Joseph and His Brothers
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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 upon their heads in benediction. Then he
uttered the prayer, “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac
did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the
Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads.” There was no
complaint of the evil days in the past. Its trials and sorrows were no
longer regarded as things against him. Memory recalled only God’s
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mercy and loving-kindness who had been with the patriarch throughout
his pilgrimage.
All the sons of Jacob were gathered about his dying bed. And
Jacob called unto his sons, and said, “Gather yourselves together, ...
that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.”
Jacob Foretells the Future of His Sons
The Spirit of Inspiration rested upon him, and before him in
prophetic vision the future of his descendants was unfolded. 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, thou art my firstborn,
My might, and the beginning of my strength,
The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.
But Reuben’s grievous sin at Edar had made him unworthy of the
birthright blessing. Jacob continued,
Unstable as water,
Thou shalt not excel.
The priesthood was apportioned 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 eminence in Israel;
it was not so numerous as Judah, Joseph, or Dan, and was among the
first that were carried into captivity.