Israel’s Prophecy concerning His Sons

49 Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves that I may tell you what will befall you (A)in the [a]days to come.

“Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob;
And (B)listen to Israel your father.

“Reuben, you are my firstborn;
My might and (C)the beginning of my strength,
[b]Preeminent in dignity and [c]preeminent in power.
[d]Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence,
(D)Because you went up to your father’s bed;
Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.

(E)Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Their swords are implements of violence.
(F)Let my soul not enter into their council;
Let not my glory be united with their assembly;
Because in their anger they slew [e]men,
And in their self-will they lamed [f]oxen.
“Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;
And their wrath, for it is cruel.
(G)I will [g]disperse them in Jacob,
And scatter them in Israel.

“Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
(H)Your father’s sons shall bow down to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 49:1 Lit end of the days
  2. Genesis 49:3 Lit preeminence
  3. Genesis 49:3 Lit preeminence
  4. Genesis 49:4 Or Boiling over; lit Recklessness
  5. Genesis 49:6 Lit a man
  6. Genesis 49:6 Lit an ox
  7. Genesis 49:7 Lit divide