Genesis 47:28-49:33

Chapter 47

1. Why did Jacob tell Joseph to put his hand under his thigh?
--Cultural Equal to our handshake, a sign of seriousness
2. Why do you think it was so important, to Jacob, to be buried with his fathers?


Chapter 48

1. Why did Jacob tell Joseph about God’s promises?
--Pass on the legacy of the promise
2. Why did Jacob adopt Ephraim & Manasseh?
--It was his way of giving Joseph a double portion
3. Why did Jacob bless Ephraim as if he was the older son?
--He seems to have been led by the Spirit to do this. This further illustrates God's pattern of taking the foolish things of this world and using them in mighty ways.
4. What does the blessing tell us about Jacob’s faith?
--God was no HIS God, not just the God of his father's. See Hebrews 8:21

Chapter 49

Tribe----------Verse-------Life Action--------------Result
Reuben --------3-4 ------- Defiled father’s bed----- Will not excel
Simeon-------- 5-7 -------- Killed men in anger---- Will be scattered
Levi----------- 5-7 -------- Killed men in anger ----Will be scattered
Judah--------- 8-12 -------+Was leader of 12 ------Will be praised
Zebulun 13
Isaachar 14-15
Dan 16-18
Gad 19
Asher 20
Naphtali 21
Joseph -------22-26 ------+Overcame Attacks ----Will be blessed
Benjamin 27

What we now know about the tribal history...

Simeon…
2nd Census they were smallest (Numbers)
Moses didn’t even mention them (Deut. 33)
Joshua 19:1-9 says people of Simeon got a few cities in Judah

Levi…
Moses and Aaron were from the tribe of Levi
The Levites were eventually given 48 cities…scattered, dispersed
Joshua 21

Judah…
Revelation 9:5
Ezekiel 21:26-27
Zedekiah last King, but they remained with some authority until Herod

until Shiloh come--Shiloh--this obscure word is variously interpreted to mean "the sent" (John 17:3), "the seed" (Isaiah 11:1), the "peaceable or prosperous one" (Ephesians 2:14)--that is, the Messiah (Isaiah 11:10, Romans 15:12); and when He should come, "the tribe of Judah should no longer boast either an independent king or a judge of their own" [CALVIN]. The Jews have been for eighteen centuries without a ruler and without a judge since Shiloh came, and "to Him the gathering of the people has been."

Dan…
Judge, Samson
Rev. 7:5-8 Dan is omitted. Some in history think antichrist from Dan

Joseph…
Shows his international influence
Shows the hatred of his brothers
Shows his overcoming nature

1 Chronicles 5:1-2
Jacob is giving Joseph the physical birthright, a double portion
Joseph was now receiving 2 portions of the inheritance
Judah, however, received the spiritual birthright