Génesis 49:2-12

2 Juntaos y oíd, hijos de Jacob; y escuchad a vuestro padre Israel.

3 Rubén, tú eres mi primogénito, mi fortaleza, y el principio de mi vigor; principal en dignidad, principal en fortaleza.

4 Corriente como las aguas, no seas el principal; por cuanto subiste al lecho de tu padre; entonces te envileciste, subiendo a mi estrado.

5 Simeón y Leví, hermanos: armas de iniquidad sus armas.

6 En su secreto no entre mi alma, ni mi honra se junte en su compañía; que en su furor mataron varón, y en su voluntad arrancaron muro.

7 Maldito su furor, que es fuerte; y su ira, que es dura; yo los apartaré en Jacob, y los esparciré en Israel.

8 Judá, te alabarán tus hermanos: tu mano en la cerviz de tus enemigos; los hijos de tu padre se inclinarán a ti.

9 Cachorro de león Judá: de la presa subiste, hijo mío; se encorvó, se echó como león, Así como león viejo , ¿quién lo despertará?

10 No será quitado el cetro de Judá, y el legislador de entre sus pies, hasta que venga SILOH; y a él se congregarán los pueblos.

11 Atando a la vid su pollino, y a la cepa el hijo de su asna, lavó en el vino su vestido, y en la sangre de uvas su cobertura:

12 Los ojos bermejos del vino, los dientes blancos de la leche.

Génesis 49:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 49

This chapter contains a prophecy of future things, relating to the twelve sons of Jacob, and to the twelve tribes, as descending from them, and which he delivered to his sons on his death bed, having called them together for that purpose, Ge 49:1,2, he begins with Reuben his firstborn, whose incest he takes notice of, on which account he should not excel, Ge 49:3,4, next Simeon and Levi have a curse denounced on them for their cruelty at Shechem, Ge 49:5,6, but Judah is praised, and good things prophesied of him; and particularly that Shiloh, or the Messiah, should spring from him, the time of whose coming is pointed at, Ge 49:7-12, the predictions concerning Zebulun, Issachar, and Dan, follow, at the close of which Jacob expresses his longing expectation of God's salvation, Ge 49:13-18 and after foretelling what should befall Gad, Asher, and Naphtali, Ge 49:19-21, a large account is given of Joseph, his troubles, his trials, and his blessings, Ge 49:22-26, and Benjamin the youngest son is taken notice of last of all, all the tribes being blessed in their order according to the nature of their blessing, Ge 49:27,28, and the chapter is closed with a charge of Jacob's to his sons to bury him in Canaan, which having delivered, he died, Ge 49:29-33.