The Father's Blessing

Israel blesses his sons

Today it is my privilege to cover the Parashah Vayechi. This passage from Gen. 47:28 through the end of chapter 50 is titled, “And he lived” speaking of the life of Jacob. We will start by looking at the blessings that Israel bestowed on his children and grand-children. Gen. 49:1-28.

Genesis 49:1–28 TLV

Jacob called his sons and said to them: Gather together so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the last days. Be assembled and listen, sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel your father. Reuben, my firstborn are you, my vigor and firstborn of my power, endowed with extra dignity, endowed with extra strength— like water boiling over you will not have extra, for you got up into your father’s bed, when you defiled a maid’s couch. Simeon and Levi are brothers, instruments of violence are their knives. In their secret counsel may my soul not enter. In their contingent may my honor never be united. For in their anger they slew men, and in their self-will they maimed oxen. Cursed be their anger for it was strong and their rage for it was cruel— I will disperse them in Jacob, I will scatter them in Israel. Judah, so you are— your brothers will praise you: Your hand will be on your enemies’ neck. Your father’s sons will bow down to you. A lion’s cub is Judah— from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches, lies down like a lion, or like a lioness— who would rouse him? The scepter will not pass from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs will come. To him will be the obedience of the peoples. Binding his foal to the vine, his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he washes his garments in wine, and in the blood of grapes his robe. His eyes are darker than wine, and teeth that are whiter than milk. Zebulun will dwell by the seashore, and be by a harbor for ships— his distant border reaches Sidon. Issachar is a strong-boned donkey, lying down between two saddlebags. He saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant. He leaned his shoulder to bear a burden, and became a forced laborer. Dan will judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Let Dan be a serpent beside a road, a viper beside a path, who strikes a horse’s heels, so that its rider falls backward. For your salvation I wait, Adonai! Gad—attackers will attack him, but he will attack their heels. Asher—rich is his food— he will provide delicacies fit for a king. Naphtali is a doe let loose, who offers words of beauty. A fruitful son is Joseph, a fruitful son beside a spring— daughters walk along a wall. The archers were bitter and shot arrows and were hostile towards him. Yet his bow was always filled, and his arms quick-moving— by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob. From there a Shepherd, the Stone of Israel, from the God of your father who helps you, and Shaddai who blesses you, with blessings of heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of breasts and womb. The blessings of your father surpassed the blessings of the ancient mountains, the desire of the everlasting hills. May they be upon Joseph’s head, upon the crown of the one set apart from his brothers. Benjamin is a ravening wolf— in the morning he devours spoils, and in the evening divides plunder. These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this is what their father spoke to them. He blessed them, each one he blessed with a suitable blessing.

Whereas a mother’s words bring comfort, acceptance and love, a father’s words instill purpose, destiny and identity. Jacob knew this, which is one of the reasons he had fought so hard throughout his life to gain his own father’s blessing in Gen. 27, and why he purchased his brother’s birthright (Gen. 25:29-34).

We will get back to whether or not these things were necessary later.

But here, at the end of his life, as he “bowed down in worship on the head of his staff,” Jacob freely blesses each of his sons and his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

Ephraim and Manasseh [Joseph’s sons]

Joseph, as the first-born of Rachel, receives a double portion, in that each of Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh receive a portion with the rest of the sons of Israel. Jacob appeals to God, from whom all blessings flow, and says in Gen. 48:15-16

Genesis 48:15–16 (TLV)

Then he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has shepherded me throughout my life to this day, The Angel who redeemed me from all evil, May He bless the boys, and may they be called by my name, and by the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac. May they multiply to a multitude in the midst of the land.”

Dr. Michael Heiser first brought this passage to my attention in his teaching, “The Jewish Trinity.” https://youtu.be/lS22MPVFngs?si=_L0RdaFfNZad2lb2&t=4632

We see that Ha Elohim (The God) who Abraham and Isaac followed, Ha Elohim who led Israel, is linked to Ha Malach (The Angel) that Jacob had met at Bethel in Gen. 31:10-13. And then, just to make things a little confusing, Jacob uses the singular verb “may He bless the boys.” This concept of two, and yet one was held my many Rabbis until about the 2nd century CE as shown by Alan Segal in his book Two Powers in Heaven. (Baylor University, 2012).

J.H. Hertz points out in The Pentateuch and Haftorahs (Soncino, London, 1960), p. 182) that Ephraim and Manasseh would not trade their faith in Adonai “for the most exalted social position, or the most enviable political career, in the Egyptian state. They voluntarily gave up their place in the higher Egyptian aristocracy, and identified themselves” with the people of Israel.

As for Jacob, when he met Adonai in Gen. 32:25-33 we see that it is the blessing from Adonai that Jacob truly needed, not just the blessing of his earthly father Isaac. Gen. 32:27-31

Genesis 32:27–31 TLV

Then He said, “Let Me go, for the dawn has broken.” But he said, “I won’t let You go unless You bless me.” Then He said to him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he said. Then He said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but rather Israel, for you have struggled with God and with men, and you have overcome.” Then Jacob asked and said, “Please tell me Your name.” But He said, “What’s this—you are asking My name?” Then He blessed him there. So Jacob named the place Peniel, “for I’ve seen God face to face, and my life has been spared.”

This was the blessing that Israel needed, the blessing of Adonai.

Ruben [Leah’s son]

The story of Ruben is really quite sad. He was given all the natural skills, position and strength where he could have been the future leader of the nation. However, he lacked moral conviction and clarity. In this passage, Jacob mentions one of his significant failings. Another of these failings being, that he did not stand openly against his brothers when they sold Joseph into slavery. Hundreds of years later, the tribe of Ruben would still be wondering if they should stand up for their brothers. Judges 5:15-16

Judges 5:15–16 (TLV)

Among the divisions of Reuben there were great resolves of heart. Why did you stay in the sheepfolds— to hear the piping for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there was much searching of heart.

Ruben was still staying in the sheepfolds instead of fighting for his brothers.

Simeon and Levi [Leah’s sons]

Simeon and Levi also lost their blessing because of their revenge against the people of Shechem (Gen. 34). Their anger is cursed and their punishment is that their tribes would be spread out and absorbed into the other tribes. They would lose their distinctiveness. We see this happening with Simeon being completely absorbed into the tribe of Judah. Notice where they received their allotment?

As for the tribe of Levi, they did not receive an allotment of land, and they were spread throughout all of the tribes just as Jacob had prophesied. And yet Adonai blessed them and gave them an honored position, as not only the keepers of the Tabernacle, but also the teachers of Torah for all generations. The turning point seems to be when, in Exo. 32:25-26

Exodus 32:25–26 TLV

When Moses saw that the people were unrestrained, because Aaron had let them run wild, to become a joke among their enemies, Moses stood at the gate of the camp and said, “Whoever is on Adonai’s side, let him come to me.” Then all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.

The sons of Levi chose not to follow their father’s vengeful anger, but rather fight the battle that Adonai set before them at great personal cost. From this point on, Adonai separates the Levites for His particular service.

Judah [Leah’s son]

Judah did not start out well. Just as all of his brothers, he conspired to get rid of his half-brother, Joseph. It was Judah’s idea to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites (Gen. 37:26). But by the time that Judah once again saw Joseph he was willing to give his own life for his half-brother, Benjamin. This teshuva, or turning back toward Adonai, is shown in the blessing bestowed on him by his father. The promise of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah comes from this passage we have just read. Genesis 49:10 point out that “The scepter will not pass from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs will come. To him will be the obedience of the peoples.”

Dr. Walter Kaiser points out that the best translation for the word “Shiloh” is as we read in the TLV translation, “to whom it belongs”. This is confirmed in the LXX and the both the Targums (Jerusalem and Onkelos). [The Messiah in the Old Testament, (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1995), 51.]

So not only is Judah promised the royal lineage, but also the extension of the Abrahamic blessing (Gen. 12:3). What do I mean? Abraham was told that through him, all the families of the earth would be blessed. This promise was then reiterated to Isaac and then to Israel. Now Judah is promised that all the nations would one day obey his kingly descendant. Judah receives the double blessing of Leah’s sons.

Issachar & Zebulun [Leah’s sons]

Jacob ensure that each of his sons receives a blessing. The next of Leah’s natural sons are given promises of a pleasant good place to rest. Under the appointment of Joshua, the tribe of Zebulun receives the land just south of Sidon near modern day Haifa. Just as the prophesy of Jacob declared, they became a harbor for ships. The land appointed to Issachar was just East of Zebulun in the Jezreel valley, just south of the Galilee. The land of Issachar was and still is the bread-basket of Israel, but it meant that many foreign powers would take that region. As shown in Judges 4 & 5, Issachar chose to submit to foreign aggressors and pay tribute rather than to fight.

Dan & Naphtali [Rachel’s surrogate’s sons (Bilhah’s)] Gad and Asher [Leah’s surrogate’s sons (Zilpah’s)]

Jacob had some beautiful words for the surrogate children of Rachel and Leah.

Dan (whose names means “judge”) ended up judging the land of Israel through Samson (Judges 13-16), and through one man God brought destruction to the Philistines. Gad (whose names means “troop, fortunate”) succeeded in repelling the Ammonites, Moabites and Arameans. Asher’s inheritance was the coast north of Mt. Carmel, and as such it was a prosperous and “happy” place just as his name means. In addition the “delicacies fit for a king” could have referred to the export trade they were involved in. And Naphtali became known for their eloquence as shown in the song of Deborah and New Barak in Judges 5.

Joseph & Benjamin [Rachel’s sons]

The softest and most loving blessing is reserved for Joseph. Joseph “united whatever is best and noblest in both Ruben and Judah.” [Hertz, Pentateuch, 186.] Though he was wounded by the “archers”, he was always strengthened and saved by the “hands of the Mighty One of Jacob.” (Isa. 1:24) Joseph had always received his strength from “the Shepherd”, from the “Stone/Rock of Israel”, and in spite of the circumstances, overcame.

Benjamin (vs.27) is called a ravening wolf and one who “devours spoils” and “divides plunder.” Their wolf-like nature comes out in their ability to band together for war. This banding together ends up being a double-edged sword when they choose loyalty over righteousness in the battle of Gibeah (Judges 20-21) and were almost wiped out as a tribe. King Sha’ul and the Apostle Sha’ul were both from Benjamin, and in a way they show both sides of Benjamin. The first Sha’ul was a disappointment who lost the kingdom because of his disobedience to Adonai, the second Sha’ul conquered the world for the Kingdom of God through his obedience to Adonai.

Beni Adam (The Son of Man)

When we look at the need for a Father’s affirmation and blessing we need to look at the words spoken over Yeshua by the Father. The first of these was spoken to Yeshua’s mother through Gabriel in Luke 1:30-33

Luke 1:30–33 TLV

The angel spoke to her, “Do not be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you shall call His name Yeshua. He will be great and will be called Ben-Elyon. Adonai Elohim will give Him the throne of David, His father. He shall reign over the house of Jacob for all eternity, and His kingdom will be without end.”

This first word, through a messenger, declares the purpose and destiny of Yeshua. By this point, Adonai has already clarified that the lineage of David would be how Adonai fulfilled the promise to Abraham. And now we see that the throne of David is given to Yeshua for all eternity.

Voice from Heaven

The next time Adonai speaks over His Son, and probably the most important words that any son can hear, are spoken in Luke 3:21-22

Luke 3:21–22 TLV

Now when all the people were immersed, Yeshua also was immersed. And while He was praying, heaven was opened and the Ruach ha-Kodesh came down upon Him in bodily form like a dove. And from out of heaven came a voice, “You are My Son, whom I love—with You I am well pleased!”

Here Adonai publicly declares the identity of Yeshua. Adonai’s declaration of love and pleasure of Yeshua based solely on who Yeshua was, not on what He had done for God. This same declaration would be repeated by Adonai some time later, with Peter, Jacob and John present.

Peter recounts this event years later in 2 Peter 1:16-18

2 Peter 1:16–18 TLV

For we did not follow cleverly concocted tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory: “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased!” And we ourselves heard this voice come out of heaven, when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

Here Adonai declared His love of the Son to the closest followers of Yeshua; this was a declaration of approval, love and trust.

Calling of Fathers

John would later write 1 Jn. 2:12-14

1 John 2:12–14 (TLV)

I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you have known the One who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known the One who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

John mentions twice that fathers have “known the One who is from the beginning.” The primary calling of all fathers is to declare the works of Adonai to their children, as we prayed earlier as a part of the Shema, Deut 6:7

Deuteronomy 6:7 TLV

You are to teach them diligently to your children, and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.

And again in Deut. 6:20-21

Deuteronomy 6:20–21 TLV

“When your son asks you in time to come, saying ‘What are the testimonies and the statutes and the ordinances that Adonai our God commanded you?’ then you are to tell your son, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and Adonai brought us out from Egypt with a mighty hand.

As Fathers, we are called to declare the One who is from the beginning, as Asaph writes in Ps. 78:1-7

Psalm 78:1–7 TLV

A contemplative song of Asaph. Listen, my people, to my teaching. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable. I will utter perplexing sayings from of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the next generation the praises of Adonai and His strength and the wonders He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob and ordained Torah in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach their children, so that the next generation might know, even the children yet to be born: they will arise and tell their children. Then they will put their trust in God, not forgetting the works of God, but keeping His mitzvot.

The works of Adonai must be declared to our children in humility, remembering as the rest of this Psalm points out, that our fathers did not follow after Adonai, nor where they loyal to God. Their heart was not steadfast with Adonai, nor were they steadfast with Him. Yet the Psalmist Asaph ends looking forward to the faithfulness of “David His servant” a reference to the Messiah.

Summary & Application

Just as with Jacob, our words spoken over our children can have generational effects. We can speak life or we can speak death. We are called as fathers to train our children in the way they should go (Prov. 22:6) using words when necessary. We are called to live in humility like Judah, but should never excuse passivity in our lives, as did Ruben and his descendants.

We must pour into all of our children, realizing that each child has a unique destiny and calling.

There may be some of us who did not have a good father, and I can assure you that this is not an easy burden to bear. However just as the Levites turned to Adonai under Moses, so also the curse spoken over their father by Jacob turned into a blessing. Not only that, but the ultimate words of purpose, destiny and identity come from Adonai, as we saw with Israel, himself, and with Yeshua. In every way that your own father did not measure up to the perfection of Adonai, you will need to turn to Adonai as Father, and ask Him to speak into you, purpose and identity.

These days, primarily due to the lack of Godly fathers, the children are so desperate for identity, that they are seeking it in all the wrong places. However, identity can only truly be found in Adonai. So who are we? What is our purpose? Let us close by reading Eph. 1: 3-14

Ephesians 1:3–14 (TLV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Messiah. He chose us in the Messiah before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before Him in love. He predestined us for adoption as sons through Messiah Yeshua, in keeping with the good pleasure of His will— to the glorious praise of His grace, with which He favored us through the One He loves! In Him we have redemption through His blood—the removal of trespasses—in keeping with the richness of His grace that He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight, He made known to us the mystery of His will, in keeping with His good pleasure that He planned in Messiah. The plan of the fullness of times is to bring all things together in the Messiah—both things in heaven and things on earth, all in Him. In Him we also were chosen, predestined according to His plan. He keeps working out all things according to the purpose of His will— so that we, who were first to put our hope in Messiah, might be for His glorious praise. After you heard the message of truth—the Good News of your salvation—and when you put your trust in Him, you were sealed with the promised Ruach ha-Kodesh. He is the guarantee of our inheritance, until the redemption of His possession—to His glorious praise!

The Father has chosen us to be holy and blameless in His love. We are adopted as sons and daughters, favored, redeemed and lavished with grace. We are chosen with purpose for His glorious praise, and have been given an inheritance as a part of His possession!

So let us hear the words that Adonai has spoken over us, and speak these same words to our children!