All these are the twelve tribes of Israel
The twelve sons of Jacob before mentioned were heads of twelve
tribes, who were afterwards seated, and had their part in the
land of Canaan; there were indeed thirteen tribes, two springing
from Joseph; but then the tribe of Levi had no part in the land
of Canaan, which was divided into twelve parts; this shows that
the above predictions respect not the persons of the patriarchs,
but their tribes:
and this [is it] that their father spake unto them, and
blessed them:
the above is the sum and substance of what he had delivered in
his patriarchal benediction of them, a little before his death;
and though some of them, as Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, may seem
rather to be cursed than blessed, yet the greater part of them
were clearly and manifestly blessed; and what he said by way of
correction and rebuke to the others, might be blessed to them for
their good; nor is it improbable, that after he had delivered out
the above predictions, he might wish for and implore a blessing
on them all; and certain it is, that they all had a part in the
blessing of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as it related to the land
of Canaan:
everyone according to his blessing he blessed
them;
according to the blessing which was appointed to them of God, and
was in later times bestowed on them, Jacob under a spirit of
prophecy was directed to bless them with, or to foretell what
blessings should come upon them, and which accordingly did.