-
†. Gen 49:1-4 . . And Jacob summoned his sons and said: Come
together that I may tell you what is to befall you in days to come.
Assemble and hearken, O sons of Jacob; hearken to Israel your
father:
. . . Reuben, you are my first-born, my might and first fruit of my
vigor, exceeding in rank and exceeding in honor. Unstable as water,
you shall excel no longer; for when you mounted your father's bed,
you brought disgrace-- my couch he mounted!
Reuben was clearly a reckless, impetuous individual ruled by the passions
and impulses of human nature rather than better judgment. Compare Isa
57:20 where the ocean is depicted subject to the forces of nature rather
than under its own control.
The affair to which Jacob referred occurred in Gen 35:22. Even today in
modern industrial societies, it is not only unthinkable for a man to sleep with
one of his father's wives; but even with one of his girlfriends. True, Bilhah
and Jacob weren't officially married but still, she was the legal mother of two
Israeli tribal heads: Dan and Naphtali.
Because of his illicit tryst, Reuben lost the firstborn's position (1Chrn 5:1)
demonstrating once again that the biblical rank of firstborn isn't restricted to
the son born first, but is a transferable status that can be bestowed upon a
younger male sibling.
†. Gen 49:5 . . Simeon and Levi are a pair; their weapons are tools of
lawlessness.
With Rueben demoted, Simeon would have been next in primogeniture, and
after him; Levi. But the two men are alike as peas in a pod and brothers in
arms-- they're both criminals who simply cannot be trusted to conduct
themselves in a manner befitting the honor and the dignity properly
associated with the position of Israel's firstborn. If Reuben was water, then
Simeon and Levi are leaky boats with no oars, no sail, no rudder, and no
compass.
Ironically, Levi produced Aaron, Israel's line of high priests; and the whole
tribe of Levi is exempt from war though they were sired by a bloody man. It
would appear then, that the office of Israel's firstborn is far more sacred
than any of the Levitical priests, including the Aaronic category.
NOTE: Moses descended from Levi. (Ex 2:1-10)
†. Gen 49:6a . . Let not my person be included in their council, let not
my being be counted in their assembly.
Simeon and Levi were not the kind of people from whom a sensible person
would deem it wise to seek advice and counsel. In other words; they were a
bad influence.
Jacob's initial reaction to the murders committed by two of his eldest sons
back in chapter 34 was one of concern for his family's safety, and the effect
the deed had upon his reputation in those parts. Not till now does he
excoriate the two men for their conduct; and the denunciation is severe.
†. Gen 49:6c . . For when angry they slay men, and when pleased
they maim oxen.
Simeon and Levi not only committed malicious murders; but also took
satisfaction in cruelty to animals. People like that always justify their cruelty
by saying they're teaching the animal a lesson and/or breaking it of a bad
habit. But in their case it's a lie. They're just heartless and violent; that's all.
One could almost excuse Cain for murdering his kid brother in a fit of rage
because in his day there were no divine prohibitions against murder and/or
manslaughter. But Simeon and Levi had no excuse. They didn't act upon a
sudden provocation, and both of those men knew full well God prohibited
murder and manslaughter because they lived many years after grandpa
Noah came off the ark. (cf. Gen 9:5-6)
By all rights, Jacob should have had those two sons of his executed for what
they did back in Shechem; but like they say: blood is thicker than water.
Jacob let them get away with murder because they're kin, which is the sin of
partiality; defined by Webster's as inclined to favor one party over another;
viz: bias.
†. Gen 49:7 . . Cursed be their anger so fierce, and their wrath so
relentless. I will divide them in Jacob, scatter them in Israel.
Jacob was speaking for Yhvh in the last sentence; and the purpose of
dividing and scattering was apparently to make it all the more difficult for
the two tribes to unite in a dastardly cause.
Jacob cursed only his sons' anger rather than the sons-- actually, their
category of anger; which he described as fierce and relentless.
Webster's defines "fierce" as a behavior exhibited by humans and animals
that inspires terror because of the wild and menacing aspect of fury in
attack. Ferocity is an aspect commonly seen among roaring, snarling lions
savagely attacking prey. There's neither sportsmanship nor sympathy in
ferocity; only sheer terror, brutality, and blood lust.
Webster's defines "relentless" as: 1) not softening or yielding in
determination; viz: tough, hard, and stern, and 2) not letting up or
weakening in vigor or pace; viz: constant, persistent.
Ironically, the wrath of God is depicted in much the same way. (Isa 13:9)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†. Gen 49:1-4 . . And Jacob summoned his sons and said: Come
together that I may tell you what is to befall you in days to come.
Assemble and hearken, O sons of Jacob; hearken to Israel your
father:
. . . Reuben, you are my first-born, my might and first fruit of my
vigor, exceeding in rank and exceeding in honor. Unstable as water,
you shall excel no longer; for when you mounted your father's bed,
you brought disgrace-- my couch he mounted!
Reuben was clearly a reckless, impetuous individual ruled by the passions
and impulses of human nature rather than better judgment. Compare Isa
57:20 where the ocean is depicted subject to the forces of nature rather
than under its own control.
The affair to which Jacob referred occurred in Gen 35:22. Even today in
modern industrial societies, it is not only unthinkable for a man to sleep with
one of his father's wives; but even with one of his girlfriends. True, Bilhah
and Jacob weren't officially married but still, she was the legal mother of two
Israeli tribal heads: Dan and Naphtali.
Because of his illicit tryst, Reuben lost the firstborn's position (1Chrn 5:1)
demonstrating once again that the biblical rank of firstborn isn't restricted to
the son born first, but is a transferable status that can be bestowed upon a
younger male sibling.
†. Gen 49:5 . . Simeon and Levi are a pair; their weapons are tools of
lawlessness.
With Rueben demoted, Simeon would have been next in primogeniture, and
after him; Levi. But the two men are alike as peas in a pod and brothers in
arms-- they're both criminals who simply cannot be trusted to conduct
themselves in a manner befitting the honor and the dignity properly
associated with the position of Israel's firstborn. If Reuben was water, then
Simeon and Levi are leaky boats with no oars, no sail, no rudder, and no
compass.
Ironically, Levi produced Aaron, Israel's line of high priests; and the whole
tribe of Levi is exempt from war though they were sired by a bloody man. It
would appear then, that the office of Israel's firstborn is far more sacred
than any of the Levitical priests, including the Aaronic category.
NOTE: Moses descended from Levi. (Ex 2:1-10)
†. Gen 49:6a . . Let not my person be included in their council, let not
my being be counted in their assembly.
Simeon and Levi were not the kind of people from whom a sensible person
would deem it wise to seek advice and counsel. In other words; they were a
bad influence.
Jacob's initial reaction to the murders committed by two of his eldest sons
back in chapter 34 was one of concern for his family's safety, and the effect
the deed had upon his reputation in those parts. Not till now does he
excoriate the two men for their conduct; and the denunciation is severe.
†. Gen 49:6c . . For when angry they slay men, and when pleased
they maim oxen.
Simeon and Levi not only committed malicious murders; but also took
satisfaction in cruelty to animals. People like that always justify their cruelty
by saying they're teaching the animal a lesson and/or breaking it of a bad
habit. But in their case it's a lie. They're just heartless and violent; that's all.
One could almost excuse Cain for murdering his kid brother in a fit of rage
because in his day there were no divine prohibitions against murder and/or
manslaughter. But Simeon and Levi had no excuse. They didn't act upon a
sudden provocation, and both of those men knew full well God prohibited
murder and manslaughter because they lived many years after grandpa
Noah came off the ark. (cf. Gen 9:5-6)
By all rights, Jacob should have had those two sons of his executed for what
they did back in Shechem; but like they say: blood is thicker than water.
Jacob let them get away with murder because they're kin, which is the sin of
partiality; defined by Webster's as inclined to favor one party over another;
viz: bias.
†. Gen 49:7 . . Cursed be their anger so fierce, and their wrath so
relentless. I will divide them in Jacob, scatter them in Israel.
Jacob was speaking for Yhvh in the last sentence; and the purpose of
dividing and scattering was apparently to make it all the more difficult for
the two tribes to unite in a dastardly cause.
Jacob cursed only his sons' anger rather than the sons-- actually, their
category of anger; which he described as fierce and relentless.
Webster's defines "fierce" as a behavior exhibited by humans and animals
that inspires terror because of the wild and menacing aspect of fury in
attack. Ferocity is an aspect commonly seen among roaring, snarling lions
savagely attacking prey. There's neither sportsmanship nor sympathy in
ferocity; only sheer terror, brutality, and blood lust.
Webster's defines "relentless" as: 1) not softening or yielding in
determination; viz: tough, hard, and stern, and 2) not letting up or
weakening in vigor or pace; viz: constant, persistent.
Ironically, the wrath of God is depicted in much the same way. (Isa 13:9)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=