His Word Today

“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.” (Genesis 49:27 (ESV)

Jacob articulated his concluding oracle to his youngest son Benjamin. It was brief but not without significance.

Jacob directly compared Benjamin to a ravenous wolf. Jacob said, “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf.”  The literal grammar in the Hebrew is “Benjamin, a wolf, is ravenous.” Notice the state of being verb “is.” This is a present and active state of being verb. More than comparing his son to a wolf by what he would do, Jacob compared Benjamin to a wolf on the basis of his character or who he was.

The word ravenous means to tear to pieces or to rend, slash and shred. Add the noun “wolf” to the equation and you have a man, and later a tribe, that would be predatory in their behavior because the man and the tribe was predatory in their nature. Not only would Benjamin become a predator but a ravenous predator.  

The predatory characteristic would be evidenced all the time. There would be no respite. Jacob said concerning Benjamin, “in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.” Whether by day or night, Benjamin and his progeny would be unrelenting in their violent nature and subsequent behavior.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “The Bible is clear that our lives are in large measure molded by the sins (and righteousness) of our forefathers. Benjamin and his offspring are a good example of this truth. Jacob blesses his youngest son in today’s passage, revealing that this tribe will be like a wolf who devours its prey and in the evening divides its spoil (Gen. 49:27). Benjamin will satisfy himself and then divvy up what is left over. In other words, there is the potential for this clan to enjoy abundant success within the family of Israel. Benjamin went on to succeed and father many godly individuals. Ehud, a Benjaminite judge, rescued Israel from Moab (Judg. 3:12–30). Jonathan hailed from the tribe of Benjamin, and, unlike his father Saul, he loved David (1 Sam. 9:1–2; 14:49; 18:1–5). Esther, who saved her people from extinction during Persian rule, and her cousin Mordecai also counted Benjamin as a forefather (Est. 2:5–7). Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, was a Benjaminite as well (Rom. 11:1).”

Dr. Sproul continues by explaining, “Though they had sinful ancestors like the rest of us, all of these persons finally chose righteousness over evil. However, the wolf imagery is also forboding, warning of potential danger ahead for Benjamin. This tribe would also be capable of producing unfaithful men. Aside from King Saul, there is the ghastly episode in the period of the judges when certain Benjaminites raped a Levite’s concubine, leading to her death. The authorities in this tribe were unwilling to punish these evil men and compounded sin when they rose to defend them (Judg. 19–21)! These men chose to follow the sin of their clan, and they suffered the inevitable results.”

All believers in Christ have ancestors, near and distant, whose characteristics are seen in their own lives, whether positive or negative. May each of us resolve to emulate and demonstrate the character of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 12:1-2).

Soli deo Gloria!  

²² “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall. ²³ The archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him, and harassed him severely, ²⁴ yet his bow remained unmoved; his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), ²⁵ by the God of your father who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that crouches beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. ²⁶ The blessings of your father are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents, up to the bounties of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.” (Genesis 49:22-26)

It should not be a surprise that Jacob’s oracle concerning his son Joseph, and his posterity, should contain an abundance of blessings. The fact is, this oracle is filled with God’s prophetic blessings upon Joseph.

To begin with, Jacob compared Joseph to a fruitful bough by a spring. In the Hebrew language, a bough referred to a young animal, a son or a grandson. It was a reference to one’s descendants (Lev. 6:11; 19:18).

Secondly, Jacob acknowledged Joseph had been the victim of personal assault. Jacob likened it to archers shooting at him, attacking him and severely harassing him. Jacob used strong words with vivid imagery.

Third, Jacob extensively emphasized the future blessings of the LORD upon the life of Joseph. Jacob said, “by the God of your father who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you” (Gen. 49:25). These are acknowledged blessings, or divine favor, from the Almighty and from heaven above.

What is the scope of this future favor from the LORD upon Joseph? These are blessings from heaven above. These are blessing of the deep. They are blessings of the breasts. They are blessings of the womb.

Dr. John Walvoord writes, “In these verses are several marvelous titles for God—the Mighty One of Jacob … the Shepherd (cf. 48:15), the Rock of Israel … your father’s God … the Almighty (šadday; cf. ’ēl šadday in 17:1)—the One who ensures blessings from the heavens above (i.e., rain for crops) from the deep … below (i.e., streams and wells for water), and from the breast and womb (i.e., abundant offspring). Jacob bestowed on Joseph the greater blessings because he was the prince among his brothers (cf. 41:41).”

Jacob concludes his oracle regarding Joseph and his posterity by uttering a concluding praise of the blessing from God. “The blessings of your father are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents, up to the bounties of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.”

May each believer in Christ view life from the perspective of God’s generous blessings. May each of us be forever grateful.  

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him, all creatures here below,

Praise Him above the Heavenly host,

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen!

Soli deo Gloria!

²² “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall. ²³ The archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him, and harassed him severely, ²⁴ yet his bow remained unmoved; his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), ²⁵ by the God of your father who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that crouches beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. ²⁶ The blessings of your father are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents, up to the bounties of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.” (Genesis 49:22-26)

It should not be a surprise that Jacob’s oracle concerning his son Joseph, and his posterity, should contain an abundance of blessings. The fact is, this oracle is filled with God’s prophetic blessings upon Joseph.

To begin with, Jacob compared Joseph to a fruitful bough by a spring. In the Hebrew language, a bough referred to a young animal, a son or a grandson. It was a reference to one’s descendants (Lev. 6:11; 19:18).

Secondly, Jacob acknowledged Joseph had been the victim of personal assault. Jacob likened it to archers shooting at him, attacking him and severely harassing him. Jacob used strong words with vivid imagery.

Yet in spite of these attacks, Jacob indicated that Joseph remained unmoved. The reason for this resolute strong and courageous demeanor was that God was with him (Gen. 39:1-2; 21; Acts 7:9). As the LORD had been with Joseph’s Grandfather Isaac (Gen. 26:24-28) and Father Jacob (Gen. 28:15), He had also been with him.

Dr. R. C. Sproul states, “As with Reuben, Simeon, and Levi (Gen. 49:3–7), Jacob offers a succinct summary of Joseph’s life. “Archers bitterly attacked him” (v. 23), that is, Joseph’s brothers, Potiphar’s wife, and others did their best to destroy this favored son. Nevertheless, Joseph was not defeated. This emphasis on God’s presence is a lesson that we must never forget. Worldly success can blind us, making it easy to believe the lie that we can also prevail with God through our own efforts. In fact, this is what happened to the offspring of Joseph’s son Ephraim centuries later when they led the northern kingdom Israel into idolatry and self-reliance, and earned the Lord’s condemnation (Hos. 9). Those who profess Christ can do the same thing (see Jer. 18:1–10; 1 Cor. 5), and so we ought to beware of the dangers of complacency.”

Have a blessed day in the Lord. Remember, He is always with us (Heb. 13:5-6).

Soli deo Gloria!     

²² “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall. ²³ The archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him, and harassed him severely, ²⁴ yet his bow remained unmoved; his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), ²⁵ by the God of your father who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that crouches beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. ²⁶ The blessings of your father are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents, up to the bounties of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.” (Genesis 49:22-26)

It should not be a surprise that Jacob’s oracle concerning his son Joseph, and his posterity, should contain an abundance of blessings. The fact is, this oracle is filled with God’s prophetic blessings upon Joseph.

To begin with, Jacob compared Joseph to a fruitful bough by a spring. In the Hebrew language, a bough referred to a young animal, a son or a grandson. It was a reference to one’s descendants (Lev. 6:11; 19:18).

The word fruitful means flourishing and to produce an offspring or harvest of the same kind in a successive generation. Jacob proclaimed that Joseph, and his sons, were fruitful vines, or boughs producing fruit (Gen. 49:22).

The Theological Workbook of the Old Testament explains, “A bough means to flourish, i.e., produce an offspring or harvest of the same kind in a successive generation, implying an abundance (Gen. 1:22; 17:6, 20; 28:3; 41:52; 48:4; Lev 26:9; Ps 105:24+). It may also refer to a fruitful vine, formally, son of a fruit-bearer, or a very productive vine or bough producing fruit (Ge 49:22).”

Notice the emphatic use of the phrase fruitful bough. Jacob used it twice to place great emphasis on Joseph’s legacy.

A spring may refer to a spring of water, i.e., a water source which comes up from a ground water source and is a valuable spot in arid land (Ex 15:27). However, the word is metaphorically used in today’s text to mean understanding or to have mental perception (Gen. 3:5). It is the capacity to see and understand (Lev 26:16). Jacob prophesied that Joseph and his progeny would possess discernment and understanding in their abundance. Not a bad combination to have.

Dr. R.C. Sproul explains, “Appropriately enough, given that he has been the most righteous of Jacob’s twelve sons, Joseph receives a blessing that is paralleled only by the one Jacob gave to Judah (Gen. 49:8–12). Today’s passage is one more indication that Joseph’s years of faithful service to God and men have not been in vain, for he is rewarded for his devotion.”

May all believers have the same perspective in their service unto the Lord. Have a blessed day.

Soli deo Gloria!  

¹⁹ “Raiders shall raid Gad, but he shall raid at their heels. ²⁰ “Asher’s food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal delicacies. ²¹ “Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns.” (Genesis 49:19–21 (ESV)

Jacob’s prayer for his children’s deliverance (Gen. 49:18) was well founded. His oracles concerning Gad, Asher and Naphtali indicate their future oppression by enemies and the need for the LORD’s salvation.  

Regarding Gad, Jacob declared raiders would attack him but he would give as well as he received. The reason for this ongoing conflict was because the tribe settled east of the Jordan River, on the border with other nations (Josh. 13:24–28). Jacob predicted that the tribe would overcome their enemies. Ultimately, the Tribe of Gad be known for their military skill (1 Chron. 5:18–22). 

Regarding Asher, he and his progeny would be prosperous and productive.  Jacob spoke of the tribe’s great wealth (Gen. 49:20). The Tribe of Asher would settle along the shore of the Mediterranean in a fertile area north of Mt. Carmel (Josh. 19:24–31). The trade routes enabled Asher’s offspring to provide “royal delicacies” (Gen. 49:20), which were food for palaces near and far. The prophetess Anna, who faithfully worshiped and proclaimed God’s redemption, came from the tribe of Asher (Luke 2:36–38).

Regarding Naphtali, the imagery here is difficult to translate. Perhaps, Naphtali, like a doe, would be a free spirited mountain people. Deborah sang of the people of Naphtali risking their lives “on the heights of the field” (Judges 5:18). That tribe settled northwest of the Sea of Kinnereth (Galilee).

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “Jacob is possibly predicting that Naphtali will start off as a free spirit and then settle down with his family and the nation. Even the footloose Naphtali will one day have a permanent home in Canaan, near the Sea of Galilee (Josh. 19:32–39). Barak, whose army saved Israel from king Jabin of Hazor (Judg. 4), is one famous Naphtalite.”

Puritan Matthew Henry states, “Among God’s Israel is to be found a great variety of dispositions, contrary to each other, yet all contributing to the beauty and strength of the body.”

Believers in Christ should know that the Lord will use our various differences to build up the body of Christ today. How is the Lord using your unique gifts and personality for the benefit of the church? Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁶ “Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. ¹⁷ Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path that bites the horse’s heels so that his rider falls backward. ¹⁸ I wait for your salvation, O Lord.” (Genesis 49:16–18 (ESV)

Dan’s mother was Bilhah, maid of Jacob’s wife Rachel (Gen. 30:1–6). Dan’s descendants settled in Israel overlooking the Huleh Plain, in a territory actually assigned to Naphtali, Dan’s full brother (Gen. 30:7–8; 35:25; Jos 19:32–48). The two brothers are mentioned together in a number of references (e.g., Ex. 1:4).

The Tyndale Bible Dictionary explains, “Dan’s name was given to him not by Bilhah but by Rachel, who considered the child her own. Rachel had long been childless—a shame to women in ancient cultures—and she was jealous of Jacob’s other wife, Leah, who had already borne him four sons. Rachel viewed the birth of Bilhah’s son as averting her shame and as God’s vindication of her status as wife. The name Dan (“he judged”) meant that God had judged her and had vindicated her through the child’s birth (Gen. 30:6).”

In his oracle, Jacob explained that his son Dan would judge his people. The tribe intended to provide justice would in reality become like a treacherousserpent on the roadside. In the time of the Judges the first major practice of idolatry appeared in the tribe of Dan (Judges 18:30).

Moses would describe the tribe of Dan as being like a lion’s cub that leaps from Bashan (Deut. 33:22). This may have been a reference to the tribe’s northern settlement in Israel which included the forests of Bashan.

Following his oracle concerning Dan, Jacob prayed for the salvation from Yahweh. Why this interjection for deliverance by the LORD?

Dr. John Walvoord explains, “He may have been indirectly reminding his sons of their need for dependence on the Lord (if he needed it, certainly they did too). Or he may have been expressing his desire to enjoy the messianic hope, when he would be delivered from all trouble and grief (cf. “redemption” in Anna’s desires; Luke 2:38).”

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Israel’s affirmation of Dan implicitly affirms the full citizenship of his other eleven sons in the future nation, even those whom Leah and Rachel did not birth. Yet Dan will also show himself to be an Israelite through his powerful judgeship. Jacob calls him a serpent (v. 17), having in mind a poisonous yellow desert snake who would hide in crevices or burrow in the sand and strike unsuspecting people or animals. Like this serpent, Dan will be small compared to his prey but far deadlier than his victim suspects. The tribe of Dan does indeed end up as one of Israel’s smaller clans; however, perhaps the most well-known of all the judges emerges from this tribe centuries after Jacob. Samson, a Danite, would rescue the Israelites from the Philistines, usually by relying on his own craftiness (Judg. 13–16).”

Though Danite tribe, the serpent, saved Israel in Samson’s day, their remaining history would not be so celebrated. The Danites would steal an idol and slaughter a quiet, unsuspecting people (Judg. 17–18). Both of these activities flagrantly violate God’s word (Judges 18:27).

Believers in Christ must be on guard that we are not like the tribe of Dan. The tribe began well and then rejected God’s will. May we press on and persevere in faith “so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience” (Heb. 4:11). Have a God honoring day.

Soli deo Gloria!  

We will continue to devote each Lord’s Day in 2022 at hiswordtoday.org to present a portion of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For those unfamiliar with the WCF, a brief explanation is appropriate. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the “subordinate standard” of doctrine (to Scripture) in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

It is to that “most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity” that we will give our time and attention to each Lord’s Day in the year of our Lord, 2022. I trust you will be edified and encouraged each week by The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Chapter Thirty. Of Church Censures.

1. The Lord Jesus, as king and head of his Church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of Church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate.^a

a. Isa 9:6-7; Mat 28:18-20; Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Cor 12:28; 1 Thes 5:12; 1 Tim 5:17; Heb 13:7, 17, 24.

2. To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed, by virtue whereof they have power respectively to retain and remit sins, to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the gospel, and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require.^a

a. Mat 16:19; 18:17-18; John 20:21-23; 2 Cor 2:6-8.

3. Church censures are necessary for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren; for deterring of others from the like offenses; for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump; for vindicating the honor of Christ, and the holy profession of the gospel; and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the Church, if they should suffer his covenant, and the seals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders.^a

a. Mat 7:6; 1 Cor 5 throughout; 11:27-34 with Jude 1:23; 1 Tim 1:20; 5:20.

4. For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the Church are to proceed by admonition, suspension from the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for a season, and by excommunication from the Church, according to the nature of the crime and demerit of the person.^a

a. Mat 18:17; 1 Cor 5:4-5, 13; 1 Thes 5:12; 2 Thes 3:6, 14-15; Titus 3:10.

I encourage you to read the portions of Scripture listed in this post. Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁴“Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds. ¹⁵ He saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant, so he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant at forced labor.” (Genesis 49:14–15 (ESV)

Jacob’s fifth eldest son born by Leah was Issachar (Gen. 30:17-18).  Jacob’s blessing of Issachar followed his blessing upon Zebulun. No reason is given as to why Jacob blessed these two sons in reverse order of their birth. Issachar’s name perhaps means “reward.”

Jacob said, “Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds” (Gen. 49:14, nasb). This image suggests a loaded donkey who refuses to move his burden, a lazy man who is unwilling to do his share of the work. This is not an admirable quality.

Little is known about Issachar except what he did along with the other sons of Israel. He himself had four sons (Gen. 46:13), who headed clans in the tribe (1 Chr. 7:1–5). His family went with Jacob to Egypt, where they died (although Issachar’s remains were subsequently moved to Shechem with the other 12 patriarchs—Acts 7:16).

Historically, Issachar was the main tribe involved in the fighting led by the judge Deborah. She was a member of the tribe (Judges 5:15). During the time of David, there were men of the tribe of Issachar who had an understanding of what Israel ought to do in warfare (1 Chr. 12:32). These men supported David as king to replace King Saul.

The Tyndale Bible Dictionary explains, “Issachar was assigned the fourth lot of land after the ark was taken to Shiloh (Joshua 19:17). This included the cities of Jezreel, Shunem, and En-gannim, and it lay between the mountains of Gilboa and Tabor. Their allotment was bordered on the south and west by the tribe of Manasseh, on the north by Zebulun and Naphtali, and on the east by the river Jordan. This territory was largely a fertile plain and was often threatened by the Canaanites nearby as well as by foreign invaders.”

One commentator adds, “Issachar is likened to a strong donkey loaded down with saddlebags. Some see in the saddlebags a reference to two great elevations which marked the boundaries of this tribe. Issachar would be comfortable in his pleasant land. He would rather be a slave and have peace than resist oppression and have liberty (49:14–15).”

Today, may believers in Christ would rather make doctrinal concessions against biblical truth in order to maintain a veneer of harmony within the church. Fellowship at all costs is pursued at the expense of sound doctrine (Acts 20:17-35; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Jude 3-4). This results in the gospel being perverted and compromised.

1 Timothy 6:10–12 (ESV) says, “¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. ¹¹ But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”  

May we resist spiritual oppression and possess liberty than pursue peace resulting in slavery.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹³ “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon.” (Genesis 49:13 (ESV)

Zebulun was the sixth eldest son of Jacob. Jacob’s fifth eldest son born by Leah was Issachar.  Jacob’s blessing of Issachar followed his blessing upon Zebulun. No reason is given as to why Jacob blessed these two sons in reverse order of their birth.

Zebulun was the sixth and last son borne to Jacob by Leah, who named the boy Zebulun, meaning “abode and, dwelling.” Jacob indicated that Zebulun, along with the tribe who would bear the name, would dwell at the shore of the sea. The reference to the sea would be the Mediterranean Sea. The Tribe of Zebulun would be enriched by seaborne trade (though the tribe did not actually border the Mediterranean (Josh. 19:10–11).

One commentator writes, “Zebulun would live by the seashore toward Sidon. This tribe would be a haven for ships (Gen. 49:13). The tribe of Zebulun was not actually given an inheritance on the coast. Apparently the meaning of the prediction is that this tribe would have direct access to the sea and would enjoy the abundance of sea commerce.”

It is interesting to note that Jacob did not say anything positive or negative about this son. However, in Deuteronomy 33:18-19, Moses recorded words of commendation regarding the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar.

One author writes, “In Deuteronomy 31 Moses was the statesman, and in chapter 32 the singer; now in chapter 33 he is the seer. Like Jacob in Genesis 49, Moses looked into the future of the tribes. He assumed the role of a father to the tribes in these verses. While the tribal oracles in Genesis 49 contain judgmental elements, here the thrust is almost entirely positive.”

Deuteronomy 33:18–19 (ESV) says, “¹⁸ And of Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents. ¹⁹ They shall call peoples to their mountain; there they offer right sacrifices; for they draw from the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.”

Moses’ reference to right sacrifices meant that Zebulun’s offerings to God were righteous and honest. In other words, the tribe’s sacrifices to God were correct and done in the right way. This was a commendable statement by Moses on behalf of the Tribe of Zebulun.

What practical application may we make concerning Jacob’s son Zebulun? First, he was one who did not stand out in the crowd. His other brothers overshadowed him. Second, at times he went along with the crowd in doing what was not right (Gen. 37). Third, although not the most prosperous (Deut. 33:6), Zebulun, and the subsequent tribe, became consistent and true worshipers of Yahweh (Deut. 33:19).

Many of us will never stand out in the crowd. Most of us will be like a Zebulun. It is okay if we never achieve notoriety. God knows us and that is what is important. May we continue to live for the LORD, even in relative obscurity, just like Zebulun along with many others.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁸  “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you. ⁹ Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? ¹⁰ The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. ¹¹ Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. ¹² His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.” (Genesis 49:8–12 (ESV)

Immediately following Jacob’s oracle toward Reuben, Simeon and Levi, the patriarch then turned his attention to his fourth eldest son: Judah. Jacob had much to say to Judah. Therefore, it will take us several days to unpack today’s text.

To begin with, Jacob told Judah that his brothers would praise him. This would be an ongoing public expression of thanksgiving. A wordplay was used here because the name Judah means “praise” (Gen. 29:35). Secondly, Jacob likened Judah to a lion’s cub. The lion would become an iconic image for not only Judah, but also for the tribe bearing his name.

Thirdly, Jacob used the images of a foal, donkey, a vine and its grapes. What do these images, and others, represent? These imageries foreshadow the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ (Rev. 20:1-6). The 1,000 year reign of Christ will be one of abundance and prosperity.

One commentator writes, “For Judah, grapevines will be so abundant that they will be used for hitching posts; wine will be as abundant as wash water. In Judah, people’s eyes will be red or bright from wine and their teeth will be white from drinking much milk. These are picturesque ways of describing the suitability of Judah’s territory for vineyards. Such opulence will be evident in the Millennium (Isa. 61:6–7; 65:21–25; Zech. 3:10).”

Matthew Henry writes, “Many excellent pens have been admirable well employed in explaining and illustrating this famous prophecy of Christ. It should be a very fruitful tribe, especially that it should abound with milk for babes, and wine to make glad the heart of strong men (v. 11, 12)—vines so common in the hedge-rows and so strong that they should tie their asses to them, and so fruitful that they should load their asses from them—wine as plentiful as water, so that the men of that tribe should be very healthful and lively, their eyes brisk and sparkling, their teeth white. Much of what is here said concerning Judah is to be applied to our Lord Jesus.”

So encouraged to know that this fallen world is ultimately not the eternal home for the believer in Christ. Christ’s rule and reign will eternally be fulfilled when He returns to earth in power, might and glory.

Soli deo Gloria!