seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 49:22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine,
a fruitful vine near a spring,
whose branches climb over a wall.[k]
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;
they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed[l] limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father’s God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty,[m] who blesses you
with blessings of the skies above,
blessings of the deep springs below,
blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father’s blessings are greater
than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
than[n] the bounty of the age-old hills.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of the prince among[o] his brothers.
a fruitful vine near a spring,
whose branches climb over a wall.[k]
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;
they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed[l] limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father’s God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty,[m] who blesses you
with blessings of the skies above,
blessings of the deep springs below,
blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father’s blessings are greater
than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
than[n] the bounty of the age-old hills.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of the prince among[o] his brothers.
k. Genesis 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild colt, / a wild colt near a spring, / a wild donkey on a terraced hill
l. Genesis 49:24 Or archers will attack … will shoot … will remain … will stay
m.Genesis 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai
n. Genesis 49:26 Or of my progenitors, / as great as
o. Genesis 49:26 Or of the one separated from
Biblegateway.com had the shortest but clearest commentary this morning.
The blessing of Joseph is very full. What Jacob says of him, is history as well as prophecy. Jacob reminds him of the difficulties and fiery darts of temptations he had formerly struggled through. His faith did not fail, but through his trials he bore all his burdens with firmness, and did not do anything unbecoming. All our strength for resisting temptations, and bearing afflictions, comes from God; his grace is sufficient. Joseph became the shepherd of Israel, to take care of his father and family; also the stone of Israel, their foundation and strong support. In this, as in many other things, Joseph was a remarkable type of the Good Shepherd, and tried Corner Stone of the whole church of God. Blessings are promised to Joseph's posterity, typical of the vast and everlasting blessings which come upon the spiritual seed of Christ. Jacob blessed all his sons, but especially Joseph, to who was separated from his brethren. Not only separated in Egypt, but, possessing eminent dignity, and more devoted to God
Bible-commentaries.com adds this.
Part of the prophecy appears to be looking back over Joseph's life and part looks into the future. Joseph adversity is mentioned in the image that compares him to the aim of the archers. The question is, who did Jacob have in mind with this picture? It seems very doubtful that he had ever heard the full story of what happened to Joseph. If he had been aware of the fact that his brothers, who initially had wanted to kill him had sold Joseph, it seems, that Jacob would have added some curses for some of his sons in this chapter. Most likely, Jacob had the real enemy, the powers of darkness, in mind when he talked about the archers. And he was right. Even in Joseph's painful experience, the struggle was "not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph. 6:12)
I knew Joseph would get the very best blessing. After all, he was the favorite son.
I find it interesting that Jacob [Israel] apparently still has no clue of what his other sons did.
In many dysfunctional families, despicable acts are held for a time when it's more advantageous to let them out. In other words.... If you do such and such I'll tell. In the meantime, it wouldn't have been advantageous to stir the pot by telling Jacob what his sons are capable of. It wouldn't change anything and it would break Jacob's [Israel's]heart.
