Genesis Part 077
The current identity of the 12 tribes is a subject of much debate. While God’s inspired word doesn’t give many details, we can read Genesis 49:1 and understand that God has a plan for the descendants in the last days. There is often dual fulfillment of prophecies of the Bible.
Genesis 49:13 says,
“Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; He shall become a haven for ships, And his border shall adjoin Sidon.”
John Gill writes about Zebulun, “of the sea of Galilee, sometimes called the sea of Tiberias and of Gennesaret; and of the Mediterranean sea; and accordingly we find that the border of this tribe, when settled in the land of Canaan, was toward the sea, and this was done, not at the discretion of Joshua, or at the choice of this tribe, but by lot; and which shows that Jacob said this under a spirit of prophecy, and which had its fulfilment two hundred years after; and is a full proof of the prescience and providence of God.”
In verse 14 Issachar is compared to a donkey that is in the middle between two saddle packs. Adam Clarke’s commentary states: “The two burdens literally mean the two sacks or panniers, one on each side of the animal’s body; and couching down between these refers to the well-known propensity of the donkey to lie down when wearied or overloaded even with its burden on its back.”
The NLT translation of verse 15 says,
“When he sees how good the countryside is and how pleasant the land, he will bend his shoulder to the load and submit himself to hard labor.”
The Bible typically portrays Issachar as providing powerful assistance (Judges 5:15) and being valiant warriors (1 Chr 7:1–5). Adam Clarke’s commentary states: “It appears they were a laborious, hardy, valiant tribe, patient in labor and invincible in war; bearing both these burdens with great constancy whenever it was necessary.”
Dan, while being the oldest son of Rachel’s maid Bilhah, is shown as not being a lesser tribe or son of Jacob. The NKJV states that Dan will “judge” people. Again, considering the prophetic nature of Jacob’s words, we will later see that the judge Samson would come from this tribe of Dan (Judges 13:2, 15:20). In verse 17, Dan is compared to a serpent (general word for “snake” as used of Satan in the garden (Genesis 3:1), and also to an “adder,” a type of “horned snake.” Vipers would also be considered a type of adder.
In Israel, there are multiple variations of this type of snake, such as the “Desert Horned Viper,” the “Painted Saw-Scaled Viper,” the “Israeli Mole Viper,” the “Saharan Sand Viper,” the “Blunt-Nosed Viper,” and the “Field’s Horned Viper,” to name a few. A number of these can easily blend in with the sand and environment. Adam Clarke’s commentary says: “It is intimated that this tribe should gain the principal part of its conquests more by cunning and stratagem, than by valor; and this is seen particularly in their conquest of Laish recorded in Judges 18, and even in some of the transactions of Samson, such as burning the corn of the Philistines, and at last pulling down their temple, and destroying three thousand at one time, see Judges 16:26–30.”
Gad means “troop.” Verse 19 is interesting in that several of the words of this verse are a pun or play on words.
- Gad – Hebrew “gad”
- Troup – Hebrew “gedud” – A band or troop
- Overcome – Hebrew “gud” – to invade or attack. (Used twice in this sentence).
All these words are connected to a common root word, “gadad,” which means “to penetrate, cut, attack, invade.”
John Gill’s commentary adds: “There is a paronomasia, or an allusion to the name of Gad almost in every word of the verse, which signifies a troop: the whole is a prediction that this tribe would be a warlike one, and have the common fate of war, sometimes be conquered, and at other times conquer, but however should be at last entirely victorious; all the three Targums refer this to this tribe passing over Jordan at the head of the armies of Israel, into the land of Canaan, in Joshua's time, which, when they had subdued, they returned to their own inheritance on the other side Jordan, Joshua 1:12 and so Jarchi; but it rather seems to refer to what befell them in their own tribe, which being seated on the other side Jordan was exposed to the incursions and spoils of the Moabites and Ammonites.”
In verse 20, Asher’s tribe is mentioned. His allotment fell from the sea coast of Tyre to Carmel. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown records that this land was very fertile and is said to have produced the finest corn and oil in all of Palestine. Additionally, John Gill’s commentary records that this area was exceedingly fruitful in wine and oil and had the best wheat.
John Gill further records a connection to this idea of “fat” or “richness”: “In this tribe was the valley of Asher, called the fat valley, which began five miles from Ptolemais, and reached to the sea of Galilee. It was more than ten miles in length; the soil of which was exceeding fat and fruitful, and produced the most delicate wine and wheat, and might be truly called the fat valley.”
The NKJV of verse 21 states,
“Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words.”
The Hebrew word for let loose is used many times in the Bible, 847 times exactly. 566 of those times it is translated “send.”
John Gill states this: “Some will have this prophecy to be fulfilled in Barak, as Ben Gersom, Abendana, and others, who was of this tribe, and who at first was fearful like the hind, and backward to go out to war when called, but afterwards readily went out with Deborah, and at last gave goodly words in the song they both sung: but it better describes the genius, disposition, and manners of the tribe, who were kind and loving, swift and expeditious in their affairs; lovers of liberty, well-spoken persons, humane, affable, courteous, of a good address and pleasing language.”
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships, and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
