Unstable as water. Figure of speech Simile. Compare Numbers 16:1 , Numbers 16:2 ; Numbers 32:1 .
water . . . thou. Figure of speech Ellipsis here ( App-6 . b). The word "unstable" = to flow down, and requires the Ellipsis to be filled up thus: "Flowing down as water [passes away, so] thou shalt not excel". What thus would pass away is set forth in Genesis 49:3 , and so it came to pass (1 Chronicles 5:1 ).
my soul = myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
secret = council.
unto. Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel, Septuagint, and Syriac insert "and" = "and into".
assembly. Hebrew. kahal = Greek. eeclesia. See Genesis 28:3 .
digged down a wall. Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint read "hamstrung an ox". Compare Genesis 34:26 .
is. Figure of speech Metaphor. Rest of verse is Allegory. App-6 .
lion. See note on Numbers 2:32 .
sceptre. First occ Put by Metonymy (of Adjunct) for Him Who holds it. Septuagint and Targ read "ruler". See Numbers 24:17 . Psalms 45:6 . Zechariah 10:11 .
lawgiver. First occurance. Compare Numbers 21:18 . Deuteronomy 33:21 .Psalms 60:7 ; Psalms 108:8 . Isaiah 33:22 .
from between his feet = from his posterity. Put by Fig, Euphemy ( App-6 ). Septuagint and Targum of Onkelos read "from his thighs", i.e. "his seed". Compare Deuteronomy 28:57 .
until Shiloh come = until He, Shiloh, comes. So Aq., Sym., Syriac. Note the six Pentateuch titles: "Seed" (Genesis 3:15 ), "Shiloh" (Genesis 49:10 ), "Sceptre" (Genesis 49:10 ), "Shepherd" and "Stone" (Genesis 49:24 ), "Star" (Numbers 24:17 ).
gathering. Hebrew. yikhah = obedience, submission (not kabaz, as in Jeremiah 31:10 ). Note the Structure of this verse ( Alternation ). a | The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, a | Until He, Shiloh, come [Whose right it is, Ez. Genesis 21:27 ] b | Nor a Lawgiver from his seed, b | And [until] to Him, [the Lawgiver, shall be] the obedience of the peoples.
vine. So plentiful in Judah, that people were without care in such matters.
wine. Hebrew. yayin ( App-27 ). There was more than enough to lavish.
Issachar. Original Orth = he bringeth reward; referring to birth, Genesis 30:18 (compare Psalms 24:5 .Ecclesiastes 5:18 . Esther 2:9 , &c.) But here = a hireling. The prophecy is: "The hireling is the ass (or saddle-bearer) of strangers, Couching down among the folds; When he saw rest that it was good, And the land that it was pleasant:" &c. He preferred to pay tribute to the Canaanites rather than engage in the struggle to expel them.
Dan shall judge. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6 . Dan Jadin, Compare Genesis 30:6 . Fulfilled in Judges 15:20 .
tribes. Hebrew sceptres (Genesis 49:10 ). Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct). Put for ruler.
salvation. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect). Put for Him Who brings deliverance from all the works of the old serpent (Isaiah 25:8 , Isaiah 25:9 . Matthew 24:13 ). See App-36 .
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
Gad. Hebrew. Gad gedud. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6 .
overcome him = "shall troop (or press) upon him, but he shall press upon their heel".
Out of The Hebrew letter "m", which should end Genesis 49:19 , making it "upon their heels", has been wrongly prefixed to the next word, "Asher", Genesis 49:20 , thus making "Asher" begin "Out of", unlike all the others. It should read: "He shall press upon their heels, Asher, his bread shall be, "&c. The Revised Version rightly keeps the Hebrew letter "m" at end of Genesis 49:19 , but repeats it at beginning of Genesis 49:20 , thus translating it twice!
bread. Put for all food. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species). App-6 .
let loose. Emphasis on freedom. he giveth = he it is that giveth.
goodly words = song of Deborah. Judges 5:18 .
Joseph. Compare Deuteronomy 33:13-17 .
whose branches run over the wall = branches [it hath] each hath overclimbed a wall.
the. Should be 'El = GOD (with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac)
separate = or set apart. Hebrew. nazir, the consecrated one.
The sons collectively. See App-45 .
Abraham. The five previously buried there form an acrostic of the sixth. Isaac, Sarah, Rebekah, Abraham, Leah = Israel (Hebrews 11:13 ).
Jacob. See notes on Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:8 ; Genesis 45:26 , Genesis 45:28 . which shall befall you. This blessing (Genesis 49:28 ) is therefore direct prophecy.
the last days. First occurance of fourteen: Genesis 49:1 .Numbers 24:14 .Deuteronomy 4:30 ; Deuteronomy 31:29 . Isaiah 2:2 .Jeremiah 23:20 ; Jeremiah 30:24 ; Jeremiah 48:47 ; Jeremiah 49:39 . Ezekiel 38:16 . Daniel 2:28 ; Daniel 10:14 .Hosea 3:5 .Micah 4:1 . In ten of these rendered "latter days". A study of these will show that the prophecy (Genesis 49:1 ) and "blessing" (Genesis 49:28 ) extends to, and embraces the days of Messiah, and His first and second advents.
Israel. See notes on Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:8 ; Genesis 45:26 , Genesis 45:28 .
Reuben. See Genesis 49:28 , Compare Genesis 46:8-25 , and App-45 .
Unstable as water. Figure of speech Simile. Compare Numbers 16:1 , Numbers 16:2 ; Numbers 32:1 .
water . . . thou. Figure of speech Ellipsis here ( App-6 . b). The word "unstable" = to flow down, and requires the Ellipsis to be filled up thus: "Flowing down as water [passes away, so] thou shalt not excel". What thus would pass away is set forth in Genesis 49:3 , and so it came to pass (1 Chronicles 5:1 ).
my soul = myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
secret = council.
unto. Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel, Septuagint, and Syriac insert "and" = "and into".
assembly. Hebrew. kahal = Greek. eeclesia. See Genesis 28:3 .
digged down a wall. Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint read "hamstrung an ox". Compare Genesis 34:26 .
divide. Fulfilled, Joshua 19:1 . 1 Chronicles 4:39-43 .Leviticus 25:32-34 . Levi's turned to blessing later, Exodus 32:26-29 . Deuteronomy 10:8 , Deuteronomy 10:9 .
Jacob. First occurance as used of the whole nation.
Israel. See note on Genesis 34:7 . Compare Genesis 47:27 .
Judah = Praise. Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ). " Jehuda, Joducha ".
bow down. Compare 2 Samuel 5:1-8 and Psalms 72:11 .Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:10 .
is. Figure of speech Metaphor. Rest of verse is Allegory. App-6 .
lion. See note on Numbers 2:32 .
sceptre. First occ Put by Metonymy (of Adjunct) for Him Who holds it. Septuagint and Targ read "ruler". See Numbers 24:17 . Psalms 45:6 . Zechariah 10:11 .
lawgiver. First occurance. Compare Numbers 21:18 . Deuteronomy 33:21 .Psalms 60:7 ; Psalms 108:8 . Isaiah 33:22 .
from between his feet = from his posterity. Put by Fig, Euphemy ( App-6 ). Septuagint and Targum of Onkelos read "from his thighs", i.e. "his seed". Compare Deuteronomy 28:57 .
until Shiloh come = until He, Shiloh, comes. So Aq., Sym., Syriac. Note the six Pentateuch titles: "Seed" (Genesis 3:15 ), "Shiloh" (Genesis 49:10 ), "Sceptre" (Genesis 49:10 ), "Shepherd" and "Stone" (Genesis 49:24 ), "Star" (Numbers 24:17 ).
gathering. Hebrew. yikhah = obedience, submission (not kabaz, as in Jeremiah 31:10 ). Note the Structure of this verse ( Alternation ). a | The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, a | Until He, Shiloh, come [Whose right it is, Ez. Genesis 21:27 ] b | Nor a Lawgiver from his seed, b | And [until] to Him, [the Lawgiver, shall be] the obedience of the peoples.
vine. So plentiful in Judah, that people were without care in such matters.
wine. Hebrew. yayin ( App-27 ). There was more than enough to lavish.
Issachar. Original Orth = he bringeth reward; referring to birth, Genesis 30:18 (compare Psalms 24:5 .Ecclesiastes 5:18 . Esther 2:9 , &c.) But here = a hireling. The prophecy is: "The hireling is the ass (or saddle-bearer) of strangers, Couching down among the folds; When he saw rest that it was good, And the land that it was pleasant:" &c. He preferred to pay tribute to the Canaanites rather than engage in the struggle to expel them.
Dan shall judge. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6 . Dan Jadin, Compare Genesis 30:6 . Fulfilled in Judges 15:20 .
tribes. Hebrew sceptres (Genesis 49:10 ). Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct). Put for ruler.
a serpent. Beguiling to idolatry. The first tribe to do so. See note on Judges 18:30 . Hence omitted in Revelation 7:4 (compare Deuteronomy 29:18-21 .Leviticus 24:10-16 ; 1 Kings 12:30 . 2 Kings 10:29 ).
heels. Compare Genesis 3:15 .Jeremiah 8:16 , Jeremiah 8:17 .
salvation. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect). Put for Him Who brings deliverance from all the works of the old serpent (Isaiah 25:8 , Isaiah 25:9 . Matthew 24:13 ). See App-36 .
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
Gad. Hebrew. Gad gedud. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6 .
overcome him = "shall troop (or press) upon him, but he shall press upon their heel".
Out of The Hebrew letter "m", which should end Genesis 49:19 , making it "upon their heels", has been wrongly prefixed to the next word, "Asher", Genesis 49:20 , thus making "Asher" begin "Out of", unlike all the others. It should read: "He shall press upon their heels, Asher, his bread shall be, "&c. The Revised Version rightly keeps the Hebrew letter "m" at end of Genesis 49:19 , but repeats it at beginning of Genesis 49:20 , thus translating it twice!
bread. Put for all food. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species). App-6 .
let loose. Emphasis on freedom. he giveth = he it is that giveth.
goodly words = song of Deborah. Judges 5:18 .
Joseph. Compare Deuteronomy 33:13-17 .
whose branches run over the wall = branches [it hath] each hath overclimbed a wall.
sorely grieved. Compare Amos 6:6 .
God = One.
the. Should be 'El = GOD (with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac)
separate = or set apart. Hebrew. nazir, the consecrated one.
ravin, &c. Compare the Benjamites, Judges 3:15 . 1 Samuel 11:6-11 ; 1 Samuel 14:13-48 . Acts 7:58 ; Acts 8:1 , Acts 8:3 ; Acts 9:13 , Acts 9:14 , Acts 9:21 ; Acts 22:4-8 . 1 Timothy 1:13 .
The sons collectively. See App-45 .
gathered unto my people. Figure of speech Euphemy. Put for "death and burial". See Genesis 49:33 . See note on Genesis 49:33 .
with my fathers. Compare Genesis 23:9 , Genesis 23:10 ; Genesis 47:30 .
bought. Compare Genesis 23:16 .
Abraham. The five previously buried there form an acrostic of the sixth. Isaac, Sarah, Rebekah, Abraham, Leah = Israel (Hebrews 11:13 ).
yielded up the ghost. The spirit going to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7 . Numbers 16:22 ; Numbers 27:16 ).
gathered unto his people. Refers to body, as the previous gathering (Genesis 49:33 ) refers to his feet. See on Genesis 49:29 . He was aged 147.