Jacob Calls His Sons

1 And Jacob called his sons, and said, Gather together, and I will tell you what will happen to you at the end of days; 2 assemble, and listen, sons of Jacob, and receive instruction from Israel your father,

Jacob's Blessings for His Sons

3 Reuben, you are my first-born, my strength, and the beginning of my power. You should have received the three portions: the birthright, the priesthood, and the kingdom: but because you have acted perversely, 4 look, as water poured out, you will not prosper, nor will you receive the excellent portion; because you went up to your father's sleeping place: then, my son, you became defiled when you went up to my bed. 5 Simeon and Levi are brothers; mighty men in the land of their residence, they did mightily. 6 My soul had no part in their secret plan; I would not have lowered my honor by joining their company. For in their anger they killed people, and in their willfulness they razed the wall of their enemy. 7 Cursed was their anger, for it was strong, and their anger, for it was relentless. I will divide them in Jacob, and I will scatter them in Israel. 8 Judah, you have confessed and have not been ashamed; your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall prevail against your adversaries, your enemies shall be dispersed; they will be turned backward before you, and the sons of your father will come before you with greetings. 9 The dominion shall be yours in the beginning, and in the end the kingdom shall be increased from the house of Judah, because from the judgment of death, my son, you have withdrawn. He shall rest and remain in strength as a lion, and as a lioness, there shall be no king that may cut him off. 10 He who rules shall not pass away from the house of Judah, nor the saphra from his children's children forever, until the Meshiha comes, to whom the kingdom belongs and whom the nations shall obey.⁠a 11 He shall lead Israel around His city; the people shall build his temple, they will be righteous around him, and obey the law through his teaching. His clothes will be of fine purple, and his outer garment of crimson wool with colors. 12 His mountains shall be red with his vineyards, and his vats shall overflow with wine; his valleys shall be white with grain, and with flocks of sheep. 13 Zebulun will dwell near the harbor of the sea; he will subdue provinces with ships, and will eat the good of the sea, and his boundary shall come to Sidon. 14 Issachar, rich in possessions, will have his heritage between the boundaries; 15 and he, seeing that his portion is good, and the land that it is fruit-bearing, will subdue the provinces of the people, and disperse their inhabitants, and those who remain of them will become servants to him and tribute bearers. 16 From the house of Dan will be chosen and will arise a man in whose days his people shall be delivered, and in whose years the tribes of Israel have rest together. 17 A chosen man will arise from the house of Dan, the terror of whom shall fall upon the peoples; a man who will strike the Philistines with strength, as the serpent, the deadly serpent, lurking by the way, he will kill the mighty of the Philistines' army, both cavalry and infantry; he will disable the horses and chariots, and throw their riders backward. 18 I have waited for Your salvation, Lord! 19 From the house of Gad will armed forces cross the Jordan before their brothers to the battle; and they will return to their land with many possessions. 20 The land of Asher will be good; and it shall provide him with royal delicacies. 21 Naphtali's lot will be cast in a good land, and his inheritance be fruitful; for them they will give praise and blessing. 22 Joseph is my son who shall increase, my son who shall be blessed, as a vine planted by a spring of waters. Two tribes will come from his sons, and they shall receive a portion and inheritance. 23 The mighty men, the men of division, were bitter against him; they afflicted him and deeply grieved him. 24 His prophecy was fulfilled regarding them because he was faithful to the law in secret and set his confidence firmly. Therefore gold was placed on his arm, and the kingdom was strengthened and confirmed. This was to him from the mighty God of Jacob, who by His Memra sustains the fathers and the children of the descendants of Israel. 25 The Memra of the God of your father shall be your Helper, and the All-Sufficient shall bless you, with the blessings of the dew that descends from the heavens above, with the blessings that spring from the depths of the earth beneath, with the blessings of your father and your mother. 26 The blessing of your father shall be added on the blessing with which my ancestors blessed me; which the princes who are of the world have desired: all of them shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the man who was separated from his brothers. 27 Benjamin: the Shekina will dwell in his land, and the sanctuary will be built in his possession. In the morning and afternoon the priests will offer the sacrifice, and at evening divide the remaining portions of the residue of the sacred things.

Jacob's Burial Instructions and Death

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel; and this is what their father said to them, and blessed them; he blessed each man according to his blessing. 29 And he commanded them, and said to them, I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my ancestors in the cave which is in the field of Ephron the Hittite; 30 in the cave which is in the double field opposite Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which field Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite for an burial possession. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. 32 The field, and the cave that is in it, was purchased from the sons of Heth. 33 And Jacob finished instructing his sons, and drew his feet together in the bed, and died, and was gathered to his people.