Jacob Blessing His Sons

Genesis 22:1718; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:3; Genesis 48:21; Genesis 49; 2 Nephi 3:5; Jacob 2:25And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. Genesis 49:12
Jacob received the same blessings from the Lord that his father, Isaac, and his grandfather, Abraham, had received. The Lord changed Jacob's name to Israel and promised that his posterity would be as numerous as the stars in the heaven and that through his descendants all the nations of the earth would be blessed. (See Genesis 22:1718; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:3.)
When Jacob realized that he would soon die, he called his twelve sons together to give them each a patriarchal (father's) blessing (see Genesis 48:21; Genesis 49:1). Jacob scolded Reuben, Simeon, and Levi for past sins; he then prophesied that Judah's descendants would rule until the coming of Christ (see Genesis 49:312). He said that Dan would be a judge in Israel (see Genesis 49:1618), and he promised Joseph that he would have many descendants who would inherit the American continent and be greatly blessed (see Genesis 49:2226; 2 Nephi 3:5). Jacob also blessed Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, and Benjamin (see Genesis 49:1315, Genesis 49:1921, Genesis 49:27).
Jacob asked to be buried in the land of Canaan in the same cave where his wife Leah; his parents, Isaac and Rebekah; and his grandparents Abraham and Sarah were buried. He died soon after this. (See Genesis 49:2933.)
Summary
Jacob, whose name the Lord changed to Israel, was a righteous prophet who had twelve sons. The family of each son was called a tribe, and they were known as the twelve tribes of Israel. When Jacob grew old he called his family together and blessed each of his sons. Their descendants would bring the blessings of the gospel to many people throughout the world. The Lord had blessed Jacob and had preserved him to become the father of a great nation.
Artist, Harry Anderson
© 1997 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA

Assignment

Read about these people in the Bible Dictionary! They are fascinating! Have you ever heard the phrase "selling out for a mess of pottage" or "losing all for a mess of pottage"? Well look up Genesis 25:29-34, read about Esau and Jacob's transaction. What would be a more modern phrase? Have you ever been Esau?

Jacob had 12 sons, did he have any daughters? Look up Dinah (BD) what happened to her?