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Advent Lessons

Lesson 13 · December 24, 1898

Israel's Prophecy and Death

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  1. 1.For what purpose did Jacob now call his sons together? .
  2. 2.What did he say Reuben ought to be? . Why could he not hold this position? .
  3. 3.What close union existed between Simeon and Levi? With what curse did he reprove them and forewarn their tribe? What was to be their future? .
  4. 4.What was to be Judah's position among his brethren? By what fitting symbol was his tribe represented? How was he made the central figure? . Who was Shiloh? See marginal readings of , R. V.; ; .
  5. 5.What was the prophecy concerning Zebulun? .
  6. 6.What did Jacob say of the future of Issachar? .
  7. 7.What did he say Dan should be? In what did Dan's success consist? .
  8. 8.What shows the endurance of Gad? .
  9. 9.How was Asher to flourish? .
  10. 10.What was the character of the tribe of which Naphtali was the father? .
  11. 11.By what appropriate figures, and lofty expressions, does Jacob foretell Joseph's prosperity, his strength, his help, and his blessings? .
  12. 12.By what symbol did he represent the future of Benjamin? .
  13. 13.What was this that Jacob's prophetic eye had so clearly seen and so vividly described? In harmony with what was his blessing? .
  14. 14.How did Jacob now show his "pilgrim and stranger" spirit? Verses 29-32.
  15. 15.His last inspired life duty having now been performed, what was the closing scene? Verse 33.
  16. 16.Carefully read the fiftieth chapter of Genesis.

Readings

Notes

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Make a careful study of the fulfilment of this last prophecy of Jacob in the future history of the several tribes. Meyer says: "Reuben, though the first-born, never excelled; no judge, prophet, or ruler, sprang from his tribe. Simeon was almost absorbed in the nomad tribes of southern Palestine. The cities in which the sons of Levi dwelt were scattered throughout all the tribes. Vestiges of terraced vineyards still attest how well the hilly province assigned to Judah suited the culture of the vine. Zebulun embosomed the Lake of Galilee, and stretched away toward the coast of the blue Mediterranean. Esdraelon, the battle-field of Palestine, where Assyria from the north and Egypt from the south often met in deadly feud, lay within the limits of Issachar. Dan was small as an adder, but, like it, could inflict dangerous wounds on any invader who had to pass by it towards the heart of the country. Gad, much pressed by border war. Asher, notable for fertility. Naphtali, famous for eloquence. Benjamin, cruel as a wolf. All these justified the prophecy of their dying ancestor, whilst the mighty tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, springing from the sons of Joseph, inherited to the full 'blessings of heaven above; blessings of the deep that lieth under; blessings of the breast and of the womb; blessings to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills.'" Jacob's "paternal tenderness would have found expression only in words of encouragement and hope; but the power of God rested upon him, and under the influence of inspiration, he was constrained to declare the truth, however painful."—.

Additional Study

  1. 1.Make an outline of this chapter.
  2. 2.Read , and compare with this chapter.
  3. 3.Look up the character of the several symbols mentioned in Jacob's dying prophecy, and observe their appropriateness in each instance.
  4. 4.In the study of the prophecy concerning Judah, note what is the only royalty of worth in the sight of God, and what the only law. Observe that at the close of Solomon's reign, his kingdom was divided into Israel, or Ephraim, and Judah, but that at the time of Christ, Ephraim was absorbed in Judah, and thus the scepter did not depart from Judah till Shiloh came. See ; .
  5. 5.Why are the faults and follies of Bible characters recorded as well as their virtues and victories? Has this fact been of any help to you? What?
  6. 6.Note how the prophetic spirit was preserved during the history of God's people up to this point in the lives of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. The study of this early history and prophecy stood first in the schools of the prophets as well as in the lives of the prophets themselves. Adam and Eve continually saw the seed of the woman; Abel looked to the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world; Enoch beheld the Lord coming with ten thousand of His saints; Noah was enraptured with the rainbow glory about the throne; Abraham saw the Father and the Son to the completion of the great mediatorial plan and the ratification of the everlasting covenant; Isaac witnessed the results of that plan and that ratified covenant, "On earth peace, good-will toward men;" Jacob saw the ministration of angels, Christ the way, God over all; Joseph had a view of the final coronation—Christ enthroned in glory.

Bible texts in this lesson

Genesis 49 · Genesis 49:1 · Genesis 49:2 · Genesis 49:3 · Genesis 49:4 · Genesis 49:5-7 · Genesis 49:8-12 · Genesis 49:10 · Revelation 5:5 · Hebrews 7:14 · Hebrews 7:13 · Hebrews 7:15 · Hebrews 7:16-18 · Hebrews 7:19 · Hebrews 7:20 · Hebrews 7:21 · Hebrews 7:22-26 · Hebrews 7:27 · Hebrews 7:28 · Deuteronomy 33 · Hosea 4:17 · Psalms 78:67-69

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