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雅各祝福众子

49 雅各把他的众子叫来,说:“你们要聚集在一起,我要把你们日后必遇到的事告诉你们。

雅各的儿子们哪,你们要一起来听;

要听你们父亲以色列的话。

流本哪,你是我的长子,

是我的力量,是我的初生子;

你大有尊荣,权力超众;

但是你放纵情欲,好象水沸腾一样,你必不能居首位;

因为你上了你父亲的床;

上了我的榻,然后把它玷污了。

西缅和利未是兄弟;

他们的刀剑是强暴的武器。

我的灵啊,不可加入他们的阴谋;

我的心啊,不可参与他们的集会,

因为他们在怒中杀人,

任意砍断牛的腿筋。

他们的怒气可咒,因为非常暴烈;

他们的烈怒可诅,因为十分凶猛;

我要把他们分散在雅各家;

把他们散居在以色列。

犹大啊,你的兄弟们要称赞你;

你的手必压住仇敌的颈项;

你父亲的众子必向你下拜。

犹大是只小狮子;

我儿啊,你猎取了食物就上到洞穴去。

他屈身伏卧,好象公狮,

又像母狮,谁敢惊动他呢?

10 权杖必不离开犹大,

王圭必不离他两脚之间,

直到细罗(“细罗”有古译本作“属他的那位”)来到,

万族都要臣服他。

11 犹大把自己的驴驹拴在葡萄树旁,

把自己的小驴系在上等的葡萄树旁;

他在葡萄酒中洗净自己的衣服,

在血红的葡萄汁中洗衣袍。

12 他因饮酒而双眼发红,

他因喝奶而牙齿雪白。

13 西布伦必在沿海地带居住,

他必成为船只停泊的港口,

他的边界必伸到西顿。

14 以萨迦是一头粗壮的驴,

伏卧在羊圈(“羊圈”原文意思不详,或译:“重驮”)之间;

15 他看安居为美,

他看肥地为佳,

他屈肩负重,

成了服苦的奴仆。

16 但要审判自己的人民,

作以色列的一个支派。

17 但要作路上的蛇,

道中的毒蛇,

他要咬伤马蹄,

使骑马的人向后坠落。

18 耶和华啊,我向来等候你的拯救。

19 迦得必被侵略者追逼,

他却要追逼他们的脚跟。

20 至于亚设,他的食物必定肥美,

他有美食可以供奉君王。

21 拿弗他利是只得释放的母鹿,

发出优美的言语。

22 约瑟是一根结果子的树枝,

是一根泉旁结果子的树枝,

他的枝条蔓延出墙外。

23 弓箭手把他苦害,

向他射箭敌对他。

24 但他的弓依然坚硬,

他的手臂仍旧敏捷,

这是出于雅各的大能者之手;

出于以色列的牧者,以色列的盘石。

25 是你父亲的 神帮助你,

是那全能者赐给你;

他把从天上来的福,

地下深渊蕴藏着的福,

哺乳和生育的福,都赐给你。

26 你父亲的祝福,

胜过我祖先的祝福(“胜过我祖先的祝福”有古译本作“胜过亘古的山冈”),胜过永远山岭上的美物。

愿这些福都降在约瑟的头上,

降在兄弟中作王子的那一位头上。

27 便雅悯是只撕掠的豺狼,

早晨吞吃他的猎物,

晚上瓜分他的掳物。”

28 这些就是以色列的十二支派;以上是他们父亲对他们所说的话,是按着各人的福分给他们所祝的福。

雅各的遗嘱及其逝世

29 雅各又嘱咐他们,对他们说:“我快要归到我的亲族那里去,你们要把我埋葬在赫人以弗仑田间的洞里,与我的祖先在一起。 30 这个洞在迦南地,在幔利前面的麦比拉的田间。那地方原是亚伯拉罕向赫人以弗仑买下来作坟地的。 31 他们在那里埋葬了亚伯拉罕和他的妻子撒拉;又在那里埋葬了以撒和他的妻子利百加;我也在那里埋葬了利亚。 32 那块田和田间的洞,是向赫人买来的。” 33 雅各对他的众子嘱咐完了,就把双脚收回床上,气绝而死,归到他的亲族那里去了。

雅各死后之荣哀

50 约瑟伏在他父亲的脸上,为他哀哭,与他亲吻。 约瑟吩咐臣仆中作医生的,用香料包殓了他的父亲。他们就用香料包殓了以色列。 这事足足费了四十天,因为用香料包殓尸体是需要这样长的时间。埃及人为他哀哭了七十天。

为他哀哭的日子过了,约瑟就对法老家里的人说:“我若在你们面前得蒙喜悦,请你们代我禀告法老说: ‘我父亲曾经叫我起誓,说:“看哪,我快要死了;你要把我埋葬在迦南地,在我为自己所掘的坟墓里。”现在求你让我上去,埋葬我的父亲,之后我必定回来。’” 法老说:“你可以上去,照着你父亲叫你起的誓,把他埋葬。” 于是,约瑟上去埋葬他的父亲。与他一同上去的,有法老所有的臣仆,法老家中的长老,和埃及地所有的长老, 还有约瑟的全家,他的兄弟们和他父亲的家人;他们把孩子和牛羊留在歌珊地。 又有车辆和马兵与他一同上去,成了一大队行列。 10 他们到了约旦河东岸的亚达禾场,就在那里大大地哀悼痛哭。约瑟为他父亲举哀七天。 11 住在那地的迦南人看见了亚达禾场的哀悼,就说:“这是埃及人一场非常伤痛的哀悼。”因此,在约旦河东岸的那地方名叫亚伯.麦西。 12 雅各的众子就照着父亲嘱咐他们的去作, 13 把雅各运到迦南地,葬在麦比拉田间的洞里。那地方在幔利的前面,是亚伯拉罕向赫人以弗仑买下来作坟地的。 14 约瑟埋葬了他父亲以后,就和他的众兄弟,以及所有与他一同上去埋葬他父亲的人都回埃及去了。

约瑟安慰众兄弟

15 约瑟的哥哥们看见父亲死了,就说:“或者约瑟仍然会怀恨我们,要报复我们从前向他所作的一切恶事。” 16 他们就打发人到约瑟那里,说:“你父亲未死以前曾经嘱咐说: 17 ‘你们要对约瑟这样说:从前你的哥哥们恶待你,求你饶恕他们的过犯和罪恶。现在求你饶恕你父亲的 神之众仆人的过犯。’”约瑟听见这话就哭了。 18 他的哥哥们也亲自来了,俯伏在他面前,说:“看哪,我们是你的奴仆。” 19 约瑟对他们说:“你们不要害怕,我怎能代替 神呢? 20 从前你们有意要害我,但 神有美好的意思在其中,为要成就今日的光景,使许多人的性命得以保全。 21 现在你们不要害怕,我必供养你们和你们的孩子。”于是约瑟用仁慈的话安慰他们。

约瑟逝世

22 约瑟和他父亲的家人,都住在埃及。约瑟活了一百一十岁。 23 约瑟见到以法莲的第三代子孙;玛拿西的儿子玛吉的众子,也归在约瑟的膝下。 24 约瑟对他的兄弟们说:“我快要死了,但 神必定眷顾你们,领你们从这地上到他起誓应许给亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各之地去。” 25 约瑟又叫以色列的子孙起誓,说:“ 神必定眷顾你们,那时你们要把我的骸骨从这里带上去应许之地。” 26 约瑟死了,享寿一百一十岁。人用香料把他包殓了,放在棺材里,停在埃及。

Jacob Blesses His Sons(A)

49 Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.(B)

“Assemble(C) and listen, sons of Jacob;
    listen to your father Israel.(D)

“Reuben, you are my firstborn,(E)
    my might, the first sign of my strength,(F)
    excelling in honor,(G) excelling in power.
Turbulent as the waters,(H) you will no longer excel,
    for you went up onto your father’s bed,
    onto my couch and defiled it.(I)

“Simeon(J) and Levi(K) are brothers—
    their swords[a] are weapons of violence.(L)
Let me not enter their council,
    let me not join their assembly,(M)
for they have killed men in their anger(N)
    and hamstrung(O) oxen as they pleased.
Cursed be their anger, so fierce,
    and their fury,(P) so cruel!(Q)
I will scatter them in Jacob
    and disperse them in Israel.(R)

“Judah,[b](S) your brothers will praise you;
    your hand will be on the neck(T) of your enemies;
    your father’s sons will bow down to you.(U)
You are a lion’s(V) cub,(W) Judah;(X)
    you return from the prey,(Y) my son.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
    like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,(Z)
    nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[c]
until he to whom it belongs[d] shall come(AA)
    and the obedience of the nations shall be his.(AB)
11 He will tether his donkey(AC) to a vine,
    his colt to the choicest branch;(AD)
he will wash his garments in wine,
    his robes in the blood of grapes.(AE)
12 His eyes will be darker than wine,
    his teeth whiter than milk.[e](AF)

13 “Zebulun(AG) will live by the seashore
    and become a haven for ships;
    his border will extend toward Sidon.(AH)

14 “Issachar(AI) is a rawboned[f] donkey
    lying down among the sheep pens.[g](AJ)
15 When he sees how good is his resting place
    and how pleasant is his land,(AK)
he will bend his shoulder to the burden(AL)
    and submit to forced labor.(AM)

16 “Dan[h](AN) will provide justice for his people
    as one of the tribes of Israel.(AO)
17 Dan(AP) will be a snake by the roadside,
    a viper along the path,(AQ)
that bites the horse’s heels(AR)
    so that its rider tumbles backward.

18 “I look for your deliverance,(AS) Lord.(AT)

19 “Gad[i](AU) will be attacked by a band of raiders,
    but he will attack them at their heels.(AV)

20 “Asher’s(AW) food will be rich;(AX)
    he will provide delicacies fit for a king.(AY)

21 “Naphtali(AZ) is a doe set free
    that bears beautiful fawns.[j](BA)

22 “Joseph(BB) is a fruitful vine,(BC)
    a fruitful vine near a spring,
    whose branches(BD) climb over a wall.[k]
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;(BE)
    they shot at him with hostility.(BF)
24 But his bow remained steady,(BG)
    his strong arms(BH) stayed[l] limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,(BI)
    because of the Shepherd,(BJ) the Rock of Israel,(BK)
25 because of your father’s God,(BL) who helps(BM) you,
    because of the Almighty,[m](BN) who blesses you
with blessings of the skies above,
    blessings of the deep springs below,(BO)
    blessings of the breast(BP) and womb.(BQ)
26 Your father’s blessings are greater
    than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
    than[n] the bounty of the age-old hills.(BR)
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,(BS)
    on the brow of the prince among[o] his brothers.(BT)

27 “Benjamin(BU) is a ravenous wolf;(BV)
    in the morning he devours the prey,(BW)
    in the evening he divides the plunder.”(BX)

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel,(BY) and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing(BZ) appropriate to him.

The Death of Jacob

29 Then he gave them these instructions:(CA) “I am about to be gathered to my people.(CB) Bury me with my fathers(CC) in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite,(CD) 30 the cave in the field of Machpelah,(CE) near Mamre(CF) in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field(CG) as a burial place(CH) from Ephron the Hittite. 31 There Abraham(CI) and his wife Sarah(CJ) were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah(CK) were buried, and there I buried Leah.(CL) 32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.[p](CM)

33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.(CN)

50 Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him.(CO) Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him,(CP) taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.(CQ)

When the days of mourning(CR) had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court,(CS) “If I have found favor in your eyes,(CT) speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him, ‘My father made me swear an oath(CU) and said, “I am about to die;(CV) bury me in the tomb I dug for myself(CW) in the land of Canaan.”(CX) Now let me go up and bury my father;(CY) then I will return.’”

Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.”

So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials(CZ) accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court(DA) and all the dignitaries of Egypt— besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household.(DB) Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen.(DC) Chariots(DD) and horsemen[q] also went up with him. It was a very large company.

10 When they reached the threshing floor(DE) of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly;(DF) and there Joseph observed a seven-day period(DG) of mourning(DH) for his father.(DI) 11 When the Canaanites(DJ) who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning.”(DK) That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim.[r]

12 So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them:(DL) 13 They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah,(DM) near Mamre,(DN) which Abraham had bought along with the field(DO) as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite.(DP) 14 After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.(DQ)

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge(DR) against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”(DS) 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions(DT) before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins(DU) and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’(DV) Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.(DW)” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.(DX)

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.(DY) “We are your slaves,”(DZ) they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?(EA) 20 You intended to harm me,(EB) but God intended(EC) it for good(ED) to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.(EE) 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.(EF)” And he reassured them and spoke kindly(EG) to them.

The Death of Joseph

22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years(EH) 23 and saw the third generation(EI) of Ephraim’s(EJ) children.(EK) Also the children of Makir(EL) son of Manasseh(EM) were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.[s](EN)

24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die.(EO) But God will surely come to your aid(EP) and take you up out of this land to the land(EQ) he promised on oath to Abraham,(ER) Isaac(ES) and Jacob.”(ET) 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath(EU) and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones(EV) up from this place.”(EW)

26 So Joseph died(EX) at the age of a hundred and ten.(EY) And after they embalmed him,(EZ) he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 49:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  2. Genesis 49:8 Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise.
  3. Genesis 49:10 Or from his descendants
  4. Genesis 49:10 Or to whom tribute belongs; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  5. Genesis 49:12 Or will be dull from wine, / his teeth white from milk
  6. Genesis 49:14 Or strong
  7. Genesis 49:14 Or the campfires; or the saddlebags
  8. Genesis 49:16 Dan here means he provides justice.
  9. Genesis 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for attack and also for band of raiders.
  10. Genesis 49:21 Or free; / he utters beautiful words
  11. Genesis 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild colt, / a wild colt near a spring, / a wild donkey on a terraced hill
  12. Genesis 49:24 Or archers will attack … will shoot … will remain … will stay
  13. Genesis 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai
  14. Genesis 49:26 Or of my progenitors, / as great as
  15. Genesis 49:26 Or of the one separated from
  16. Genesis 49:32 Or the descendants of Heth
  17. Genesis 50:9 Or charioteers
  18. Genesis 50:11 Abel Mizraim means mourning of the Egyptians.
  19. Genesis 50:23 That is, were counted as his