1 ¶ And Jacob called to his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Jacob calls all his sons together to tell them what is going to happen in the last days. This is the first time the term “last days” is used in scripture, and it is used 13 more times in the bible. It refers to a long period of time in the future, what happens when Israel comes to be and what happens to it over time. Jacob is going to utter a prophecy here.
2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken to Israel your father. Jacob changes his name to Israel here…he says “sons of Jacob”, “listen to Israel”. Israel lists all the sons as he goes on. Each son is a tribe of Israel.
3 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Reuben is the firstborn and he should have had a double portion of inheritance.
4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it: he went up to my couch. But Reuben is unstable and will not rise above his brothers in station. Reuben took one of Jacob’s wives and slept with her – a terrible abomination. Because of this sin, Reuben will not thrive. God forgives sins, but there are still consequences to sins that God judges harsher than others. Sins against the body – made in the image of God – are judged more harshly than other sins.
5 ¶ Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. Here 2 sons are combined.
6 O my soul, come not you into their secret; to their assembly, mine honor, be not you united |
