Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 49:22
Joseph [is] a fruitful bough, [even] a fruitful bough by a well; [whose] branches run over the wall:
22. Joseph ] The blessing of Joseph extends over Gen 49:22-26. Its subject matter falls into four divisions: (1) Joseph’s prosperity under the simile of a vine ( Gen 49:22); (2) his contest with bitter foes ( Gen 49:23); (3) the invocation for aid from the God of Jacob ( Gen 49:24-25 a); (4) the blessing from heaven, sea, and earth, pronounced upon Joseph (25b, 26).
The elaborate eulogy pronounced on Joseph reflects the predominance of Ephraim and Manasseh among the tribes of Israel, in virtue both of their central position in Canaan and of their power and wealth. The impression we derive from this description of Joseph is that of 1Ch 5:1-2, “his (Reuben’s) birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the prince; but the birthright was Joseph’s.”
The text in the following verses has in several places suffered from corruption. The meaning is often very obscure, and no certainty of translation is to be looked for.
A fruitful bough ] Heb. the son of a fruitful tree. The word “fruitful” in the original contains a play upon the name “Ephraim”; see note on Gen 41:52; cf. Jos 17:14 ff. “Bough” is probably that of a vine. Cf. Psa 128:3; Isa 32:12, “the fruitful vine.” The simile is that of a young fruitful tree, planted near a spring, whose tendrils trail down over the wall.
by a fountain ] i.e. in a fertile spot. In Canaan, wherever there was moisture, there was fertility.
The versions give an entirely different rendering.
run over the wall ] The branches and tendrils of the strongly growing vine throw themselves over the wall, which has been built for their protection and training. They hang down in graceful luxuriance, a pretty metaphor from nature.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Gen 49:22-26
Joseph is a fruitful bough
The blessing of Joseph:
I.
PREDICTION OF HIS FUTURE GREATNESS.
1. His extraordinary increase.
2. His great prosperity.
(1) All kinds of blessings were promised.
(2) His blessings were to surpass all former instances.
(3) His blessings are traced to their source.
II. PRAISE OF HIS CHARACTER.
1. He had been a much-tried man (verse23).
(1) The archers of envy and hatred.
(2) The archers of temptation.
(3) The archers of persecution.
(4) The archers of neglect and ingratitude.
2. He had gained the victory over his trials (Gen 49:24).
III. HIS DESTINY THE NATURAL RESULT OF HIS CHARACTER.
1. His filial obedience.
2. His desire for Gods glory.
3. The operation of that principle by which God rewards in kind.
4. The principle that Gods dealings in the past constitute a ground of hope and trust for the future.
5. The principle by which a firm and well-established godliness tends to continue. (T. H. Leale.)
The fruitful bough:
I. IN HIS UNION WITH CHRIST, THE CHRISTIAN IS AS A BOUGH.
1. Union with Christ.
2. Dependence upon Christ.
3. Sustentation from Christ.
II. IN THE RESULTS OF HIS UNION WITH CHRIST, THE CHRISTIAN IS AS A FRUITFUL BOUGH.
1. Some united, but dead.
2. Some living, but fruitless.
III. IN THE SOURCE OF HIS FERTILITY, THE CHRISTIAN IS AS A FRUITFUL BOUGH BY A WELL. As the bough drinks of the spring through the tree, so the Christian drinks of spiritual blessings through Christ.
1. Secretly.
2. Constantly.
IV. IN THE HIGHER ATTAINMENTS OF SPIRITUAL LIFE, THE CHRISTIAN IS AS A FRUITFUL BOUGH BY A WELL WHOSE BRANCHES RUN OVER THE WALL.
1. Over the wall of sectarian prejudices.
2. Over the wall of unbelieving doubt.
3. Over the wall that separates the world from the Church, and blesses the dying, with fruit.
4. Over the wall that separates earth from heaven, and looks
within the veil. (W. H. Burton.)
The blessing of Joseph–Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well. In these words we are reminded of our Lords own statement (Joh 15:5), I am the vine, ye are the branches. The Christian is only a bough of the Tree of Life. But he is to be a fruitful bough. Herein is My Father glorified, said our blessed Lord, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. And how is this fruitfulness produced? The passage shows us: a fruitful bough by a well. The believer is to live near to Christ, the well of living waters, and to be drawing forth all his nourishment from Christ by the Holy Spirit. The roots of the tree draw forth the waters from the well, and send them up into all its branches. Thus the bough becomes beautiful and fruitful. And the well is hidden. The process goes on in secret, but, notwithstanding, it is an unceasing process. Mark, also, that the branches of this fruitful bough are said to run over the wall. The believers fruit must be seen–seen by all who pass by. Alas! only the foliage is too often seen l But the world looks beneath all. But now observe how the patriarch passes rapidly from the figure of a fruitful branch to that of a military warrior: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. True faithfulness is ever linked with the cross, and also with warfare. Fight the good fight of faith; put on the whole armour of God; quit you like men; be strong–such are the expressions used to show us our true position in this world. There is an inseparable connection between life and faithfulness, between the cross and the warfare. But the bow abiding in strength points also to Christ. It tells us of the strong, unyielding position in which He would carry on His government (see Rev 6:1-2). And we see the arms of the hands of the true Joseph made strong–in the power of His exalted position at the right hand of the Father–by the mighty God of Jacob. In beautiful keeping with this we see the white horse–always the emblem of victory–victory in holiness, purity, and truth. Let us now return to the rest of the passage: from thence–i.e., the mighty God–is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel. We must read the passage correctly: The arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob, even from the Shepherd and Stone of Israel. Thus we find here that Josephs hands were made strong for his work by the mighty God of Jacob, the Shepherd and Stone of Israel. He who is the mighty God is the great Shepherd of His sheep, and the great Foundation Stone of Israel. And now the blessings promised and to be prayed for are described: blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under. They begin with heaven, and they take in the earth. This is ever Gods order. The patriarch continues: blessings of the breast and the womb. Jacob prays that his son may be blessed from heaven with rain and dew, and with fountains and brooks which spring from the great deep or abyss of the earth, so that everything that had womb and breast in the natural world should become pregnant, bring forth, and suckle. He then continues: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors, unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. The blessings which Jacob implored for his son Joseph were to surpass the blessings which his parents had transmitted to him, as far as the great mountains towered above the earth. These blessings were to descend upon the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of the separated one from among his brethren. As we read these promises and prayers for blessing on Joseph, our thoughts are carried forward to the Lord Jesus Christ. Language seems to fail the old patriarch in his longings for blessings on his son; but as we see Jesus, the separated One, we behold these desires fulfilled. (F. Whitfield, M. A.)
Over-the-wall fruitfulness
Joseph is a fruitful bough, whose branches run over the wall (Gen 49:22). These words remind us of our Lord saying, I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. And they take our thoughts to an eastern vineyard, where the trellis bends with clusters, and a few strong shoots are left by the kindly husbandman to overhang the enclosure for the passer-by.
I. In the first place, consider THE BRANCH THAT BEARS FRUIT OVER THE WALL. It is one thing to bear fruit in the vineyard, and another to have such vigour that we also bear fruit beyond; and we speak now of the latter.
1. Fruitfulness to more than have claim upon us. Some have such claim; their relationship, their desert, their needs, appeal to us so forcibly and reasonably, that we wrong them if we refuse our sympathy and help; these are they who have right to the vintage–the children of the husbandmen, as it were, for whom the vine exists, and who are somewhat free to the grapes. But others have no such right, or have forfeited the right they had, the unloving and unlovable, those who abuse your kindness, those who bring their troubles on themselves, those who again fall when they have many times been raised, those who seem hopelessly bad and to have no redeeming trait. And there are those, of whom all this cannot be said, who are deserving, and yet have no claim on us–whose rights extend to some other vineyard, but not to ours. Now we take our text as symbolically speaking of usefulness to all these, the branch breaking away from its support, and reaching, with its grateful fruit, to those outside. And do we not need, my friends, to consider that? The good Samaritan in his kindness to the Jew that had fallen among thieves, was a branch that ran over the wall. Our Lords deed of mercy to the Syro-Phoenician woman was a branch that ran over the wall. Anal whilst it is right to give the bin-Jest of our life to those who have claim on the vine, it must be right to let some shoots trail to the larger world outside, and to the very grating of the prisoners cell.
2. Ministry to those outside our particular vineyard. Into every department of life Christianity casts some healing influence. There is much, indeed, for it to do yet; but it has been the originator or beneficent ally of all onward movements in the history of the race. See how its branches run over the wall; how contrary it is to the spirit of exclusiveness! Its blessings are for the Church, but, in a less degree, it blesses the world as well. And that warns us Christian people against exclusiveness in religious sympathy; exclusiveness is not Christianity. It were a bad day for any church when its thought, and effort, and means are spent only on its own work and wants, and it ceases to care with brotherly interest for other churches, Gods vast world-wide work. Let the main clusters, if you will, be for those for whom
God planted the vine, but see to it that strong fruitful branches run over the wall.
3. Refreshment to the casual passer-by. The text was suggested in passing a vineyard on the south side of the Alps, as outside the enclosure some unpruned shoots, with their just-formed grapes, were waving in the wind, to be perhaps a refreshment to some traveller in the summers heat. It is the picture of a Christian whose abundant inner life comes out unawares, as it were, for the benediction of any who may pass that way. Tired pilgrims pass us every hour, some oppressed with their burden, some parched with the worlds dust, some who have lost their strength in conflict, and some who thirst but for a tender look, a friendly utterance, a sympathetic grasp, and with these would go their way revived. Think of such finding this reviving in us!
II. Consider, secondly, THAT THIS IS THE MARK OF THE BRANCH OF THE TRUE VINE.
1. Christianity tends to the enlarging of our sympathies. It brings us into contact with Christ, and makes us partakers in His Spirit. Nothing is more striking or blessed in Scripture than the absence of exclusiveness in our Lords love and readiness to bless. Christianity is the being joined to Him, and he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. In His people, then, this spirit of unexclusive sympathy exists in germ; and as they commune with Him it grows, and they spontaneously care for those He cares for.
2. Beside this, Christianity claims a deliberate consideration of others wants. We, then, that are strong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let every one of us please his neighbour for his good, for even Christ pleased not Himself; bear ye one anothers burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3. And Christianity results in unconscious, unchecked fruitfulness. Christianity is not so much a doing as a being. We are not Christians because we do this or that. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them: I never knew you; depart from Me ye that work iniquity. Christianity is a new nature taking the place of ours, by which heart and mind, and character and life become Divine. Now our nature cannot appoint set times in which to express itself, nor fence off a few to whom alone it shall make itself known. Every branch of the Vine which
Jesus is, necessarily runs over the wall somewhere, bearing unconscious fruit not only for the vineyard it is expected to enrich, but also for the passer-by outside to pluck.
III. Then CONSIDER HOW THIS OVER-THE-WALL FRUITFULNESS MAY RE SECURED. The very word fruit teaches us. Distinguish between works and fruit. Works, says one, may be the actings of a legal spirit; they are done in obedience to laws; they may be performed perfunctorily, and are no part of ones nature. But fruit is the sign of life; it is not due to commands, nor even to effort; it is life spontaneously, naturally, sweetly giving itself forth. Now it is fruit of which we speak, fruit that Christ wants. Herein is My Father glorified that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be My disciples. Then what is needed for this over-the-wall fruitfulness is the earnest culture of our spirituality. Culture the life, and the fruit comes of its own accord; branches running over the wall are but the exuberance of life. Let me give these three brief rules:
1. It depends on the measure in which we receive the life of Christ. Joseph is a fruitful bough. Only a bough. We are boughs, that is all; therefore we have no life in ourselves, and God does not require us to have any; the life is in the Vine–our life is hid with Christ; as a branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in Me . . . severed from Me, ye can do nothing.
2. And it depends on our fruitfulness to those nearest to us. For the strong shoots that trail outside will spring from the strong wood in the vineyard itself, and the dresser of the vines, we may be sure, will only permit the branch that does its duty first within to carry strength elsewhere. To bear fruit over the wall only, or chiefly, is to rob the Husbandman, for where He has planted us He means our richest grapes to grow. We must love our own best–our own family, our own church; our deepest sympathies and best energies are for those to whom God has given most claim upon them; and only when we have done that, He would have us not forget them that are without. Learn first to show piety at home; do good unto all men, but specially to them that are of the household of faith. And that is the successful order. It is by putting strength into our nearest duties, and fulfilling Christian love to those nearest to us, that we get the power for the ministry beyond. Bear ripe good fruit within the wall, then–for then it will be possible, and the Husbandman will permit it–let some branches run over.
3. And it depends on our submission to the Divine culture of our piety. For Joseph was the fruitful bough–Joseph, of whom it was said God made him fruitful in the land of his affliction. Every branch in Me that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. The fruitful branch is pruned closest, and if the shoots that stray over the enclosure are to bear grapes, some others must be nipped. Is not that blessed compensation (even were it all) for Christian suffering–more fruit to God and man? That is a price that must be paid for fruitfulness. The vine that bears much fruit is proud to stoop with it; the palm stands upright in a realm of sand. (C. New.)
The archers shot at him, but his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob
Man helped by God:
I. STRENGTH FOR CONFLICT by contact with the strength of God. The word here rendered made strong might be translated made pliable, or flexible, conveying the notion of deftness and dexterity rather than of simple strength. It is practised strength that He will give, the educated hand and arm master of all the manipulation of the weapon.
II. The text not only gives the fact of Divine strength being bestowed, but also THE MANNER OF THE GIFT. What boldness of reverent familiarity there is in that symbol of the hands of God laid on the hand of the man. A true touch, as of hand to hand, conveys the grace. Nothing but contact will give us strength for conflict and for conquest. And the plain lesson, therefore, is–See to it that the contact is not broken by you. In all these things weare more than conquerors through Him that loved us. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)
Joseph attacked by the archers:
I. THE CRUEL ATTACK. The archers have sorely grieved him. Josephs enemies were archers. The original has it, masters of the arrows, that is, men who were well skilled in the use of the arrow. Though all weapons are alike approved by the warrior in his thirst for blood, there seems something more cowardly in the attack of the archer, than in that of the swordsman. The swordsman plants himself near you, foot to foot, and let you defend yourself and deal your blows against him; but the archer stands at a distance, hides himself in ambuscade, and without you knowing it, the arrow comes whizzing through the air, and perhaps penetrates your heart. Just so are the enemies of Gods people.
1. First, Joseph had to endure the archers of envy. When he was a boy, his father loved him. Therefore, his brethren hated him. Full often did they jeer at the youthful Joseph, when he retired to his prayers; when he was with them at a distance from his fathers house, he was their drudge, their slave; the taunt, the jeer, did often wound his heart, and the young child endured much secret sorrow. Truly the archers sorely shot at him. And, my brethren, do you hope, if you are the Lords Josephs, that you shall escape envy? I tell you, nay; that green-eyed monster envy lives in London as well as elsewhere, and he creeps into Gods church, moreover. Oh! it is hardest of all to be envied by ones brethren.
2. But a worse trial than this was to overtake him. The archers of temptation shot at him. You know it is opportunity that makes a man criminal, and he had abundant opportunity; but importunity will drive most men astray. To be haunted day by day by solicitations of the softest kind–to be tempted hour by hour–oh! it needs a strength superangelic, a might more than human, a strength which only God can grant, for a young man thus to cleanse his way, and take heed thereto according to Gods word. Truly the archers sorely grieved him and shot at him; but his bow abode in strength.
3. Then another host of archers assailed him: these were the archers of malicious calumny. Seeing that he would not yield to temptation, his mistress falsely accused him to her husband, and his lord, believing the voice of his wife, cast him into prison. There was poor Joseph. His character ruined in the eyes of man, and very likely looked upon with scorn even in the prison-house; base criminals went away from him as if they thought him viler than themselves, as if they were angels in comparison with him. Oh I it is no easy thing to feel your character gone, to think that you are slandered, that things are said of you that are untrue. Many a mans heart has been broken by this, when nothing else could make him yield. The archers sorely grieved him when he was so maligned, so slandered. Oh child of God, dost thou expect to escape these archers? Wilt thou never be slandered? Shalt thou never be calumniated? It is the lot of Gods servants, in proportion to their zeal, to be evil spoken of.
II. We have seen these archers shoot their flights of arrows; we will now go up the hill a little, behind a rock, to look at the SHIELDED WARRIOR and see how his courage is while the archers have sorely grieved him. What is he doing? His bow abideth in strength. Let us picture Gods favourite. The archers are down below. There is a parapet of rock before him; now and then he looks over it to see what the archers are about, but generally he keeps behind. In heavenly security he is set upon a rock, careless of all below. Let us follow the track of the wild goat, and behold the warrior in his fastness.
1. First, we notice that he has a bow himself, for we read that his bow abode in strength. He could have retaliated if he pleased, but he was very quiet and would not combat with them.
2. Mark well his quietness. His bow abideth. It is not rattling, it is not always moving, but it abides, it is quite still; he takes no notice of the attack. The archers sorely grieved Joseph, but his bow was not turned against them, it abode in strength. He turned not his bow on them. He rested while they raged. Doth the moon stay herself to lecture every dog that bayeth her? Doth the lion turn aside to rend each cur that barketh at him? Do the stars cease to shine because the nightingales reprove them for their dimness? Doth the sun stop in its course because of the officious cloud which veils it? Or doth the river stay because the willow dippeth its leaves into its waters? Ah! no; Gods universe moves on, and if men will oppose it, it heeds them not.
3. But we must not forget the next word: His bow abode in strength. Though his bow was quiet, it was not because it was broken. Josephs bow was like that of William the Conqueror, no man could bend it but Joseph himself; it abode in strength. I see the warrior bending his bow, how with his mighty arms he pulls it down and draws the string to make it ready. His bow abode in strength; it did not snap, it did not start aside. His chastity was his bow, and he did not lose that; his faith was his bow, and that did not yield, it did not break; his courage was his bow, and that did not fail him; his character, his honesty was his bow; nor did he cast it away.
III. The third thing in our text is the SECRET STRENGTH. The arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob.
1. First, notice concerning his strength, that it was real strength. It says, the arms of his hands, not his hands only. You know some people can do a great deal with their hands, but then it is often fictitious power; there is no might in the arm, there is no muscles, but of Joseph it is said, the arms of his hands were made strong. It was real potency, true muscle, real sinew, real nerve. Oh ye foes of God, ye think Gods people are despicable and powerless; but know that they have true strength from the omnipotence of their Father, a might substantial and divine. Your own shall melt away, and droop and die, like the snow upon the low mountains top, when the sun shines upon it, it melteth into water; but our vigour shall abide like the snow on the summit of the Alps, undiminished for ages. It is real strength.
2. Then observe that the strength of Gods Joseph is divine strength. His arms were made strong by God. Why does one of Gods ministers preach the Gospel powerfully? Because God gives him assistance. Why does Joseph stand against temptation? Because God gives him aid. The strength of a Christian is divine strength.
3. Again: I would have you notice in the text in what a blessedly familiar way God gives this strength to Joseph. It says, the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. Thus it represents God as putting his hands on Josephs hands, placing his arms on Josephs arms. In old times, when every boy had to be trained up to archery, if his father were worth so many pounds a year, you might see the father putting his hands on his boys hands and pulling the bow for him, saying, There, my son, in this manner draw the bow. So the text represents God as putting His hand on the hand of Joseph, and laying His broad arm along the arm of His chosen child, that he might be made strong. Like as a father teaches his children, so the Lord teaches them that fear Him. He puts His arms upon them.
4. This strength was covenant strength, for it is said, The arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. Now, wherever you read of God of Jacob in the Bible, you may know that that respects Gods covenant with Jacob. Covenant mercies, covenant grace, covenant promises, covenant blessings, covenant help, covenant everything–the Christian must receive if he would enter into heaven. Now,Christian, the archers have sorely grieved you, and shot at you, and wounded you; but your bow abides in strength, and the arms of your hands are made strong. But do you know, O believer, that you are like your Master in this?
IV. That is our fourth point–A GLORIOUS PARALLEL. From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel, Jesus Christ was served just the same; the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel, passed through similar trials; He was shot at by the archers, He was grieved and wounded, but His bow abode in strength; His arms were made strong by the God of Jacob, and now every blessing rests upon the crown of the head of Him who was separated from His brethren. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
22. The son of a fruitful (vine) is Joseph;
The son of a fruitful (vine) by the fountain:
The daughters (branches) shoot over the wall.
23. They sorely afflicted him and contended with him;
The chief archers had him in hatred.
24. But his bow remained in strength,
And the arms of his hands were made strong
By the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob:
By the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.
25. By the God of thy father, for he helped thee;
And God All-sufficient, he blessed thee,
The blessing of the heavens from above,
And the blessings lying in the deep beneath,
The blessings of the breasts and of the womb
26. The blessings of thy father have prevailed
Over the blessings of the eternal mountains,
And the desirable things of the everlasting hills.
These shall be on the head of Joseph,
And on his crown who was separated from his brethren.
Verse 22. The sum of a fruitful vine] This appears to me to refer to Jacob himself, who was blessed with such a numerous posterity that in two hundred and fifteen years after this his own descendants amounted to upwards of 600,000 effective men; and the figures here are intended to point out the continual growth and increase of his posterity. Jacob was a fruitful tree planted by a fountain, which because it was good would yield good fruit; and because it was planted near a fountain, from being continually watered, would be perpetually fruitful. The same is used and applied to Jacob, De 33:28: The FOUNTAIN of JACOB shall be upon a land of corn, and wine, &c.
The daughters, banoth, put here for branches, shoot over or run upon the wall.] Alluding probably to the case of the vine, which requires to be supported by a wall, trees, &c. Some commentators have understood this literally, and have applied it to the Egyptian women, who were so struck with the beauty of Joseph as to get upon walls, the tops of houses, &c., to see him as he passed by. This is agreeable to the view taken of the subject by the Koran. See Clarke on Ge 39:6.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
A fruitful bough, in regard of those two numerous tribes which proceeded from his two sons.
By a well, or fountain, or water-course, which situation doth much further the growth of trees. See Psa 1:3; Eze 19:10.
Whose branches run over the wall, i. e: which is planted by a wall, whose heat furthers its growth no less than the moisture of the water doth.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
22. a fruitful bough, c.denotesthe extraordinary increase of that tribe (compare Num 1:33-35Jos 17:17; Deu 33:17).The patriarch describes him as attacked by envy, revenge, temptation,ingratitude; yet still, by the grace of God, he triumphed over allopposition, so that he became the sustainer of Israel; and then heproceeds to shower blessings of every kind upon the head of thisfavorite son. The history of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh showshow fully these blessings were realized.
Ge49:27-33. BENJAMIN
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Joseph is a fruitful bough,…. Or as one, like the bough or branch of a tree laden with fruit, as he was with children; one of which he called Ephraim from his fruitfulness, and both his sons became numerous, and the heads of two tribes in Israel; and with other temporal fruits and blessings, as riches, honour, c. and especially with the fruits of grace and righteousness:
[even] a fruitful bough by a well those are the most fruitful that are near a well or fountain of water, as such trees are which are planted by rivers of water, see Ps 1:3 this being repeated may have respect to the two boughs or branches of Joseph’s family, or the two fruitful and numerous tribes that sprung from him:
whose branches run over the wall; as such trees that are set against one, and by the reflected heat of the sun grow the more, and become more fruitful. The word for “branches” is “daughters”, which some refer to the daughters of Manasseh and Zelophehad, who received their inheritance on both sides of Jordan; and others interpret it of the cities of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, as cities are sometimes called.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Turning to Joseph, the patriarch’s heart swelled with grateful love, and in the richest words and figures he implored the greatest abundance of blessings upon his head.
Gen 49:22 “ Son of a fruit-tree is Joseph, son of a fruit-tree at the well, daughters run over the wall.” Joseph is compared to the branch of a fruit-tree planted by a well (Psa 1:3), which sends it shoots over the wall, and by which, according to Ps 80, we are probably to understand a vine. an unusual form of the construct state for , and equivalent to with the old feminine termination ath, like , Exo 15:2. – are the twigs and branches, formed by the young fruit-tree. The singular is to be regarded as distributive, describing poetically the moving forward, i.e., the rising up of the different branches above the wall ( Ges. 146, 4). , a poetical form, as in Gen 49:17.
Gen 49:23-24 “ Archers provoke him, and shoot and hate him; but his bow abides in strength, and the arms of his hands remain pliant, from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, from thence, from the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel.” From the simile of the fruit-tree Jacob passed to a warlike figure, and described the mighty and victorious unfolding of the tribe of Joseph in conflict with all its foes, describing with prophetic intuition the future as already come (vid., the perf. consec.). The words are not to be referred to the personal history of Joseph himself, to persecutions received by him from his brethren, or to his sufferings in Egypt; still less to any warlike deeds of his in Egypt ( Diestel): they merely pointed to the conflicts awaiting his descendants, in which they would constantly overcome all hostile attacks. : Piel, to embitter, provoke, lacessere . : perf. o from to shoot. : “in a strong, unyielding position” ( Del.). : to be active, flexible; only found here, and in 2Sa 6:16 of a brisk movement, skipping or jumping. : the arms, “without whose elasticity the hands could not hold or direct the arrow.” The words which follow, “from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob,” are not to be linked to what follows, in opposition to the Masoretic division of the verses; they rather form one sentence with what precedes: “pliant remain the arms of his hands from the hands of God,” i.e., through the hands of God supporting them. “The Mighty One of Jacob,” He who had proved Himself to be the Mighty One by the powerful defence afforded to Jacob; a title which is copied from this passage in Isa 1:24, etc. “From thence,” an emphatic reference to Him, from whom all perfection comes – “from the Shepherd (Gen 48:15) and Stone of Israel.” God is called “the Stone,” and elsewhere “the Rock” (Deu 32:4, Deu 32:18, etc.), as the immoveable foundation upon which Israel might trust, might stand firm and impregnably secure.
Gen 49:25-26 “ From the God of thy father, may He help thee, and with the help of the Almighty, may He bless thee, (may there come) blessings of heaven from above, blessings of the deep, that lieth beneath, blessings of the breast and of the womb. The blessing of thy father surpass the blessings of my progenitors to the border of the everlasting hills, may they come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the illustrious among his brethren.” From the form of a description the blessing passes in Gen 49:25 into the form of a desire, in which the “from” of the previous clause is still retained. The words “and may He help thee,” “may He bless thee,” form parentheses, for “who will help and bless thee.” is neither to be altered into (and from God), as Ewald suggests, in accordance with the lxx, Sam., Syr., and Vulg., nor into as Knobel proposes; and even the supplying of before from the parallel clause ( Ges. 154, 4) is scarcely allowable, since the repetition of before another preposition cannot be supported by any analogous case; but may be understood here, as in Gen 4:1; Gen 5:24, in the sense of helpful communion: “and with,” i.e., with (in) the fellowship of, “the Almighty, may He bless thee, let there be (or come) blessings,” etc. The verb follows in Gen 49:26 after the whole subject, which is formed of many parallel members. The blessings were to come from heaven above and from the earth beneath. From the God of Jacob and by the help of the Almighty should the rain and dew of heaven (Gen 27:28), and fountains and brooks which spring from the great deep or the abyss of the earth, pour their fertilizing waters over Joseph’s land, “so that everything that had womb and breast should become pregnant, bring forth, and suckle.”
(Note: “Thus is the whole composed in pictorial words. Whatever of man and cattle can be fruitful shall multiply and have enough. Childbearing, and the increase of cattle, and of the corn in the field, are not our affair, but the mercy and blessing of God.” – Luther.)
from signifies parentes ( Chald., Vulg.); and signifies not desiderium from , but boundary from , Num 34:7-8, = , 1Sa 21:14; Eze 9:4, to mark or bound off, as most of the Rabbins explain it. to be strong above, i.e., to surpass. The blessings which the patriarch implored for Joseph were to surpass the blessings which his parents transmitted to him, to the boundary of the everlasting hills, i.e., surpass them as far as the primary mountains tower above the earth, or so that they should reach to the summits of the primeval mountains. There is no allusion to the lofty and magnificent mountain-ranges of Ephraim, Bashan, and Gilead, which fell to the house of Joseph, either here or in Deu 33:15. These blessings were to descend upon the head of Joseph, the among his brethren, i.e., “the separated one,” from separavit . Joseph is so designated, both here and Deu 33:16, not on account of his virtue and the preservation of his chastity and piety in Egypt, but propter dignitatem, qua excellit, ab omnibus sit segregatus ( Calv.), on account of the eminence to which he attained in Egypt. For this meaning see Lam 4:7; whereas no example can be found of the transference of the idea of Nasir to the sphere of morality.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: 23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: 24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) 25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: 26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. 27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
He closes with the blessings of his best beloved sons, Joseph and Benjamin; with these he will breathe his last.
I. The blessing of Joseph, which is very large and full. He is compared (v. 22) to a fruitful bough, or young tree; for God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction; he owned it, ch. xli. 52. His two sons were as branches of a vine, or other spreading plant, running over the wall. Note, God can make those fruitful, great comforts to themselves and others, who have been looked upon as dry and withered. More is recorded in the history concerning Joseph than concerning any other of Jacob’s sons; and therefore what Jacob says of him is historical as well as prophetical. Observe,
1. The providences of God concerning Joseph, Gen 49:23; Gen 49:24. These are mentioned to the glory of God, and for the encouragement of Jacob’s faith and hope, that God had blessings in store for his seed. Here observe (1.) Joseph’s straits and troubles, v. 23. Though he now lived at ease and in honour, Jacob reminds him of the difficulties he had formerly waded through. He had had many enemies, here called archers, being skilful to do mischief, masters of their art of persecution. They hated him: there persecution begins. They shot their poisonous darts at him, and thus they sorely grieved him. His brethren, in his father’s house, were very spiteful towards him, mocked him, stripped him, threatened him, sold him, thought they had been the death of him. His mistress, in the house of Potiphar, sorely grieved him, and shot at him, when she impudently assaulted his chastity (temptations are fiery darts, thorns in the flesh, sorely grievous to gracious souls); when she prevailed not in this, she hated him, and shot at him by her false accusations, arrows against which there is little fence but the hold God has in the consciences of the worst of men. Doubtless he had enemies in the court of Pharaoh, that envied his preferment, and sought to undermine him. (2.) Joseph’s strength and support under all these troubles (v. 24): His bow abode in strength, that is, his faith did not fail, but he kept his ground, and came off a conqueror. The arms of his hands were made strong, that is, his other graces did their part, his wisdom, courage, and patience, which are better than weapons of war. In short, he maintained both his integrity and his comfort through all his trials; he bore all his burdens with an invincible resolution, and did not sink under them, nor do any thing unbecoming him. (3.) The spring and fountain of this strength; it was by the hands of the mighty God, who was therefore able to strengthen him, and the God of Jacob, a God in covenant with him, and therefore engaged to help him. All our strength for the resisting of temptations, and the bearing of afflictions, comes from God: his grace is sufficient, and his strength is perfected in our weakness. (4.) The state of honour and usefulness to which he was subsequently advanced: Thence (from this strange method of providence) he became the shepherd and stone, the feeder and supporter, of God’s Israel, Jacob and his family. Herein Joseph was a type, [1.] Of Christ; he was shot at and hated, but borne up under his sufferings (Isa. l. 7-9), and was afterwards advanced to be the shepherd and stone. [2.] Of the church in general, and particular believers; hell shoots its arrows against the saints, but Heaven protects and strengthens them, and will crown them.
2. The promises of God to Joseph. See how these are connected with the former: Even by the God of thy father Jacob, who shall help thee, v. 25. Note, Our experiences of God’s power and goodness in strengthening us hitherto are our encouragements still to hope for help from him; he that has helped us will help: we may build much upon our Eben-ezers. See what Joseph may expect from the Almighty, even the God of his father. (1.) He shall help thee in difficulties and dangers which may yet be before thee, help thy seed in their wars. Joshua came from him, who commanded in chief in the wars of Canaan. (2.) He shall bless thee; and he only blesses indeed. Jacob prays for a blessing upon Joseph, but the God of Jacob commands the blessing. Observe the blessings conferred on Joseph. [1.] Various and abundant blessings: Blessings of heaven above (rain in its season, and fair weather in its season, and the benign influences of the heavenly bodies); blessings of the deep that lieth under this earth, which, compared with the upper world, is but a great deep, with subterraneous mines and springs. Spiritual blessings are blessings of heaven above, which we ought to desire and seek for in the first place, and to which we must give the preference; while temporal blessings, those of this earth, must lie under in our account and esteem. Blessings of the womb and the breasts are given when children are safely born and comfortably nursed. In the word of God, by which we are born again, and nourished up (1Pe 1:23; 1Pe 2:2), there are to the new man blessings both of the womb and the breasts. [2.] Eminent and transcendent blessings, which prevail above the blessings of my progenitors, v. 26. His father Isaac had but one blessing, and, when he had given that to Jacob, he was at a loss for a blessing to bestow upon Esau; but Jacob had a blessing for each of his twelve sons, and now, at the latter end, a copious one for Joseph. The great blessing entailed upon that family was increase, which did not so immediately and so signally follow the blessings which Abraham and Isaac gave to their sons as it followed the blessing which Jacob gave to his; for, soon after his death, they multiplied exceedingly. [3.] Durable and extensive blessings: Unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, including all the productions of the most fruitful hills, and lasting as long as they last, Isa. liv. 10. Note, the blessings of the everlasting God include the riches of the everlasting hills, and much more. Well, of these blessings it is here said, They shall be, so it is a promise, or, Let them be, so it is a prayer, on the head of Joseph, to which let them be as a crown to adorn it and a helmet to protect it. Joseph was separated from his brethren (so we read it) for a time; yet, as others read it, he was a Nazarite among his brethren, better and more excellent than they. Note, It is no new thing for the best men to meet with the worst usage, for Nazarites among their brethren to be cast out and separated from their brethren; but the blessing of God will make it up to them.
II. The blessing of Benjamin (v. 27): He shall raven as a wolf; it is plain by this that Jacob was guided in what he said by a spirit of prophecy, and not by natural affection; else he would have spoken with more tenderness of his beloved son Benjamin, concerning whom he only foresees and foretels this, that his posterity should be a warlike tribe, strong and daring, and that they should enrich themselves with the spoils of their enemies–that they should be active and busy in the world, and a tribe as much feared by their neighbours as any other: In the morning, he shall devour the prey, which he seized and divided over night. Or, in the first times of Israel, they shall be noted for activity, though many of them left-handed, Jdg 3:15; Jdg 20:16. Ehud the second judge, and Saul the first king, were of this tribe; and so also in the last times Esther and Mordecai, by whom the enemies of the Jews were destroyed, were of this tribe. The Benjamites ravened like wolves when they desperately espoused the cause of the men of Gibeah, those men of Belial, Judg. xx. 14. Blessed Paul was of this tribe (Rom 11:1; Phi 3:5); and he did, in the morning of his day, devour the prey as a persecutor, but, in the evening, divided the spoil as a preacher. Note, God can serve his own purposes by the different tempers of men; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verses 22-26:
Jacob’s prophetic blessing upon his beloved son Joseph is the richest of all his other sons, from the standpoint of material prosperity. His fruitfulness is like that of a luxuriant fruit-tree, panted by a well of water and abounding in fruit. His strength comes from Jehovah Elohim Himself. And Jacob bestows upon Joseph the richest of blessings, far greater than any bestowed by his ancestors. This prophecy was to be fulfilled in the two sons of Joseph, which meant Joseph had a double portion above his brothers.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
22. Joseph is a fruitful bough. Others translate it, “a son of honor,” (214) and both are suitable; but I rather incline to the former sense, because it seems to me that it refers to the name Joseph, by which addition or increase is signified; although I have no objection to the similitude taken from a tree, vehicle, being planted near a fountain, draws from the watered earth the moisture and sap by which it grows the faster. The sum of the figure is, that he is born to grow like a tree situated near a fountain, so that, by its beauty and lofty stature, it may surmount the obstacles around it. For I do not interpret the words which follow to mean that there will be an assemblage of virgins upon the walls, whom the sight of the tree shall have attracted; but, by a continued metaphor, I suppose the tender and smaller branches to be called daughters. (215) And they are said “to run over the wall” when they spread themselves far and wide. Besides, Jacob’s discourse does not relate simply to the whole tribe, nor is it a mere prophecy of future times; but the personal history of Joseph is blended with that of his descendants. Thus some things are peculiar to himself, and others belong to the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. So when Joseph is said to have been “grieved,” this is wont to be referred especially to himself. And whereas Jacob has compared him to a tree; so he calls both his brethren and Potiphar, with his wife, “archers.” (216) Afterwards, however, he changes the figure by making Joseph himself like a strenuous archer, whose bow abides in strength, and whose arms are not relaxed, nor have lost, in any degree, their vigor; by which expressions he predicts the invincible fortitude of Joseph, because he has yielded to no blows however hard and severe. At the same time we are taught that he stood, not by the power of his own arm, but as being strengthened by the hand of God, whom he distinguishes by the peculiar title of “the mighty God of Jacob,” because he designed his power to be chiefly conspicuous, and to shine most brightly in the Church. Meanwhile, he declares that the help by which Joseph was assisted, arose from hence, that God had chosen that family for himself For the holy fathers were extremely solicitous that the gratuitous covenant of God should be remembered by themselves and by their children, whenever any benefit was granted unto them. And truly it is a mark of shameful negligence, not to inquire from what fountain we drink water. In the mean time he tacitly censures the impious and ungodly fury of his ten sons; because, by attempting the murder of their brother, they, like the giants, had carried on war against God. He also admonishes them for the future, that they should rather choose to be protected by the guardianship of God, than to make him their enemy, seeing that he is alike willing to give help to all. And hence arises a consideration consolatory to all the pious, when they hear that the power of God resides in the midst of the Church, if they do but glory in him alone; as the Psalm teaches,
“
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will invoke the name of the Lord our God.” (Psa 20:7.)
The sons of Jacob, therefore, must take care lest they, by confiding in their own strength, precipitate themselves into ruin; but must rather bear themselves nobly and triumphantly in the Lord.
What follows admits of various interpretations. Some translate it, “From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel;” as if Jacob would say, that Joseph had been the nourisher and rock, or stay of his house. Others read, “the shepherd of the stone,” in the genitive case, which I approve, except that they mistake the sense, by taking “stone” to mean family. I refer it to God, who assigned the office of shepherd to his servant Joseph, in the manner in which any one uses the service of a hireling to feed his flock. For whence did it arise that he nourished his own people, except that he was the dispenser of the Divine beneficence? Moreover, under this type, the image of Christ is depicted to us, who, before he should come forth as the conqueror of death and the author of life, was set as a mark of contradiction, (Heb 12:3,) against whom all cast their darts; as now also, after his example, the Church also must be transfixed with many arrows, that she may be kept by the wonderful help of God. Moreover, lest the brethren should maliciously envy Joseph, Jacob sets his victory in an amiable point of view to them, by saying that he had been liberated in order that he might become their nourisher or shepherd.
(214) “ Filium decoris.” The original is בנ פרת, ( Ben porath,) literally, “the son of fruitfulness.” The name of Joseph’s son, Ephriam, is derived from this word. — Ed
(215) בנות, ( Banoth,) literally, “the daughters went over the wall.” But Calvin, with our translators, wisely interprets the expression as a poetical one, meaning the branches, (which are the daughters of the tree,) according to a very usual phraseology of the Hebrew Scriptures. — Ed
(216) Archers, literally, “Lords of the arrows.”
“
The archers shot at him with hpoisoned arrows, They have pursued him with hatred.”
Waterland in Caunter’s Poetry of the Pentateuch, vol. I., p. 223. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
CRITICAL NOTES.
Gen. 49:22. Whose branches run over the wall.] Transcend all the usual boundaries of a well-enclosed garden. Joseph is, in prospect, the twofold tribe that bursts the bounds assigned to a twelfth of the chosen people, and overspreads the area of two tribes. (Murphy.)
Gen. 49:24. The shepherd the stone of Israel.] His rock at Bethel, on whose support he slept as he pillowed his head upon the stone. (Lange) The fostering guardian as well as the solid foundation of his being. (Murphy.)
Gen. 49:26. Separate from his brethren.] Distinguished from his brethren. A separate onein his personal consecration, as well as in his historical dignity. (Lange.)
Gen. 49:27. Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf; in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.] The warlike boldness of the tribe appears in the history (Jdg. 5:14); its distinguished archers and slingers (Jdg. 20:16; 1Ch. 8:39-40; 1Ch. 12:2; 2Ch. 14:7-8; 2Ch. 17:17). Saul and Jonathan sprang from this tribe.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.Gen. 49:22-26
THE BLESSING OF JOSEPH
The patriarch delights to dwell on this theme. The whole tone of his language changes; and he pours out his full soul in blessings upon the head of his long lost, but now restored and exalted son. He has the richest and largest benedictions for him who was the saviour of his house and the type of the coming Deliverer. All the fathers heart is here. There are three elements in this blessing of Joseph.
I. Prediction of his future greatness.
1. His extraordinary increase. He was to be as a fruitful bough planted by a well. His descendants would spread and flourish, like a tree planted by the rivers of water. (Psa. 1:3). His branches would even run over the wall; they would outgrow their boundaries. The remarkable increase of this adopted tribe is recorded in Num. 1:33-35; Joshua 16; Joshua 17; Deu. 33:17.
2. His great prosperity.
(1.) All kinds of blessings were promised. Blessings of heaven above. (Gen. 49:25). The uses and favours bestowed by the air, the rain, and the sun; and above all, spiritual blessings from on high, of which these were the natural symbols. Blessings of the deep that lieth under. The springs and streams, and the fertile soil; and chiefly those gifts which arise from Gods deep fountains of love, from Him with whom is the well of life. Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. A numerous offspring, children of the home, flocks and herds in abundance.
(2.) His blessings were to surpass all former instances. The blessings of my father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors. (Gen. 49:26). They were to surpass those blessings which came upon Jacob from his father, as far as the old mountains tower above the earth. They were to rise until they reach the summits of the everlasting hills; as it were, a complete deluge of blessing.
(3.) His blessings are traced to their source. The God of thy father who shall help thee. The Almighty, who is able to control all adverse powers and to accomplish His will, who has the ability as well as the disposition to be good.
II. Praise of his character. He dwells upon what Joseph was and had been.
1. He had been a much tried man. The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him. (Gen. 49:23.)
(1.) The archers of envy and hatred. The envy of his brethren wounded his feelings, their cruel words like arrows pierced his soul, their hatred sold him into slavery.
(2.) The archers of temptation. He was tempted by an adulterous mistress. (Gen. 39:7-19.)
(3.) The archers of persecution. He was imprisoned by his master, though he was innocent of wrong. Though supported by his integrity, yet he felt the trial. The iron entered his soul.
(4.) The archers of neglect and ingratitude. His patience was sorely tried by his fellow prisoner, who forgot him, leaving him to languish in his long imprisonment, when a word spoken in praise of such a benefactor might have brought deliverance.
2. He had gained the victory over his trials. His bow abode in strength. (Gen. 49:24.) It was kept strongly strong, was never allowed to weaken or slacken, was always ready. (Job. 29:20.) He was not one of those who faint in adversity. (Pro. 24:10.) He always had great moral strength and firmness of character. His courage and self-possession never forsook him. The patriarch does not forget the Divine source of his strength; The arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. (Gen. 49:24.) The God who had shown His mightiness in Jacobs own deliverance. The stone of Israel was the strong foundation of his life. The Shepherd of Israel was his guide and defence, his living, personal God.
III. His destiny the natural result of his character. His future might be judged from his past; for that contains in itself all the elements of true greatness.
1. His filial obedience. This was his peculiarity. He kept that commandment which has promise. He had learned to obey, and so he was fit to rule.
2. His desire for Gods glory. He had the fear of God before his eyes, and considered that his life was ordered by Divine wisdom for the good of others. (Gen. 45:7-8.) He who thus glorifies God must be blessed. To show, further, how his future might be inferred from his past, consider:
3. The operation of that principle by which God rewards in kind. Joseph was separate from his brethren; first by a painful exile, and now by a glorious promotion and distinction. This separation had the effect of forcing him back upon himself, and of fetching out and bringing to the surface the true greatness of his character. He was rewarded in kindseparated first by adversity, and then by superior rank and blessing.
4. The principle that Gods dealings in the past constitute a ground of hope and trust for the future. God hath and God shall is sound Scripture logic. (Psa. 85:1-4; 2Co. 1:10.) The goodness and grace of the past is a pledge for the future. We may be sure that our God will be always like Himself. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. (Psa. 63:7.)
5. The principle by which a firm and well-established godliness tends to continue. The figure which represented the vitality and increase of Josephs family was also true of his spiritual nature. His soul was like a tree planted by the rivers of water, ever full of vigorous life and bringing forth abundant fruit. He had overcome temptation, and thus had proved the strength of his character. He had been used to the ways of obedience until they had grown into a habit. He had enjoyed the favour of God until it became his chief delight. The natural tendency of a godly life (natural with the new nature) is to continue. The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. (Job. 17:9.)
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Gen. 49:22. The emblem of the vine running over the wall aptly denotes a population swelling beyond the compass of the bounds which they were to occupy. How strikingly this was fulfilled in the case of Joseph! (Jos. 17:14-18.)(Bush.)
Gen. 49:23-24. The Divine favour forsook him not; he was preserved and relieved by the mighty God of Jacob, by whom he was delivered when his death was designed; preserved chaste when tempted to sin; rendered prosperous from the depth of his affliction; and finally advanced to great dignity, and made an instrument of most signal good to others. Thus his low abode in strength, denoting unconquered perseverance in a particular state or condition.(Bush.)
The sound heart stands firm under greatest pressures (2Co. 1:9; 2Co. 1:12). Whereas, if a bone be broke, or but the skin rubbed up and raw, the lightest load will be troublesome. Hang heavy weights upon rotten boughs, they presently break. But Josephs were green, and had sap.(Trapp.)
Gen. 49:25. God shall hear the heaven, the heaven shall hear the earth, and the earth shall hear the corn, wine, and oil; the genealogy of all which is resolved into God (Hos. 2:21-22).(Trapp.)
The earth shall rise up against the wicked, and the heavens shall reveal their iniquity; but heaven and earth, and the waters below the earth, shall combine, under the control of Divine Providence, to furnish blessings to Gods people.(Bush.)
Gen. 49:26. To Joseph is given a double portion with a double measure of affection from a fathers heart. Like an overflowing flood his blessings have risen to the very summits of the perpetual hills in the conceptions of the venerable patriarch.(Murphy.)
The spirit of his benediction was, by how much he was afflicted for the sake of others, by so much let him be blessed and honoured, and that to the latest posterity! And such is the mind of God, and all His true friends concerning a greater than Joseph (Heb. 2:9; Rev. 5:11-12; Rev. 1:5-6).(Fuller.)
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(22) A fruitful bough.Literally the words are, Son of a fruitful tree is Joseph; son of a fruitful tree by a fountain: the daughters spread over the wall. That is, Joseph is like a fruitful tree planted near a fountain of living water, and of which the branches, or suckers, springing from it overtop the wall built round the spring for its protection. This fruitfulness of Joseph was shown by the vast number of his descendants.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(22-26) Joseph.The blessing of Joseph is, in many particulars, the most remarkable of them all. Jacob throughout it seems struggling with himself, and anxious to bestow more than was in his power. Joseph was his dearest son, the child of his chief and most beloved wife; he was, too, the saviour of Israels family, and the actual ruler of Egypt; and his father had even bestowed upon him the portion of the firstborn in giving him two tribes, and to the rest but one. Nevertheless, he cannot bestow upon him the sovereignty. In clear terms he had described Judah as the lion, whose lordly strength should give Israel victory and dominion, and the sceptre must remain his until He whose right it is to rule should come. And thus Jacob magnifies again and again, but in obscure terms, his blessing upon Joseph, which, when analyzed, amounts simply to excessive fruitfulness, with no Messianic or spiritual prerogative. Beginning with this, Jacob next dwells upon Josephs trials, and upon the manliness with which he had borne and overcome them; and then magnifies the blessedness of the earthly lot of his race, won for them by the personal worth of Joseph, with a description of which Jacob ends his words.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
22. Joseph When the patriarch turns to Joseph, all the affection and tenderness of his soul seem to break forth in rapturous song . It remains for him now only to bless the two sons of Rachel, and then die . Three expressions in this verse serve to portray the fruitfulness and glory of the tribe of Joseph . 1) Son of a fruit tree; that is, branch, scion, or outgrowth of a fruit tree; transplanted from the main stock . 2) The fruitfulness of the tree and its branches is enhanced by its standing over a fountain. Comp . Psa 1:3. 3) So fruitful and luxuriant is the tree that its boughs beget other boughs; the sons beget daughters, which spread and climb upon the wall beside which the tree is supposed to be planted. This great luxuriance of growth points to Joseph as having, through his two sons, a double inheritance; for this was the birthright given to him. 1Ch 5:1.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“Joseph is the son of a fruitful tree,
The son of a fruitful tree by a spring,
His daughters run over the wall.
The archers have sorely grieved him,
And shot at him and persecuted him,
But his bow abode in strength,
And the arms of his hands were made strong,
By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob,
From there is the shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
Even by the God of your father who will help you,
And by Shaddai who will bless you,
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep which couches beneath,
Blessings of the breast and of the womb.
The blessings of your father have prevailed,
Above the blessings of my progenitors,
To the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.
They shall be on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of him
Who was separate from his brothers.”
In this word in respect of Joseph his father rejoices in the way that God has triumphed. Although Joseph has been persecuted (the archers represent his brothers sniping at him) he has been strong and has also triumphed. Indeed mighty blessings have been poured on him including the birth of sons. This is because the blessings of his father have far exceeded those of his contemporaries, and these blessings will be on him into the future.
“Joseph is the son of a fruitful tree — by a spring, his daughters run over the wall.” The picture is of a tree planted by abundant water, not such a common sight in Canaan where water was short, with branches (daughters) that abound and climb a wall. The idea is probably of a vine tree. In other words Joseph is fruitful, and flourishing and exceedingly blessed, and will produce abundant fruit and offspring.
“The son of a fruitful tree.” Jacob may well have himself in mind here as the fruitful tree, with his twelve sons and many daughters. Once again his pride in his own abilities comes out. But he knew from God’s promises that he himself was to have abundant seed and declares the same for Joseph. Manasseh and Ephraim in fact became two of the largest tribes.
“The archers have sorely grieved him and shot at him and persecuted him.” The reference here is to his brothers who have constantly attacked him with words as arrows, and have persecuted him.
“But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong.” The persecution did not cause him to fail, rather he became strong under the persecution, and answered all their accusations. Pulling a bow required strong arms, but God gave him all the strength required (‘were made strong’).
“By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob.” His arms were made strong by the Mighty One of Jacob. This may have been Jacob’s own special name for God, compare ‘the Fear of Isaac’ (31:42), because he had experienced His mighty power. And Joseph too had become mighty, and would continue to be so through his seed with the help of the Mighty One.
“From thence is the shepherd, the Rock of Israel.” Jacob now expands on What the Mighty One of Jacob is to them. As the Mighty One of Jacob He is also the Rock of Israel, the firm foundation, the one who shepherds and watches over Jacob and his family.
“Even by the God of your father who will help you, and by Shaddai who will bless you.” And He is the God of their father, and Shaddai (the Almighty), Who with His mighty arm helps and blesses Joseph, and will continue to do so. The God of his father is a reminder of the covenant situation which he enjoys, Shaddai is a reminder that the One Who watches over him is also the God of the nations.
“With blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that couches beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb.” This God will cause blessings to abound. The description is one of abundant fruitfulness. The heavens gave forth rain, the Nile sent forth its water, so that abundant corn could be stored for the famine. Strictly ‘the deep’ may be seen as referring to the sea so the idea may be more general, but even the Reed Sea could be described in terms of the deep (Neh 9:11; Isa 63:13), so how much more so the Nile. The ancients recognised that below the surface of the earth were deeps waiting to spring forth, what we call in our scientific day the water table. The idea of the blessings of the deep in Egypt must surely refer to the beneficial Nile which is elsewhere called ‘a sea’ in poetry, and the picture is one of rising waters that bring fruitfulness. Such a picture was natural to someone living in Egypt, but not in Canaan.
“That couches beneath” like an animal waiting to spring. This splendidly depicts the overflowing of the Nile suddenly springing from its depths. Moses, who had long familiarity with the blessings of the Nile, took up the same picture concerning Joseph in Deu 33:13. The blessing also included personal fruitfulness in the birth of his sons, ‘the breasts and the womb’. The word for ‘deep’ is tehom which has been proved at Ugarit to be a standard word for deep without mythological connection.
“The blessings of your father have prevailed — unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.” This may mean the blessings he has received or the blessings he bestows, but either way they are so expanded as to reach the furthest bound of what is most sure and reliable, ‘the eternal hills”. And these will fall on the head of Joseph, even on him who was separated from his brothers, and is blessed more than all of them. See again Deu 33:15-16. Moses clearly had this blessing before him and used it in his own blessing.
So Joseph has been blessed and will go on being blessed.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 49:22. Joseph The four last were the sons of the two handmaids; from whom Jacob passes with a seeming joy to those of his beloved Rachel; and Joseph, whose turn came next, heard his blessing pronounced in the most sublime and endearing terms.
This difficult verse is differently interpreted. 1st, Those who vindicate our version say, that Joseph, of whom came two tribes, is here properly compared to a fruitful bough, shooting forth two luxuriant stems or branches: and this bough is said to be by a well; i.e.. in a moist and well-watered soil, where plants grow fastest; and the same idea is here used as in the first Psalm, where, Gen 49:3 the good man is compared to a tree planted by the rivers of water. What we render branches is, in the Hebrew, daughters; whose DAUGHTERS run over the wall; for, in the Hebrew, whatever comes from another, is called its son or daughter. Ainsworth, after the Chaldee and Jerusalem paraphrase, understands here the vine-tree, which is usually planted against a wall or other prop, Psa 128:3. Now these spreading branches, by an easy metaphor, signify the prodigious increase of these tribes. 2nd, Others think the words may be translated, Joseph is a son of beauty, the daughters ran upon the walls to see him; in which sense they are understood by the Vulgate and some other versions. “This reading has by far the most votes,” say the authors of the Universal History.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
DISCOURSE: 61
JOSEPH A TYPE OF CHRIST
Gen 49:22-24. Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall. The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him. But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob: from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel.
PECULIAR care is to be used in unfolding the types, lest, by indulging our own imagination, we bring the very truth of God itself into contempt. Where the Scriptures themselves have marked the typical reference, we may proceed without fear; but when once they cease to guide us, we should not venture one step but with fear and trembling. This observation is peculiarly applicable to the subject before us. It does not appear that Joseph is anywhere declared to be a type of Christ, notwithstanding the circumstances wherein they resemble each other are as numerous and remarkable, as in almost any other instance whatever. We forbear therefore to assert any thing on this subject with confidence; while, in compliance with the opinion of the most judicious commentators, and indeed with the almost irresistible conviction of our own mind, we proceed to trace the resemblance of Joseph to Christ, in,
I.
His distinguishing character
Joseph is represented as a fruitful bough
[Every tribe is distinguished by something characteristic, either of the patriarchs themselves, or of their descendants. The distinction assigned to Joseph, is that of peculiar fruitfulness: and to him it eminently belonged. All his brethren indeed were honoured with being heads of distinct tribes: but Joseph had both his sons chosen of God, and appointed to be Leads of separate tribes; and thus two tribes sprang from him, while one tribe only sprang from any of his brethren.]
To our Lord also is a similar title frequently ascribed
[Jesus was that beautiful and glorious branch, which was in due time to spring from the stem of Jesse [Note: Isa 4:2; Isa 11:1.], the fruit whereof was to fill the whole earth [Note: Isa 27:6.]. It was not one tribe only, or two, that was to acknowledge him as their head, but all the tribes; yea, Gentiles as well as Jews, even all the ends of the earth: his fruit was to shake like the woods of Lebanon, and they, who should spring from him, were to be numerous as the piles of grass [Note: Psa 72:16.], the stars of heaven [Note: Gen 15:5.], and the sands upon the sea-shore [Note: Gen 22:17.]. And so abundantly has this prediction been already verified, that we may say of this Branch as the Psalmist did of that which typically represented it, It has taken deep root, and filled the land: the hills are covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof are like the goodly cedars; it has sent forth its boughs unto the sea, and its branches unto the river [Note: Psa 80:9-11.].]
But the resemblance will more fully appear, while we consider,
II.
His grievous sufferings
Joseph was for many years very grievously afflicted
[He was eminently the beloved of his father [Note: Gen 37:3.] ; and, being utterly averse to sin himself, he would reprove, and lay before his father, the misconduct of his brethren [Note: Gen 37:2.]: he also, unreservedly, communicated to them all the repeated intimations, which he had had in dreams, respecting his future exaltation above his whole family [Note: Gen 37:5; Gen 37:9.]. For these reasons he was envied, hated, and persecuted by his brethren [Note: Gen 37:4; Gen 37:11.]. And when he came to them from his father, upon an errand of love, they conspired against him to kill him [Note: Gen 37:18-20.]. An opportunity offering at the moment, they sold him into the hands of strangers for twenty pieces of silver [Note: Gen 37:28.]. After that, he was accused of a crime he utterly abhorred, and, without any one to plead his cause, was cast into prison [Note: Gen 39:12-20.], where, for a time at least, he was laid in irons, and galled with heavy fetters [Note: Psa 105:18.] ; so sorely did the archers grieve him, and shoot at him, and hate him.]
And can we err in tracing here the sufferings of our Lord?
[Jesus was, infinitely above all others, the well-beloved of his Father [Note: Mat 3:17.] ; and, while he faithfully reproved the sins of his brethren, declared to them his future exaltation and glory [Note: Joh 7:7 and Mat 26:64.]. Filled with envy and wrath against him, they said, as it were in malignant triumph, This is the heir; come, let us kill him [Note: Mat 21:38.] ; so cruelly did they reward him evil for good, and hatred for his love [Note: Psa 109:3-5.]. When he was come to them from his Father with the most benevolent design, behold, one of his own disciples sold him, and that to strangers too, for thirty pieces of silver [Note: Mat 26:15-16.]. He was accused of blasphemy against God, and of rebellion against his king; and, without any one appearing to speak on his behalf [Note: Isa 53:8. See Bp. Lowths translation and note, and Psa 69:20.], was instantly condemned; and thus, though none could convince him of sin, was numbered with the transgressors. Could there have been such a coincidence of circumstances between his lot and Josephs, at least is it probable there would have been, if it had not been particularly ordained of God?]
We may pursue the comparison yet further, in,
III.
His unshaken constancy
Joseph was marvelously upheld under all his trials
[Though he besought his brethren with cries and tears, we read not of any reproachful language that he used: when he entreated Pharaohs butler to intercede for him, he did not so much as mention either his brethren, who had sold him, or his mistress, who had falsely accused him [Note: Gen 40:14-15.]: nor, while he was enduring his hard lot, did he once murmur or repine at the providence of God: through the whole of his trial he possessed his soul in patience: nor, when he had it in his power to revenge himself, did he render any thing but love for hatred, and good for evil. The apparent unkindness of his deportment, which he adopted for a time, was a violence done to his own feelings, in order that he might discern the real state of their minds, and reveal himself to them afterwards to better effect [Note: Gen 42:7; Gen 42:9; Gen 42:12.]. When the proper season was arrived, he fully evinced the tenderness of his heart, and the delight he took in the exercise of mercy; and, so far from upbraiding his brethren, he said all he could to extenuate their crime, and referred the whole event to the overruling providence of God [Note: Gen 45:5.]. So effectually were his hands strengthened by the mighty God of Jacob, that in no instance was he overcome of evil, but at all times overcame evil with good.]
Our blessed Lord also shone like him, only with infinitely brighter lustre
[Never did an inadvertent word drop from the lips of Jesus under all his persecutions: When he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously [Note: 1Pe 2:23.]. As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so opened he not his mouth [Note: Isa 53:7.] either in menaces, or complaints. His meekness was uniform, his fortitude undaunted, his patience invincible. He sought nothing but the good of those who were daily conspiring against his life: he wept over them, when they resisted all his overtures of mercy [Note: Luk 19:41.]: he even prayed for them, and apologized for their crimes, when they were in the very act of putting him to death [Note: Luk 23:34.]: and, after his resurrection, commanded that the offers of salvation through his blood should be made first to the very people who had so lately shed it [Note: Luk 24:47.].]
There is yet one more feature of resemblance to be noticed, in,
IV.
His glorious advancement
After all his trials Joseph was exalted to a throne
[Through the good providence of God, Joseph was enabled to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh, and was, on that account, brought from the dungeon, and made, next to Pharaoh, the supreme governor of the Egyptian kingdom [Note: Gen 41:14-15; Gen 41:41.]: all were ordered to bow the knee to Joseph [Note: Gen 41:43.] ; and all, who came for a supply of corn, received this direction, Go to Joseph [Note: Gen 41:55.]. Thus did God exalt him to be both the shepherd and the stone of Israel, that he might not only provide for Egypt and the neighbouring kingdoms, but be an effectual support to all his kindred, and preserve the lives of those very persons who had sought his destruction.]
Can we reasonably doubt but that in this he was a type of Jesus?
[Jesus was raised from the prison of the grave by the effectual working of Gods power: he was highly exalted; and had a name given him above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow [Note: Php 2:9-11; Psa 72:8-9; Psa 72:11.]: all power was committed to him in heaven and in earth; and all things were put under him, he only excepted, who did put all things under him [Note: 1Co 15:27.]. Whatever we want for our souls, we must receive it all out of his fulness [Note: Joh 1:16.]: the direction given to every living creature is, Go to Jesus, Look to Jesus [Note: Isa 45:22; Joh 7:37.]. And how does he exercise his power? Behold, he calls his sinful brethren from a land of want and misery, and brings them to his own land of peace and plenty. There he nourishes them with the bread of life, and reigns over the house of Jacob for ever and ever. Thus, as the great Shepherd of the sheep, he both feeds and rules his flock, while as the foundation and cornerstone he supports and connects, confirms and dignifies, all the Israel of God [Note: Heb 13:20; 1Pe 2:6.].]
By way of improvement we observe,
1.
The purposes of God, whatever may be done to frustrate them, shall surely be accomplished
[We are amazed at the variety of incidents, that seemed to put the elevation of Joseph, and of Christ, almost beyond the reach of Omnipotence itself. Yet Gods purposes were accomplished by the very means used to defeat them. Thus shall it be with us also, if we confide in the word of God. Whatever means Satan, or the world, may use to separate us from God, they shall not prevail. What God has promised, he is able also to perform. Let us therefore trust in him; for He will work, and who shall let it? He hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? His counsel shall stand; and he will do all his pleasure [Note: Isa 43:13; Isa 14:27; Isa 46:10.].]
2.
Gods dearest children must expect many trials in their way to glory
[Joseph, and Christ, endured much before their exaltation. And we also through much tribulation shall enter into the kingdom. The number and weight of our trials are no grounds of concluding ourselves to be objects of Gods displeasure: they should rather, especially if they be sanctified to us, be considered as tokens of his love [Note: Heb 12:6.]. As the Captain of our salvation was, so also must we be, made perfect through sufferings [Note: Heb 2:10.]. Let us then arm ourselves with the mind that was in Christ. We shall surely have no reason to regret the difficulties of the way, when we have attained the rest prepared for us.]
3.
We should not labour to control events, but study rather to accommodate ourselves to the circumstances in which God has placed us
[How often might Joseph have escaped from the house of Potiphar, or sent to his brethren the news of his exaltation in Egypt! But he left all in the hands of God, endeavouring only to fulfil his duty, whether as a slave or a steward, whether as a jailor or a prince. Thus did our Lord also, when he could in ten thousand ways have changed the course of events. Let us do likewise. Whatever be our circumstances or condition in life, let us be more desirous of glorifying God under them, than of contriving, by any means, to alter them. Gods time and manner of accomplishing his own ends will be found infinitely better in the issue, than any we can devise [Note: Isa 55:8-9.]. Let us then tarry his leisure, and leave ourselves wholly to his disposal, and approve ourselves to him as faithful, and obedient children.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
While we keep in view the Patriarch Joseph in those prophecies, let us not forget that a greater than Joseph is here. How fruitful is the church of the LORD! his branches have spread over the earth. Psa 80:1-8 , etc.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 49:22 Joseph [is] a fruitful bough, [even] a fruitful bough by a well; [whose] branches run over the wall:
Ver. 22. Joseph is a fruitful bough. ] Of the vine, saith the Chaldee Paraphrast. But it may be, Jacob meant it of the Egyptian fig tree, whereof Solinus reporteth that it beareth fruit seven times in the year; pull one fig, and another presently puts forth, saith he. a
a Uno anno septies fructus sufficit. Unde pomum decerpseris, alterum sine mora protuberat. – Solin.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 49:22-26
22″Joseph is a fruitful bough,
A fruitful bough by a spring;
Its branches run over a wall.
23The archers bitterly attacked him,
And shot at him and harassed him;
24But his bow remained firm,
And his arms were agile,
From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
25From the God of your father who helps you,
And by the Almighty who blesses you
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26The blessings of your father
Have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors
Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills;
May they be on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.
Gen 49:22-26 “Joseph” As Judah was singled out among the sons of Leah to receive the leadership of the family (i.e., line of the Messiah), so Joseph is singled out among the sons of Rachel to receive the double inheritance (i.e., Ephraim and Manasseh). This is a very poetic and yet emphatic statement about the priority of Joseph.
Gen 49:22 There is a word play and a metaphor in this verse.
1. the Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE, BDB 826, KB 963, is repeated twice
2. in line 1 “bough” is literally “son,” but in line 3 “bough” is “daughter”
These are agricultural metaphors for a vigorous growing and fruitful plant (cf. Deu 33:13-16).
Some commentators are doubtful of a switch from animal metaphors (cf. Gen 49:9; Gen 49:14; Gen 49:17; Gen 49:21; Gen 49:27, and the parallel in Deu 33:17) and change the imagery to a wild donkey on a hillside (cf. JPSOA, TEV). Poetry in an ancient language using rare words is a slippery thing!
Gen 49:22 has many questions with the Hebrew text!
Gen 49:23-25 These verses relate metaphorically to
1. Joseph’s experience with his brothers and Potiphar and prison life
2. The tribes of Joseph’s sons (i.e., Ephraim and Manasseh) and their conquest of their tribal allocations in Canaan (Joshua)
Notice the different titles for God.
1. the Mighty One of Jacob, Gen 49:24, BDB 7 CONSTRUCT 784, cf. Psa 132:2; Psa 132:5; Isa 49:26 (the Mighty One of Israel, Isa 1:24)
2. the Shepherd, Gen 49:24, BDB 944, KB 1258, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE, cf. Psa 23:1; Psa 80:1 (similar pastoral idiom, Psa 78:52)
3. the Stone (or Rock) of Israel, Gen 49:24, BDB 6 CONSTRUCT 975, cf. Isa 30:29; possibly linked to the Messianic title “Cornerstone” in Psa 118:22; Isa 28:16 (see Special Topic to follow)
4. the God of your fathers, Gen 49:25, cf. Gen 26:3; Gen 26:24; Gen 28:13; Gen 32:9 (i.e., Abraham, Isaac; note the SINGULAR is an emphasis on Jacob’s God)
5. the Almighty (lit. Shaddai, cf. JPSOA), Gen 49:25, BDB 994, cf. Gen 17:1; see Special Topic: NAMES FOR DEITY
SPECIAL TOPIC: CORNERSTONE
Gen 49:25 “With the blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb” This is a threefold emphasis on abundance of crops, herds, and human population. This is what YHWH wanted to do to all humanity in Eden.
“Heaven” and “deep” are used as metaphors for the widest, greatest possible blessings. Both would relate to moisture for abundant crops and grasses (cf. Deu 33:13).
Gen 49:26 There is a parallelism between line 2 and line 3, but both have difficulties in Hebrew.
1. blessing of everlasting mountains (BDB 249) or ancestors (BDB 223 also assumes it refers in parallel to everlasting mountains, as does the LXX and the parallel in Deu 33:15; MT has “ancestors,” but this form is found only here)
2. blessings of the eternal hills
In the context of the parallelism both lines probably relate to mountains and hills, which was an idiom for strength and permanence.
“the head of one distinguished among his brothers” “Distinguished” (BDB 634) is from the root for “Nazarite,” which means “to set apart” (cf. TEV) or “consecrated to.” It can possibly denote a prince or official (cf. Nah 3:17). It may refer to Joseph’s position of leadership in Egypt.
Joseph. Compare Deu 33:13-17.
whose branches run over the wall = branches [it hath] each hath overclimbed a wall.
Chapter 40
Boundless Blessedness
“Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: (23) The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: (24) But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) (25) Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: (26) The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.”
Gen 49:22-26
In Genesis 49, we see Jacob on his deathbed; and here we see him at his best. He showed himself a noble man in many things; but his final scene is by far his best. Like the sun at sunset, Israel appeared most glorious when he was leaving this world. Spurgeon said, Like good wine which runs clear to the very bottom, unalloyed by dregs, so did Jacob, till his dying hour, continue to sing of love, mercy, and goodness, past and future. Like the swan, which (as old writers say) singeth not all its life until it comes to die, so the old patriarch remained silent as a songster for many years, but when he stretched himself on his last couch of rest, he stayed himself up in his bed and, although with faltering voice, he sang a sonnet upon his offspring.
In Gen 49:22-26, Jacob gives his richest, fullest benediction to his beloved son, Joseph. Without question, the benediction here given to Joseph speaks of the blessedness of him of whom Joseph was a type and picture, the Lord Jesus Christ. Because the one spoken of here is Christ our Lord, the blessedness here bestowed upon him is also a declaration of that boundless blessedness which is the portion of Gods elect. So, as we read these lines, I will endeavor to show you how that everything written in these verses applies first to Joseph, then to our Lord Jesus Christ, and then to all who are Christs.
A Fruitful Bough
Gen 49:22 — “Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall.”
Joseph was made to be a fruitful bough. This prophecy refers to Josephs seed, his children, which are here compared to a tree so heavily loaded with fruit that its branches hang over the wall of the garden in which it stands. I do not doubt that the promise here given refers to Josephs physical seed; but it goes beyond that. This is a prophecy concerning the boundless fruitfulness of our great Joseph, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The fruit of our great Saviors substitutionary sacrifice at Calvary is a great, innumerable host of redeemed sinners who shall serve him forever. The Lord Jesus Christ was cut off in the prime of his manhood, a single man, with no children. The question is asked, Who shall declare his generation? It appeared that he would never have a seed to serve and honor his name; but that is not the case.
In fact, his death as our sin-atoning Substitute is the very means by which his bountiful, innumerable seed is born. His death, as an offering for sin, guaranteed the birth and everlasting life of his people.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities” (Isa 53:8-11)
Therefore we read in Psa 22:30-31, “A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.”
This promise is also a promise concerning each of Gods elect in Christ. Every child of God, every true believer shall be a fruitful bough, bringing forth fruit unto God, by the power of his grace. The Lord God declares, From me is thy fruit found. (Hos 14:8); and he makes all his children fruit bearing trees. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23).
A Hated Man
Gen 49:23 — “The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him.”
Joseph had to endure the envy of his brothers, by which he was grieved, the temptations of Potiphars wife, the slander she heaped upon him, and the uncaused hatred of them all. All Gods Josephs in this world are marked, hated men.
Our Master, like Joseph, was hated without a cause. He was tempted in the wilderness, envied by the Pharisees, hated by the Jews, slandered by his enemies, grieved in his very soul, and at last slaughtered on trumped up charges as a common criminal.
Let none who follow the Son of God expect better treatment while living in this world. The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord. Though blessed of God, boundlessly, everlastingly blessed of God, in this world, every child of God has the lot of Joseph. We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of heaven. Every believer must endure the temptations of Satan, the envy of men, the betrayal of friends, the slander of evil tongues, and the hatred of men, even the hatred of men whose interests they serve. This is our lot in this world; but it is as surely a part of our blessedness as the most pleasant things we experience (Luk 6:20-26).
A Man Made Strong
Gen 49:24 — “But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel).”
Joseph was a man made strong by the mighty God of Jacob. The text says nothing about Josephs natural strength or superiority over his brothers. The text says he was made strong by the mighty God of Jacob
Though many archers took aim and shot their arrows at him, Josephs bow abode in strength. That is to say, he was so strong that he never sought to retaliate. A warrior who draws a bow must release his arrow quickly, else his hand will quiver, and he will miss his mark. Joseph was made strong, so strong that though his bow is drawn, he holds it steady and never fires a return arrow at his adversaries.
When his brothers falsely accursed him, Joseph said nothing, either in defense of himself or against his accusers. When Potiphars wife slandered him, he spoke not a word. When he was wrongfully imprisoned on trumped up charges, he said nothing. When the chief butler forgot his kindness to him, Josephs bow still abode in his strength. His arm was still made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob.
That is how our Master suffered evil at the hands of men. He never once opened his mouth in defense of himself. Rather, he recognized that those who set themselves against him were but instruments by which his Father was performing his will for him, instruments by which his Father was accomplishing his covenant promise to exalt him above all.
By his great example our Lord teaches us patiently endure the assaults wicked men, without vengeance or retaliation, when we are the objects of their envy, slander, betrayal, and hatred. If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1Pe 2:20-24).
The mighty God of Jacob still makes his Josephs strong by his grace. One of them, while a prisoner for the gospels sake, displayed this same, remarkable strength of grace. He wrote from his prison, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Php 4:12-13)
From thence is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Shepherd and Stone of Israel, is that One who was sent from the Mighty God of Jacob to redeem and save his people. I cannot imagine two more encouraging, assuring, comforting titles by which Judah could have described our Savior. The Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ is the Shepherd of Israel. He is our almighty Protector and Provider, who carries his lambs in his bosom. He is also the Stone, the Rock of Israel, the One upon whom we build and upon whom we are built, our Foundation and Support.
Boundless Blessedness
In Gen 49:25-26, Jacob pronounced a sevenfold blessedness upon Joseph, a sevenfold blessedness upon all who are Gods. This is boundless blessedness indeed!
1.”Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee. Here is a promise of help in every time of need. He who is the God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he who is the God of Judah, who helped them and fulfilled his word to them, will help us and fulfill his word to us.
2.And by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above. — Here the promise of all the blessings of heaven, grace, salvation, eternal life, and heavenly glory in Christ (Eph 1:3-6).
3.The Almighty shall bless thee with the blessings of the deep that lieth under. Here is the promise that all the deep mysteries of providence, all the affairs of time, all the events of the world, the demons of hell, the beasts of the field, and the adversities of life shall prove to be a blessing from God to his people (Hos 2:18; Rom 8:28-30).
4.The Almighty shall bless thee with the blessings of the breasts, and of the womb. This is a promise that goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. The old patriarch, speaking by the Spirit of God, here declares that Gods elect are blessed in all things, all the days of their lives, even from their mothers breasts. Every believer may confidently speak with David, and with the Lord himself, these words of praise to God: Thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me to hope when I was upon my mohers breasts (Psa 22:9).
5.The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors. Here Judah declares that this blessedness is indescribably greater than the blessings any earthly father can bestow upon his sons. This is the blessedness of grace upon grace, the blessedness of all things, the blessedness of all fulness in Christ (Joh 1:16; 1Co 3:21; Col 2:9-10).
6.The Almighty shall bless theeunto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. Yes, the very fulness of heavenly glory obtained by the man Christ Jesus, as our Mediator, all of it, nothing excluded, shall be ours forever (Joh 17:5; Joh 17:22). This is boundless blessedness indeed!
7.They shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. This boundless blessedness is that which God freely bestows upon all who have been separated from the sons of Adam by election, redemption, and effectual calling, and made to be the sons of God by grace in the Lord Jesus Christ (1Co 6:14 to 1Co 7:1).
a fruitful: Gen 30:22-24, Gen 41:52, Gen 46:27, Gen 48:1, Gen 48:5, Gen 48:16, Gen 48:19, Gen 48:20, Num 32:1-42, Deu 33:17, Jos 16:1-10, Jos 17:14-17, Psa 1:1-3, Psa 128:1, Psa 128:3, Eze 19:11
branches: Heb. daughters
Reciprocal: Gen 30:24 – And she Gen 46:19 – Joseph Num 1:32 – General Deu 33:13 – Joseph Isa 46:10 – the end Hos 9:11 – their Hos 13:15 – he be Amo 6:6 – but Nah 2:2 – for
Gen 49:22. Joseph is a fruitful bough Shooting forth two luxuriant stems or branches, the two numerous tribes which proceeded from his sons; by a well Or fountain, or water-course, where plants grow fastest. Thus David compares a godly man to a tree planted by the rivers of waters: Whose branches run over the wall The heat of which furthers their growth no less than the moisture received from the water.
Joseph’s blessing was especially abundant. The two tribes that bore his sons’ names would see the fulfillment of it even though during his lifetime Joseph had faced much opposition. Judah received the leadership of the tribes, but Joseph obtained the double portion of the birthright (cf. 1Ch 5:2).
Jacob’s names for God in this blessing are noteworthy: "the Mighty One of Jacob" (cf. Isa 1:24; et al.), "the Shepherd" (Gen 48:15), and "the Stone of Israel" (cf. Deu 32:4; Deu 32:18, et al.).
"Blessing is one of the key words of Genesis . . . occurring some eighty-eight times in the book. Here in two verses [25 and 26], like the finale of a fireworks display, the root occurs six times (verb 1x, noun 5x) making a brilliant climax to the last words of Jacob. The God-given blessings of the future will far outshine those already experienced." [Note: Ibid., p. 486.]
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: Discovering Christ In Selected Books of the Bible
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)