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Torah Portion: Vayechi meaning “and he lived” (Genesis 47:28 - 50:26) Key Text:
Topic: Jacobs’ blessings Genesis 50:19-20
Sabbath School

Introduction: The last reading from the book of Genesis is named Vayechi,
which means "and he lived." The title comes from the first verse of the
reading, which says, "Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years"
(Genesis 47:28). In this Torah portion, Jacob prepares for his death by
securing a double portion of inheritance for Joseph and then blessing each
of his sons with prophetic blessings. The book of Genesis ends with the death
of Jacob, followed shortly by the death of Joseph and a promise of
redemption from Egypt.

When Joseph hears that Jacob is dying, he takes his sons Manasseh and Ephraim and visits
his father. Jacob gathers his strength to sit up in bed and tells Joseph about God’s promise to
make him fruitful. This means that the promise applies to Ephraim and Manasseh, too. When
Joseph brings his sons near for Jacob’s blessing, he puts Ephraim near Jacob’s left and
Manasseh near his right. However, Jacob places his right hand on Ephraim’s head (the
younger brother), and his left hand on Manasseh’s head (the firstborn). When Joseph tries to
switch the blessing, Jacob patiently refuses, explaining that the younger brother, Ephraim,
will become greater. He gives the boys his blessing—the blessing of the God of his fathers
Abraham and Isaac.

Then Jacob offers his last words to his sons, telling each of them what will happen to them.
Reuben, his firstborn, is the strongest of his sons, but unstable; he will no longer excel his
brothers, because he defiled his father’s bed. Simeon and Levi are cursed for their fierce
anger; they will be scattered in Israel.

Judah receives an especially long blessing; his father’s sons will praise and bow before him.
Jacob describes him as a lion, and a ruler who will bear a scepter.

Zebulun will settle on the seashore; Issachar will become a forced laborer. Dan will be a
judge, likened to a snake. Gad will be raided, but will later raid others. Asher will enjoy rich
food, and Naphtali will be a doe with beautiful fawns.

Joseph also receives a long blessing—he will be fruitful, made strong by “the Mighty One of
Jacob,” his father’s God who will give him all blessings. Benjamin, finally, will be a
devouring wolf.

Jacob commands his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah, where Abraham, Sarah,
Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah are buried. Then Jacob breathes his last.

Weeping, Joseph kisses his father’s face. He orders the physicians to embalm Jacob, which
takes 40 days, and the Egyptians mourn him for 70 days. Then Pharaoh gives Joseph
permission to carry his father’s body back to Canaan. Pharaoh’s servants and household
elders, as well as his brothers’ households minus the children, all journey with him—a vast
company. They all take Jacob’s body to the cave at Machpelah, as he had commanded.

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Torah Portion: Vayechi meaning “and he lived” (Genesis 47:28 - 50:26)
Topic: Jacobs’ blessings

After Jacob dies, Joseph’s brothers fear that he will bear a grudge against them and avenge
himself. So they ask Joseph for forgiveness, explaining that this was their father’s dying
wish; they all weep together, and the brothers offer themselves as Joseph’s slaves. But Joseph
tells them not to be afraid, explaining that although they’d intended him harm, God meant it
for good, so that God’s people would be preserved.

Joseph lives for 110 years, seeing several generations of offspring. Before he dies, he tells his
brothers that God will surely bring them up from this land to the land he’d promised to
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He makes the Israelites swear to carry his bones to Canaan “when
God comes to you.” Then Joseph dies; he is embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

DISCUSSION

1. In Gen 48:17-22, Jacob blesses Joseph’s younger son to be greater than the
older, dos this scenario remind you of any other story? How so?
2. In Gen 50:15-21, Joseph’s brothers feared that he would harm them. Do you
think he would have harmed them if they didn’t ask for forgiveness again?
3. What is your understanding of Gen 50:20?
Closing Prayer:
Father, we thank You for the example of Joseph’s example of forgiving his brother. We thank
you that what others intended for evil towards us, you turn it into good. We pray that You’ll
help all of us to have hearts that are pure and keep the attitudes that you want us to have. We
also pray that You’ll help us to forgive other people when they do wrong things to us. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.

ACTIVITIES
A. Place the sons of Jacob (Israel) in order from the eldest to the youngest, then state the
blessing that they received. If no blessing was given, put “none” and explain. (Use Gen
29:31-30:23 & Gen 49)

Sons/tribes of Israel Blessings

1.

2.

3.

4.

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Torah Portion: Vayechi meaning “and he lived” (Genesis 47:28 - 50:26)
Topic: Jacobs’ blessings

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

In Gen 48, Jacob blesses the sons of Joseph and “adopted” them as his own. Who were they and
what were their blessing.
1.

2.

Hint: Jacobs’ sons were - Issachar, Gad, Simeon, Dan, Asher, Levi, Zebulun, Reuben,
Joseph, Judah, Benjamin and Naphtali

B. True or false
1. Joseph had two sons, Manassepah and Ephraim. (Gen 48:1) _____________________

2. Jacob lived for 147 years. (Gen 47:28-31) _____________________

3. Jacob asked his eldest son Reuben to not bury him in Eqypt. (Gen _____________________
47:28-31)
4. Jacob considered Joseph’s sons as his own sons. (Gen 48:1-5) _____________________

5. Jacob buried his beloved wife Rachel in Ephrath, Jordan. (Gen 48:7) _____________________

6. Ephraim was not Joseph’s youngest son. (Gen 48:14) _____________________

7. Jocob blessed Joseph’s younger son to be greater than the older son. _____________________
(Gen 48:17-20)
8. Jacob requested to be buried in the cave in the field at Machpelah, _____________________
east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan. (Gen 49:30-33)
9. Upon Jacob’s death, the Eqyptian embalmed him and wept for forty _____________________

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 Torah Portion: Vayechi meaning “and he lived” (Genesis 47:28 - 50:26)
Topic: Jacobs’ blessings

day. (Gen 50:1-3)

10. After Jacob’s death, Joseph’s brothers feared that he would hate them _____________________
because of what they did to him. (Gen 50:15-21)
11. Joseph lived for 1110 years. (Gen 50:22-26) _____________________

12. Joseph requested that his bones be taken to the promised land. (Gen _____________________
50:22-26)

C.
INSTRUCTIONS
First find all the words in the list.
Words can go in any direction and
share letters as well as cross over each
other.
Once you find all the words. Copy the
unused letters starting in the top left
corner into the blanks to reveal the
hidden message.

and Asher Benjami

n
blessings Dan Ephraim
Gad Israel Issachar
Joseph Judah Levi
Manasseh Naphtali Reuben
Simeon Zebulun

Once you find all the words. Copy the unused letters starting in the top left corner into the blanks to reveal the
hidden message.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ,
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.