Genesis 49:1-7 "And 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. Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel."
Jacob had already spent some time with Joseph and Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. He declared his adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh and had set Joseph as his firstborn. These things were done privately at the time. But the time has come for Jacob to address all his sons before his passing.
In the first verse, he commands them to “gather” themselves. The word translated as gather in this first verse means to come together to receive or take something away. They are about to be told by prophecy the things that will befall them as the twelve tribes. Jacob is about to reveal to them the consequences of their actions and the purpose of God.
In the second verse, Jacob again commands them to “gather” and to “hear.” This word translated as gather is not the same as in the first verse. This word means to grasp or take up. The word translated as hear means to hear intelligently (with understanding). The truth that Jacob was about to impart to them was something they were to take to heart and consider with understanding.
We find revealed in his words to Reuben why he would not receive the blessing of the firstborn (excel). Even though it was true that he was born first, his actions had caused him to be unworthy of that place. Reuben had started well, but then was described as being “unstable as water.”
The word translated as unstable means ebullition. Ebullition means to froth as in the boiling of water or as can be seen in the process of fermentation (Webster’s Dictionary of American English, 1828). As water boils and roils when it is heated, so the heat of Reuben’s lust caused him to commit fornication with Bilhah (his father’s concubine – Genesis 35:22). He demonstrated that his very being was fermented by his Adam nature.
Simeon and Levi were brethren not only by birth but were of a similar disposition. Rather than using their swords (habitations) for defense, they were prepared for violence. They took revenge against the Philistines for an act against their sister rather than waiting on the Lord. Their actions caused the inhabitants of the land of Canaan to set their faces against Israel.
Jacob expressed his desire that his soul not be caught up in cruelty. Simeon’s possessions in Israel would be scattered. Levi would not receive a possession but would rather be granted cities scattered throughout Israel. They were victims of their “selfwill (voluntary action).”
We see in these verses the failure of our Adamic nature. We are unstable as water (given to lust), and we voluntarily assume actions of cruelty and violence (unkind and uncaring). I would point us today to Jacob’s prayer and hope that this would be our heart’s desire. May we not give our souls over to the lust of the flesh or the unkindness of our Adamic nature. May we rather walk in the love and grace of Jesus, and let our moderation (gentleness, patience) be known to all men (Philippians 4:5).