Introduction
Jacob blesses his sons.
Questions
1. Why does Jacob say that Reuben won't excel?
v 4 ... you shall not excel;
because you went up to your father’s bed,
then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
(see Genesis 35 v 22)
2. Which of Jacob’s sons was blessed with the promise of being like a lion and ruling over his brothers?
v 8 and 9 ... Your father’s sons will bow down before you. Judah is a lion’s cub. ...
3. Who did Jacob want to be buried with in the cave in the field of Machpelah?
v 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah:
Summary Points
- v 1 Jacob, now a very old man, calls his family together
- v 2 to 27 Jacob comments on each of his sons and what will happen to their tribes in days to come. The information page Jacob's blessings on his sons gives a possible explanation of Jacob's comments
- v 28 to 33 Jacob dies after instructing his sons to bury him with Abraham and Isaac in Canaan in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah