Verse 19 Gad

v19 A group of guards will gather to get Gads goods (possessions)! But Gad will go back to get their goods! Verse 19 Jacob repeats the same letters often in his *prophecy about Gad. Our translation also does this (with the letters g and 'd'). This is a style of poetry. Many enemies attacked the *tribe of Gad. These enemies belonged to the nations called Ammon, Moab and Aram. The people from Gad fought them successfully.

Verse 20 Asher
v20 Asher will enjoy rich food. He will produce food for the king to eat. Verse 20 The *tribe of Asher received good land. When Solomon became the King of Israel, the *tribe of Asher provided food for the palace. Each year, they provided the food that the palace used in one month. You can read a list of the food that the *tribe provided in 1 Kings 4:22-28.

Verse 21 Naphtali
v21 I compare Naphtali to a graceful *deer (wild animal) that is free. That deer gives birth to beautiful young animals. And so, Naphtali will speak beautiful words. Verse 21 This verse seems to refer to the battle that Barak fought. Barak came from the *tribe of Naphtali (Judges 4:6). And the beautiful words may refer to the poem in Judges chapter 5.

Verses 22-26 Joseph

v22 Joseph is like a *vine that produces plentiful fruit. That vine grows near to the water. It is in a garden and its branches grow over the wall. v23 Josephs enemies were angry. They hated him. They shot their arrows at him. v24 But Joseph held his bow firmly. His arms were strong because God supported him. God is Jacobs strong helper. God looks after his people as a *shepherd looks after sheep. God is Israels security. v25 And, Joseph, your fathers God will help you. God is your provider and he will *bless you. So, God will give you *blessings from *heaven above. And God will give you *blessings from the deepest places below.

He will give *blessings to your children. And he will give *blessings to the mothers in your *tribe. v26 Joseph, these *blessings are greater than the *blessings that my father and grandfather gave to their sons. These *blessings are great, like the greatness of the ancient hills. And I give all these *blessings to Joseph. They shall be like a crown for his head. He is the prince among his brothers. Verse 22 This verse is like Psalm 1:2-3. These are descriptions of a *righteous person. Such a person does whatever God wants that person to do. Other people might think that a *righteous person is foolish. But the Bible teaches that only *righteous people are really successful. And *righteous people are successful whether they are rich or poor. Joseph was a *righteous man. And so, Josephs life did not just benefit Joseph himself. In fact, God *blessed *Pharaoh because of Joseph. God saved the lives of the *Egyptians during the *famine because of Joseph. And God helped Josephs own family, because of Joseph. Verses 23-24 Joseph had many troubles during his life. But God protected Joseph. And God made Joseph able to overcome his (Josephs) problems. Jacob described Josephs problems as if Joseph was a soldier in a battle. Joseph was not actually a soldier. This is just a description. Verses 25-26 Joseph received a special *blessing because he had the *birthright. Jacob said that God would give many good things to Joseph. God had been very kind to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But the good things that God would give his people had not ended. In fact, the opposite was true. God would do even greater things for Josephs *descendants. The son who had the *birthright used to receive a double share of his fathers possessions. The *descendants of each son of Jacob became a *tribe. But Josephs *descendants became two *tribes: Ephraim and Manasseh. And they were both large *tribes.

Verse 27 Benjamin
v27 Benjamin is like a greedy *wolf. In the morning, the *wolf eats whatever it has hunted. In the evening, the *wolf tears apart the animals that it has taken. Verse 27 People from the *tribe of Benjamin would have a tendency to fight. In Judges chapter 20, this attitude caused a terrible war between the *tribe of Benjamin and the other *tribes. The *tribe of Benjamin refused to hand over criminals for punishment. Instead, the *tribe of Benjamin decided to fight. The men from the *tribe of Benjamin were brave soldiers. But they still lost the battle. Nearly everyone from the *tribe of Benjamin died. Only 600 men from the *tribe of Benjamin escaped. Many years afterwards, the first king of Israel, called Saul, came from the *tribe of Benjamin. Saul became a cruel king. Paul too belonged to the *tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5). Paul had this tendency too, but he used it in a good way. He was brave. And he was not afraid to suffer (2 Corinthians 11:23-29).

Verses 28-33 Jacobs final orders

v28 All those are Israels 12 *tribes. That is what their father said to them. He said it when he *blessed them. He *blessed each son with the *blessing that was right for that son. v29 Then Israel gave these orders to his sons. He said, God will soon gather me to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave. It is in the field of Ephron the *Hittite. v30 That cave is in the field at Machpelah. It is east from Mamre, in the country called Canaan. Abraham bought the field from Ephron the *Hittite. So then Abraham had a place to bury people. v31 There people buried Abraham and his wife Sarah. There they buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah. I buried Leah there. v32 Abraham bought that field and he bought the cave in it. He bought them from Heths family. v33 Jacob (Israel) gave those orders to his sons. When he had finished, he pulled his feet up onto the bed. He breathed his last breath and he died. Verse 28 This is the first time in Genesis when the writer writes about Israels 12 *tribes. Verse 29 Jacob told his sons that he was dying. He said, God will soon gather me to my people. Maybe he used these words to show that there is life after death. We do not know whether he did. Jacob may have meant only that his body would be with his dead relatives (verses 30-32). Jacob insisted that his sons should bury him in Canaan. Canaan was the country that God had promised to them. The sons needed to remember that. Their *descendants would not always remain in Egypt.