Bible Commentary

Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he [shall be] for a haven of ships; and his border [shall be] unto Zidon. 13. shall dwell ] For the play probably intended on one of the meanings of Zebulun, see note on Gen 30:20. haven ] Rather, as R.V. marg., Heb. beach or … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 49:13”

His eyes [shall be] red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. 12. His eyes ] It may be doubted whether our rendering “red” gives the right meaning. The passage is usually illustrated from Pro 23:29, “who hath redness of eyes?” But, surely, the poet would hardly eulogize Judah by attributing to his eyes … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 49:12”

Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: 11. Binding vine ] Judah is represented as having so fruitful a soil that the vines grew richly by the wayside. The vine stem which would usually … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 49:11”

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him [shall] the gathering of the people [be]. 10. The sceptre ] Lit. “rod.” Either a king’s sceptre, or a general’s baton. LXX = “ruler”; Lat. sceptrum. The rendering of the LXX, which gives a personal … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 49:10”

Judah [is] a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 9. a lion’s whelp ] For the comparison of Judah with a lion, which through this verse became its historic symbol, cf. 2Es … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 49:9”

Judah, thou [art he] whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand [shall be] in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. 8. praise ] The word contains a play on the name Judah, which cannot be reproduced in a translation. See note on Gen 29:35. The transition from the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 49:8”

Cursed [be] their anger, for [it was] fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. 7. In the curse here pronounced upon Simeon and Levi, no mention is made of the Levitical priesthood. Nevertheless, the patriarch’s curse is evidently assumed to have produced its … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 49:7”

O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they digged down a wall. 6. council ] or, as R.V. marg., secret. The word means either a secret confederacy, or its secret purpose. The … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 49:6”

Simeon and Levi [are] brethren; instruments of cruelty [are in] their habitations. 5. Simeon and Levi ] These two brothers were associated in the massacre of the Shechemites, to which reference is possibly here made in language of indignation. (See ch. Gen 34:25; Gen 34:30.) swords ] The Hebrew word ( m’khrh) occurs only here. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 49:5”

Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou [it]: he went up to my couch. 4. Unstable ] The metaphor from water, bubbling over, is intended to express wanton or reckless vehemence. Reuben is as water without restraint pouring down in a foaming torrent. This … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 49:4”