Genesis Part 078 

Joseph means “will add” or “adding.” We see the connection with him being “fruitful.” This is the same word God used in Genesis 1 verses 22 and 28 to “be fruitful and multiply.” The Hebrew word for “bough” is used 4,906 times in the Old Testament and is almost always translated “son” or “children/child.” From these definitions we can gather that Joseph is to be a fruitful son who produces a lot of people and offspring for Jacob. This phrase is then repeated that he is a fruitful son by “a well.” This word for “well” is used 887 times and is translated as “eye or sight” the large majority of the time and translated as “fountain or well” a few times. Is it saying Joseph is a fruitful son by sight? In other words, it is clear to see that Joseph has become fruitful. If the definition of fountain or well is intended, then similar to how water makes plants fruitful, Joseph is connected to a source that makes him fruitful.  

Verse 22 continues, and the NKJV uses the word “branches.” Out of 588 times this Hebrew word is used in the Bible, this is the only time it is translated as “branches.” It is usually translated as “daughter(s),” or occasionally “town/village." What do his daughters do? They “run over the wall.” Young’s Literal Translation renders this verse as “Joseph is a fruitful son; A fruitful son by a fountain, Daughters step over the wall.” 

This seems to imply that his offspring spread beyond their natural borders and created cities beyond the border. John Gill states: “which some refer to the daughters of Manasseh and Zelophehad, who received their inheritance on both sides of Jordan; and others interpret it of the cities of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, as cities are sometimes called.” 

“The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him” (Genesis 49:23). 

This verse tells us that Joseph (and Ephraim and Manasseh) will have enemies attack them out of bitterness and hate. Yet, in verse 24, we find that despite enemies trying to hurt Jacob and his descendants, through God’s direct intervention and help, they will remain strong.  

In verse 25 we continue to see that God will directly give blessings from all directions and in so many ways, even ways that would confound common logic. These blessings will exceed even the blessings of the patriarchs as we read in verse 26. 

Finally, we come to the youngest, Benjamin, in verse 27. Benjamin is described as a wolf with a ravenous appetite, starting early in the day and not quitting until nightfall. John Gill’s commentary records numerous ways this scripture could be prophetic through time: “we have an early instance of the valor and success of this tribe in a war waged with all the other tribes, and in two pitched battles, in one with 26,000 men it beat 400,000 (Judges 20:15) and if this tribe is compared to a wolf for rapaciousness, this may be illustrated by the remainder of the men, after the loss of a third battle, catching and carrying away the daughters of Shiloh and making them their wives (Judges 21:23). Some apply this to particular persons of this tribe, as to Saul the first king of Israel, who was of Benjamin; and who as soon as he took the kingdom of Israel, in the morning, in the beginning of that state, fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines, and the Amalekites (1 Samuel 14:47).  It could also apply to Mordecai and Esther, who were of the same tribe and who after the captivity and in the evening of that state divided the spoil of Haman (Esther 8:1). He continues “Some of the Christian fathers have applied the prophecy to the Apostle Paul, who was of the tribe of Benjamin; who in the morning of his youth was a fierce and ravenous persecutor, and made havoc of the church of God: and in the evening, or latter part of his life, spent his days in dividing the spoil of Satan among the Gentiles…” 

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing. 

God inspired Jacob’s blessings and the recording of them for our benefit. We can look forward to fully understanding the fulfillment of these prophetic blessings when Christ returns and reveals the truth to us.   

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.