Gen. 49:3,4 Reuben should have received the preeminent blessing because he was the firstborn. But he defiled Jacob by going into his father's bed, that is, when he "slept with Bilhah" (35:22), Jacob's concubine. Thus, he lost the principal position and his descendants became a shepherd people east of the Jordan (Num. 32:1-33).
REUBEN: (HBH) (behold a son) -Reuben was the first born son of Jacob, born to Leah in Paddan Aram (Gen. 29:31-32; 35:23). Leah named her first son Reuben because the LORD had looked upon her sorrow at being unloved by her husband. By presenting a son to Jacob, she hoped he would respond to her in love.
The only reference to Reuben's early childhood is his gathering of mandrakes for his mother (Gen. 30:14). Years later, as the hatred of Jacob's sons of Joseph grew, it was Reuben who advised his brothers not to kill their younger brother. He suggested that they merely bind him, which would have allowed him to return later to release Joseph to his father (Gen. 37:20-22). It also was Reuben who reminded his brothers that all their troubles and fears in Egypt were their just reward for mistreating Joseph (Gen. 42:22).
When Jacob's sons returned from Egypt, Reuben offered his own two sons as a guarantee that he would personally tend to the safety of Benjamin on the next trip to Egypt (Gen. 42:37). In view of these admirable qualities, it is tragic that he became involved in incest with Bilhah, his father's concubine (Gen. 35:22).
As the firstborn, Reuben should have been a leader to his brothers and should have received the birthright - the double portion of the inheritance (Deut. 21:17). His act of incest, however, cost him dearly. He never lost his legal standing as firstborn, but he forfeited his right tot he birthright. When Reuben made his descent into Egypt with Israel, he was father of four sons who had been born to him in Canaan (Gen. 46:9).
During 420 years in Egypt, the descendants of Reuben increased from four sons to 46,000 men of war (Num. 1:20-21). In the wilderness the tribe of Reuben was represented in a conspiracy against Moses. As representatives of the tribe, Dathan and Abiram tried to assert their legal rights a descendants of Jacob's oldest son to a role of leadership in Israel (Num. 16:1-3), but their efforts failed.
The Reubenites were a pastoral people. The tribe requested an early inheritance east of the Jordan River where the land was suitable for cattle (Num. 32:1-33). They helped the other tribes claim their land, however, and Joshua commended them for their efforts (Josh. 22:9-10). The tribe also built an altar - along with the tribe of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh - in the Jordan Valley as a witness to their unity with the tribes west of the Jordan (Josh. 22:11-34).
Later, members of the tribe of Reuben refused to assist Deborah and Barak in fighting the Canaanite Sisera (Judg. 5:16), although the tribe apparently assisted other tribes in their war against Benjamin (Judg. 20;11). During Saul's reign, Reuben joined Gad and Manasseh in fighting the Hagrites (I Chron. 5:18-22). When the kingdom divided under Rehoboam, Reuben joined the Northern Kingdom under Jeroboam.
While never prominent, the tribe of Reuben was never forgotten. Ezekiel remembered Reuben in his description of Israel (Ezek. 48:6). The tribe is also represented in the 144,000 sealed - 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev. 7:5).
Gen. 49:5-7 Jacob, feared his following two sons, the brothers Simeon and Levi, "two of a kind!" An example of their iniquity (or violence) was the murder of Shechem (34:25-31). Simeon was passed over in Moses' future blessing (Deut. 33); they were apparently absorbed by Judah (Joshua 15:20-63; 19:1-9). As the Levites were the first to return to GOD after the incident of the golden calf, they rose to be the tribe encharged with offering special priestly services (Num. 3:12,13,41). Their history in the Old Testament was of wavering devotion.
SIMEON: (IBD) Simeon was the second son of Jacob and Leah (Gen. 29:33). Simeon's descendants became one of the twelve tribes of Israel. He and his brother Levi tricked the Hivites of Shechem and massacred all the males because one of them had raped Dinah, their sister (Gen. 34:2,25,30). Simeon was the brother whom Joseph kept as security when he allowed his brothers to leave Egypt and return to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan (Gen. 42:24).
Simeon had six sons - Jemuel (Nemuel), Jamin, Ohad, Jachin (Jerib), Zohar (Zerah), and Shaul - and all but Ohad founded tribal families (Exod. 6:15).
The tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300 fighting men at the first census in the wilderness (Num. 1:23; 2:13) and 22,200 at the second (Num. 26:12-14). This tribe was omitted in Moses' blessing of the nation of Israel (Deut. 33). A comparison of the cities assigned to Simeon with those assigned to Judah (Josh. 15:20-63; 19:1-9; I Chron. 4:28-33) makes it appear that the tribe of Simeon had been assimilated into the tribe of Judah, thus fulfilling Jacob's prophecy (Gen. 49:5-7).
When the land of Canaan was divided, the second lot fell to Simeon. The tribe received land in the extreme southern part of Canaan, in the middle of Judah's territory (Josh. 19:1-9). Simeon united with Judah in fighting the Canaanites (Judg. 1:1,3,17). Among the Simeonite cities were Beersheba, Hormah, and Ziklag (Josh. 19:1-9). Although the descendants of Simeon disappeared as a tribe, Ezekiel mentions it in his prophecies about a future land of Canaan (Ezek. 48:24-25,33). The Book of Revelation mentions 12,000 of the tribe of Simeon who were sealed (Rev. 7:7).
LEVI: (IBD) Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah (Gen. 29:34). His three sons were ancestors of the three main divisions of the Levitical priesthood: the Gershonites, the Kohathites, and the Merarites (Gen. 46:11). Levi participated in the plot against Joseph (Gen. 37:4) and later took his family to Egypt with Jacob. On his deathbed Jacob cursed Simeon and Levi because of their "cruelty" and "wrath", and foretold that their descendants would be divided and scattered (Gen. 49:5-7). Levi died in Egypt at the age of 137 (Exod. 6:16).
The Levites served as assistants to the priests in the worship system of the nation of Israel. As a Levite, Aaron and his sons and their descendants were charged with the responsibility of the priesthood - offering burnt offerings and leading the people in worship and confession. But all the other Levites who were not descended directly from Aaron were to serve as priestly assistants, taking care of the tabernacle and the Temple and performing other menial duties (Num. 8:6).
The choice of the Levites as a people who would perform special service for GOD goes back to the days of the Exodus when the children of Israel were camped at Mount Sinai.
The people grew restless while they waited for Moses to return from talking with the LORD on the mountain. Breaking their covenant with GOD, they made a golden calf and began to worship it. The Levites were no less guilty than the other tribes. But when Moses returned and called for those on the LORD's side to come forward, the descendants of Levi were the only ones who voluntarily rallied to his side, showing zeal for GOD's honor (Exod. 32:26-28).
Even before this event, Aaron and his sons had been set apart for the priesthood. But many helpers were needed to attend to the needs of the tabernacle, which was built later at GOD's command in the Wilderness of Sinai. the Levites were chosen for this honor.
Gen. 49:8-12 Judah was second in the birth order, so Jacob gave him the blessing of the firstborn. He would rule over Israel and all the nations. Jacob's prediction were fulfilled because Shiloh (the Messiah) would come from the tribe of Judah.
JUDAH: (IBD) Judah was the fourth son of Jacob by his wife Leah and the founder of the tribal family out of which the messianic line came (Gen. 29:35; Num. 26:19-21; Matt. 1:2).
Judah was one of the most prominent of the 12 sons of Jacob. He saved Joseph's life by suggesting that his brothers sell Joseph to Ishmaelite merchants rather than kill him (Gen. 37:26-28). Later, in Egypt, it was Judah who begged Joseph to detain him (Judah) rather than Benjamin, Jacob's beloved son. In an eloquent speech Judah confessed what he and his brothers had done to Joseph; shortly thereafter, Joseph identified himself to his brothers (Gen. 44:14-45:1).
It appears that Judah was the leader of Jacob's sons who remained at home. Even though he was not the oldest son, Judah was sent by Jacob to precede him to Egypt (Gen. 46:28). Also Judah, rather than his older brothers, received Jacob's blessing (Gen. 49:3-10). In that blessing, Jacob foretold the rise of Judah: "Your father's children shall bow down before you...the scepter shall not depart from Judah...until Shiloh comes" (Gen. 49:8,10).
Judah had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah (Gen. 38:3-5). Er and Onan were killed by divine judgment because of their sins (Gen. 38:7-10). Judah also fathered twin sons, Perez and Zerah, by Tamar, Er's widow (Gen. 38:29-30). The lien of Judah ran through Perez to David and thus became the messianic line (Luke 3:30; Judas, KJV.
The tribe of Judah had five tribal families sprung from Judah's three sons - Shelah, Perez, and Zerha - and two grandsons, Hezron and Hamul (Num. 26:19-21). In the first census, the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600 men (Num. 1:26-27). In the second census, the tribe numbered 76,500 (Num. 26:22).
Except for Simeon, Judah was the southernmost tribe of the Israelites. However, Simeon seems to have been absorbed into Judah at an early date. Judah's eastern border was the Dead Sea, and its western border was the Mediterranean Sea, although the Philistines usually controlled the plain along the sea. Originally, Judah's northern boundary ran from just south of Jerusalem northwest to Kirjath Jearim and Jabneel. To the south Judah's border ran south to the Ascent of Akrabbim, to the Wilderness of Zin, and south from Kadesh Barnea to the Mediterranean. During the period of the divided kingdom, its northern boundary ran north of Jerusalem.
At its longest point Judah was about 153 km (95 mi) in length. At its widest point it was about 73 km (45 mi) wide, excluding the area controlled by the Philistines.
The tribe of Judah, along with Benjamin, remained true to David's lien when the tribes split after Solomon's death. Together they formed the southern kingdom of Judah, which at one time included Edom to the southeast.
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Gen. 48:10 Shiloh, shiloh; Strong #7886: Shiloh was one of the cities where the tabernacle was situated (Josh. 18:1). Here, in the Book of Genesis, it seems to be a proper name or title, which believers generally accept as the messianic designation for Jesus. Its etymology is uncertain. For some, shiloh means "the peaceful". According to another viewpoint, shiloh is a substantive with a pronomial suffix that should be understood as "his son"; therefore, the princes and legislators would not accept Judah until his son would come. Another possibility would be to divide shiloh into two words, shay and loh, which would indicate "he to whom tribute is offered". The most likely meaning of shiloh is accepted by the majority of the authorities on ancient Jews, for whom it's a matter of a word composed of shel and loh, which means "he who belongs". In English, shelloh could be understood as "to whom the dominion belongs", "of whom is the kingdom", "he who has the right to reign". See particularly, Ezekiel 21:27.
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Gen. 49:11,12 Using a highly symbolic language, Jacob prophesied the era of the Messiah as paradisiacal. There would be an abundance of food, vitality and health. The people would be full of wine and milk).
Gen. 49:13 Zebulun came to hold a mediocre position next to the sea; his descendants would serve as instruments for the destruction of Sisera (Judges 4:6-10).
ZEBULUN: (IBD) was the tenth of Jacob's 12 sons; the sixth and last son of Leah (Gen. 30:19-20; 35:23; I Chron. 2:1). Zebulun had three sons: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel (Gen. 46:14; Num. 26:26-27). These are the only details about Zebulun that appear in the Bible.
The tribe of Zebulun was divided into three great families headed by Zebulun's three sons (Num. 26:26-27). At the first census taken in the wilderness, the tribe numbered 57,400 fighting men (Num. 1:30-31). The second census included 60,500 members of the tribe of Zebulun (Nu. 26:27).
Zebulun played an important part of Barak's force against Sisera (Judg. 4:6-10; 5:14,18) and of Gideon's army against the Midianites (Judg. 6:35). Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel for ten years (Judg. 12:12). At Hebron, 50,000 Zebulunites joined the other tribes in proclaiming David king (I Chron. 12:33,40).
Although Zebulun suffered during the Assyrian wars, when Tiglath-Pilesar carried away captives to Assyria (II Kin. 15:29), Isaiah prophesied that in the future Zebulun would be greatly blessed: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali...in Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined" (Is. 9:1-2). According to the Gospel of Matthew, this prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus began his Galilean ministry (Matt. 4:12-17). Nazareth, Jesus' hometown, and Cana, where He performed His first miracle, both lay in the territory of Zebulun.
Gen. 49:14,15 Issachar came to be sufficiently docile, accepting a happy and tranquil life in Canaan (see Deut. 33:18). His descendants lacked political vision, making alliances at times with Saul, and at other times with David (I Chron. 12:32).
ISSACHAR: (IBD) Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob; the fifth by his wife Leah (Gen. 30:17-18; 35:23). He fathered four sons: Tola, Puvah or Puah, Job or Jashub, and Shimron. He and his sons went with their father Jacob to Egypt to escape the famine (Gen. 46:13; Exod. 1:3; Num. 26:23-24; I Chron. 2:1; 7:1). Before his death, Jacob described Issachar as "a strong donkey lying down between two burdens" (Gen. 49:15). In other words, Jacob saw that Issachar could be a strong fighter but that his love of comfort could also cause him to settle for the easy way out.
The tribe of Issachar consisted of four clans, the descendants of Issachar's four sons (Gen. 46:13; Num. 26:23-24; I Chron. 7:1). The territory allotted to this tribe was bounded on the north by Zebulun and Naphtali, on the south and west by Manasseh, and on the east by the Jordan River (Josh. 19:17-23). Most of the fertile Valley of Jezreel, or Esdraelon, fell within Issachar's territory. Its fertile, flat plains were well-suited for the raising of cattle. In spite of its reputation for seeking comfort, the tribe did fight bravely against Sisera (Judg. 5:15).
Moses prophesied a quiet and happy life for Issachar (Deut. 33:18). At the first census, the tribe numbered 54,400 fighting men (Num. 1:28-29); at the second census 64,300 (Num. 26:25). By David's time it numbered 87,000 (I Chron. 7:5). Its leaders mentioned in the Bible were Nethaneel (Num. 1:8; 2:8; 7:18; 10:15), and Paltiel (Num. 34:26), the judge Tola (Judg. 10:1), King Baasha (I Kin. 15:27), and Omri (I Chron. 27:18).
In accordance with Jacob's blessing, the tribe of Issachar showed an unusual insight into political situations. The tribe switched allegiance from Saul to David (I Chron. 12:32). Although the tribe was a member of the Northern Kingdom, its members attended Hezekiah of Judah's Passover feast (II Chron. 30:18).
Gen. 49:16-18 Dan was a small tribe, but a small serpent at the side of the road can destroy a powerful warrior. Unfortunately, Dan wasn't up to the blessing that he would become courageous (Judges 1:34) and seems to have had few relations with the other tribes in the following years (Judges 5:17). Samson was a Danite.
DAN: (IBD) Dan was the fifth son of Jacob and the first born to Rachel's handmaid Bilhah (Gen. 30:1-6). Dan had one son - Hushim (Gen. 46:23), or Shuham (Num. 26:42). Jacob's blessing of Dan predicted:
The tribe of Dan never lived up to its promise. The area allotted to Dan included the towns of Aijalon, Ekron, Eltekeh, and Zorah in the west central part of Canaan (Josh. 19:40-46; 21:5,23-24) and stretched to Joppa on the Mediterranean Sea. The Danites, however were unable to conquer much of the territory assigned to them. The original inhabitants, the Amorites, kept the Danites confined to the hill country of Ephraim and Benjamin. Unable to conquer their allotted territory, some members of the tribe of Dan migrated far to the northernmost area of the Promised Land and conquered the isolated city of Laish, which they renamed Dan. The tribe's one glorious moment occurred when the mighty Danite Samson judged Israel (Judg. 13-17).
Gen. 49:19 Army...will attack is a Hebrew play on words with the name of Gad. This tribe was later situated east of the Jordan, where it had to face attacks from the Amonites, Moabites and Amalekites.
Gen. 49:20 The tribe of Asher inherited a choice coastal area north of Mount Carmel. It was near the cities of the Phoenician merchants and was made rich, although it didn't expel the Phoenicians (Judges 1:31,32).
ASHER: (IBD) was the eighth son of Jacob, the second by Leah's maidservant, Zilpah (Gen. 30:13). On his deathbed Jacob blessed Asher: "Bread from Asher shall be rich, and he shall yield royal dainties" (Gen. 49:20).
The territory of the tribe of Asher extended to the northern boundary of Palestine; its southern border was the tribe of Manasseh and the mountains of Mount Carmel. Asher was bounded on the west by the Mediterranean Sea and on the east by the tribe of Naphtali. The Asherites never succeeded in expelling the inhabitants of the Phoenician strongholds - such as Tyre, Sidon, and Acco (Judg. 1:31-32) - which were in their territory.
Gen. 49:21 Naphtali was also a prosperous tribe, located in a fertile mountainous area to the north (Joshua 20:7). They never got the Canaanites out of there, but received tribute from them.
NAPHTALI: (IBD) Naphtali was the sixth son of Jacob (Gen. 35:25). Because Jacob's wife Rachel was barren and her sister Leah had borne four sons to Jacob, Rachel was distraught. She gave her maidservant Bilhah to Jacob. Any offspring of this union were regarded as Rachel's. When Bilhah gave birth to Dan and Naphtali, Rachel was joyous. "With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister", she said, "and indeed I have prevailed" (Gen. 30:8). So she called his name Naphtali, which means "my wrestling". Little else is known about Naphtali.
The tribe of Naphtali's four great families were descendants of Naphtali's four sons: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem or Shallum (Num. 26:48-49). The first wilderness census numbered the tribe of Naphtali at 53,000 fighting men (Num. 2:29-30); the second census put it at 45,400 (Num. 26:50).
Along with Asher, Naphtali was the northernmost tribe of Israel, occupying a long, narrow piece of land - about 80 km (50 mi) north to south and 16 to 24 Km (10 to 15 mi) from east to west. Naphtali was mountainous (Josh. 20:7) and very fertile. Fortified cities within the tribe's boundaries included Ramah, Hazor, Kedesh, Iron, and Beth Anath (Josh. 19:36-38). The three cities given to the Levites in Naphtali were Kedesh (a city of refuge), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan (Josh. 21:32).
Gen. 49:22-26 Joseph received the longest blessing. He is presented as a fruitful branch (v.22), hated (v.23), strong (v.24), and as a leader among his brothers (v.26). His descendants led the northern tribes (I Ki. 12:25-33), but were also idolators and participated in unholy alliances (II Chron. 25:5-8; Hosea 4:17). Some were located east of the Jordan; Gideon was one of them.
Gen. 49:24 These titles for Jehovah are rare in the Old Testament.
Gen. 49:25,26 The blessings are very similar to the blessings Moses pronounced over Joseph in Deuteronomy 33:13-16. GOD Almighty: See the note for 17:1,2.
Gen. 49:27 The blessing of Benjamin has a positive character; it would be the inspired tribe that Moses called "the beloved of Jehovah" (Deut. 33:12). There was some unrest under the reign of David (II Sam. 20:1), but united with the southern kingdom when Israel was divided (I Kings 12:21). King Saul and the apostle Paul were Benjamites.
BENJAMIN: (IBD) Benjamin was Jacob's youngest son, born to his favorite wife, Rachel (Gen. 35:18,24). After giving birth to Benjamin, the dying Rachel named him Ben-Oni (Gen. 35:18), which means "son of my pain". But Jacob renamed him Benjamin. When Jacob lost his beloved son Joseph, he became very attached to Benjamin because Benjamin was the only surviving son of Rachel. When his sons went to Egypt in search of food to relieve a famine, Jacob was reluctant to let Benjamin go with them (Gen. 43:1-17).
It is apparent that Joseph also loved Benjamin, his only full brother (Gen. 43:29-34). During this trip Joseph ordered that his silver cup be planted in Benjamin's sack. The reaction of Jacob and Benjamin's brothers shows the great love they had for Benjamin (Gen. 44). Benjamin had five sons and two grandsons, and he became the founder of the tribe that carried his name.
The northern boundary of Benjamin's territory in Israel ran westward from the Jordan River through Bethel and just south of Lower Beth Horon; its western boundary picked up at this point to Kirjath Jearim; its southern border ran eastward to the northern point of the Dead Sea; and its easternmost limit was the Jordan River (Josh. 18:11-20). The chief towns in this hilly, fertile region were Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethel, Giveon, Gibeath, and Mizpah (Josh. 18:21-28).
Gen. 49:29-32 See the note for 23:4-20.
Gen. 49:33 He gathered his feet on the bed means that he went to his death-bed. He was reunited with his fathers stresses the cohesion of the patriarchal family, even after death.
Gen. 50:2,3 The embalmers represented a secret profession in ancient Egypt; they knew their office well, as we can see by the mummies still preserved after many thousands of years. The process was slow and costly; it required nothing less than forty days. Among the Egyptians it was customary to observe seventy days of mourning, especially when dealing with an important personage.
Gen. 50:4 It seems that Joseph considered himself unworthy of approaching Pharaoh because of his contact with death. He had to ask the house of Pharaoh to intercede for him in order for him to keep the promise made to Jacob (see 47:29-31).
Gen. 50:4 Dig alludes to preparing or buying the sepulcher (see 47:30).
Gen. 50:7-9 The impressive funeral ceremony shows the love of Egypt for Joseph. The next time that Israel marches it won't be with honor on Egypt's part.
Gen. 50:10 The threshingfloor served as a flat place to camp near a village. On the other side of the Jordan: Why they mourned in this place is unknown, nor why it was necessary to travel so far, unless it had been necessary to take a long detour because of the hostility represented by the Philistines.
Gen. 50:19-21 The response ofJoseph reveals maturity and perception. To be able to perceive the hand of GOD through a prolonged period of unjust suffering many times requires the choice to pray and not give way to bitterness. Therefore, GOD's will was fulfilled as a consequence of reprehensible human behavior. See the notes for 40:15 and 45:8 about the unfolding of Joseph's attitude.
Gen. 50:20 See section 6 of "TRUTH IN ACTION" at the end of Genesis.
Gen. 50:23 Knees: See the note for 30:3.
Gen. 50:24 GOD will certainly visit you: The attitude of the Egyptian court was obviously becoming increasingly more negative toward Joseph and his family: Joseph had already said that a miraculous intervention from GOD would be necessary to leave Egypt and go to the Promised Land.
Gen. 50:25,26 Moses brought Joseph's body out of Egypt (Exod. 13:19), but Joshua didn't bury him next to the patriarchs in Hebron. Instead, Joseph was buried in the field that Jacob bought in Shechem (33:19; Josh. 24:32).
Genesis concludes on a sober note, tinged with a sure hope, that looks to the years when divine salvation will come.
Contemporary Significance: (HBH) One obvious contribution of the Book of Genesis to the modern world is its explanation of the origins of things that could be understood in no other way. That is, it has scientific and historical value even if that is not its primary purpose.
More fundamentally, Genesis deals with the essence of what it means to be human beings created as the image of GOD. Who are we? Why are we? What are we to do? Failure to appreciate GOD's purpose for humanity has resulted in chaotic, purposeless thought and action. Ultimately, life without true knowledge of human nature as the image of GOD and human function as stewards of GOD's creation is life without a sense of meaning. When one lives out life in light of Genesis, life is seen as being in touch and in tune with the GOD of the universe. GOD's rule becomes a reality as human beings conform to His goals for His creation. Genesis outlines the Creator's intentions.
As sinners we are unable to realize GOD's purpose for our lives through out own efforts. Only GOD's intervention brings promise to our lives. Our salvation is GOD's work.
Ethical Value: (HBH) The awful effect of sin is one of the striking themes of Genesis. Sin frustrated the purposes of GOD for the human race. Sin had to be addressed before those purposes could be realized. Genesis teaches the heinousness and seriousness of sin and its tragic repercussions.
In addition to the story of "the fall", narrative after narrative in Genesis shows people how to live victoriously in the face of anti-GOD elements at work in this fallen world and describes what happens when they fail to do so. Cain, through lack of faith, dishonored GOD and then killed his brother. Lamech, in boasting pride, revealed the absurdities of humanistic views of life The intermingling of angelic and human societies shows the inevitable result of breaking the bonds of GOD-ordained positions in life. The pride of the Babel tower builders demonstrates the arrogance of people who seek to make a name for themselves rather than to honor the name of the LORD.
The models of faith and obedience - Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Joseph - are instructive as well. Their commitment to righteousness and the integrity of life-style speak eloquently of what it means to be a kingdom citizen, faithfully at work discharging the high and holy elements of that call.
Questions For Reflection: (HBH)
Dan shall judge his people
Nothing else is known of Dan himself.
As one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shall be a serpent by the way,
a viper by the path,
That bites the horse's heels,
So that its rider shall fall backward (Gen. 49:16-17).
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