Basic HTML Version
Joseph and His Brothers
145
his sons all the honors that the court of Egypt offered, for a place
among the despised shepherd tribes who had been entrusted with
the oracles of God.
Said Jacob, “Your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were
born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are
mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.” They were to be
adopted as his own and to become the heads of separate tribes.
As they came nearer, the patriarch embraced and kissed them,
solemnly laying his hands on their heads in blessing. Then he prayed,
“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God
who has fed me all my life long to this day, the Angel who has
redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads.” There was no complaint
about the evil days in the past. He no longer regarded its trials and
sorrows as things against him. His memory recalled only the mercy
and loving-kindness of God, who had been with Jacob throughout
his pilgrimage.
All the sons of Jacob were gathered around his death bed. “And
Jacob called his sons and said, ‘Gather together, that I may tell you
what shall befall you in the last days.’”
Jacob Foretells the Future of His Sons
The Spirit of Inspiration rested on him, and in prophetic vision
the future of his descendants was unfolded before him. One after
another the names of his sons were mentioned, the character of each
was described, and the future history of the tribe was briefly foretold.
“Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of
my strength,
The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.”
But Reuben’s terrible sin at Edar had made him unworthy of the
birthright blessing. Jacob continued,
“Unstable as water, you shall not excel.”
The priesthood was given to Levi, the kingdom and the Messianic
promise to Judah, and the double portion of the inheritance to Joseph.
The tribe of Reuben never rose to any prominence in Israel; it was