. He became complacent.
e) This led to his descendents becoming servants.
f) In the Old Testament this tribe doesn’t stand out.
g) For all practical purposes, just like slaves, the tribe of Zebulun existed.
16) Another name most of us are familiar with is Dan, verses 16-17.
a) Dan would be a judge.
b) Apparently he was intelligent, analytical, and quite capable.
c) Many of Dan’s descendents had similar abilities.
d) Some of the greatest judges came from the tribe of Dan.
e) One well known and very capable judge from this tribe was Samson.
f) Good analytical skills and judging can cause people to be critical.
g) This is the trip that Dan fell into. He was a destructive judge.
h) He was like a snake that bites the heels of a horse so the rider is thrown off.
i) We have no specific information about this but this was dad’s conclusion.
j) This fact should remind us that with every positive quality there is a negative quality.
i) Someone who is patient is probably a procrastinator.
ii) Someone who can make decision quickly is likely impulsive.
17) Tthe next son (Gad) is described in verse 19).
a)
Gad’s descendents lived on the east side of the
b)
Any time
i) Thus, these people were often involved in military conflict.
ii) During conflict and war there are winners and losers.
iii) Gad would be a winner – “He shall raid at their heels.”
iv) The descendents of Gad would be successful.
v) Some seem to always be in a state of conflict and this would be true for this tribe.
c) Towards the end of the list in Gen. 49 we read about Asher (verse 20).
i) Asher and his future family members would get to enjoy the good life.
ii) He would have wealth and affluence.
iii) Moses described Asher as having his foot dipped in oil (Deut. 33:24)
iv) Kings received their food from this tribe.
v) Jacob said he would “yield royal dainties.”
18) The next son is pictured in verse 21 (Naphtali).
a) Here is a son we would like to know more about.
b) Since he gave “beautiful words” he must have been artistic.
c) Some artists have an eccentric streak in them and that may have been the case here.
d) Jacob added that he was like a “doe let loose”.
e) Imagine a young deer that is finally released after being penned.
f) This would seem to suggest the son was erratic, flighty, and perhaps disturbed.
19) Joseph had sons who covered a broad spectrum. His children were anything but similar.
a) Let’s quickly deal with the final two sons.
b) Joseph is described in verses 22-26.
c) This young man was blessed in every way. He was like a “fruitful bought by a spring.”
d) His prosperity was so great it was like the “branches ran over the wall.”
e) Those he had been harassed he would still succeed because God was with him.
f) Some in life seem to have every advantage and this was true of Joseph.
g) He had it all, though it came with a price.
20) The final son is Benjamin – verse 27.
a) David apparently adopts this expression in Psa. 68.
b) He wrote that Benjamin was the smallest but he was the ruler.
c) Jacob believed that Benjamin would be the winner, victor, and ruler.
d) Though this man was not the smartest, biggest, or oldest, he had a nack for winning.
e) This nack for always coming out on top is certainly reflected in the life of Paul.
f) Paul was a Benjaminte. Though he was hunted, hurt, and persecuted, he came out on top.
g) In spite of his enemies he was the winner in the end.
21) Knowing about these 12 sons is helpful in so many ways.
a) Parents can have children who fall into these categories.
b) Some children have a nack for winning; others are erratic and unsteady.
c) Some seem to be blessed in every way and always prosper.
d) Others like Asher became involved with important people or positions.
e) Some are always in conflict. Several are like Issachar – average people.
f) Others like Zebulun have unusual occupations.
g) There are also parents who have children who grow up to be angry and cruel.
22) Children come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities.
23) Gen. 49 also shows what kinds of lives come from the qualities we choose to develop.
24) We can serve God and be like Joseph.
25) Or we can be like Simeon and Levi and pay the price for sin.
26) Which of these 12 sons do we want to be like?
27) Most of us can identify with at least one of Jacob’s children.
28) Are we happy with the son that most resembles us?