patriarchs and prophets-第58章
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careful also to state that they had come to sojourn in the land； not to
become permanent dwellers there； thus reserving the right to depart if they
chose。 The king assigned them a home； as offered； in 〃the best of the land；〃
the country of Goshen。
Not long after their arrival Joseph brought his father also to be presented
to the king。 The patriarch was a stranger in royal courts； but amid the
sublime scenes of nature he had communed with a mightier Monarch； and now；
in conscious superiority； he raised his hands and blessed Pharaoh。
In his first greeting to Joseph； Jacob had spoken as if； with this joyful
ending to his long anxiety and sorrow； he was ready to die。 But seventeen
years were yet to be granted him in the peaceful retirement of Goshen。 These
years were in happy contrast to those that had preceded them。 He saw in his
sons evidence of true repentance； he saw his family surrounded by all the
conditions needful for the development of a great nation； and his faith
grasped the sure promise of their future establishment in Canaan。 He himself
was surrounded with every token of love and favor that the prime minister of
Egypt could bestow； and happy in the society of his long…lost son； he passed
down gently and peacefully to the grave。
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As he felt death approaching； he sent for Joseph。 Still holding fast the
promise of God respecting the possession of Canaan； he said； 〃Bury me not； I
pray thee； in Egypt： but I will lie with my fathers； and thou shalt carry me
out of Egypt； and bury me in their burying place。〃 Joseph promised to do so；
but Jacob was not satisfied； he exacted a solemn oath to lay him beside his
fathers in the cave of Machpelah。
Another important matter demanded attention； the sons of Joseph were to be
formally instated among the children of Israel。 Joseph； coming for a last
interview with his father； brought with him Ephraim and Manasseh。 These
youths were connected； through their mother； with the highest order of the
Egyptian priesthood； and the position of their father opened to them the
avenues to wealth an distinction； should they choose to connect themselves
with the Egyptians。 It was Joseph's desire； however； that they should unite
with their own people。 He manifested his faith in the covenant promise； in
behalf of his sons renouncing all the honors that the court of Egypt
offered； for a place among the despised shepherd tribes； to whom had been
entrusted the oracles of God。
Said Jacob； 〃Thy two sons； Ephraim； and Manasseh； which were born unto thee
in the land of Egypt； before I came unto thee into Egypt； are mine； as
Reuben and Simeon； they shall be mine。〃 They were to be adopted as his own；
and to become the heads of separate tribes。 Thus one of the birthright
privileges； which Reuben had forfeited； was to fall to Josepha double
portion in Israel。
Jacob's eyes were dim with age； and he had not been aware of the presence of
the young men； but now； catching the outline of their forms； he said； 〃Who
are these？〃 On being told； he added； 〃Bring them； I pray thee； unto me； and
I will bless them。〃 As they came nearer； the patriarch embraced and kissed
them； solemnly laying his hands upon their heads in benediction。 Then he
uttered the prayer； 〃God； before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk；
the God which fed me all my life long unto this day； the Angel which
redeemed me from all evil； bless the lads。〃 There was no spirit of
self…dependence； no reliance upon human power or cunning now。 God had been
his preserver and support。 There was no complaint of the evil days in the
past。 Its trials and sorrows were no longer regarded as things that were
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〃against〃 him。 Memory recalled only His mercy and loving…kindness who had
been with him throughout his pilgrimage。
The blessing ended； Jacob gave his son the assuranceleaving for the
generations to come； through long years of bondage and sorrow； this
testimony to his faith〃Behold； I die； but God shall be with you； and bring
you again unto the land of your fathers。〃
At the last all the sons of Jacob were gathered about his dying bed。 And
Jacob called unto his sons； and said； 〃Gather yourselves together； and hear；
ye sons of Jacob； and hearken unto Israel your father；〃 〃that I may tell you
that which shall befall you in the last days。〃 Often and anxiously he had
thought of their future； and had endeavored to picture to himself the
history of the different tribes。 Now as his children waited to receive his
last blessing the Spirit of Inspiration rested upon him； and before him in
prophetic vision the future of his descendants was unfolded。 One after
another the names of his sons were mentioned； the character of each was
described； and the future history of the tribes was briefly foretold。
〃Reuben； thou art my first…born；
My might； and the beginning of my strength；
The excellency of dignity； and the excellency of power。〃
Thus the father pictured what should have been the position of Reuben as the
first…born son； but his grievous sin at Edar had made him unworthy of the
birthright blessing。 Jacob continued
〃Unstable as water；
Thou shalt not excel。〃
The priesthood was apportioned to Levi； the kingdom and the Messianic
promise to Judah； and the double portion of the inheritance to Joseph。 The
tribe of Reuben never rose to any eminence in Israel； it was not so numerous
as Judah； Joseph； or Dan； and was among the first that were carried into
captivity。
Next in age to Reuben were Simeon and Levi。 They had been united in their
cruelty toward the Shechemites； and they had also been the most guilty in
the selling of Joseph。 Concerning them it was declared
〃I will divide them in Jacob；
And scatter them in Israel。〃
At the numbering of Israel； just before their entrance to
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Canaan； Simeon was the smallest tribe。 Moses； in his last blessing； made no
reference to Simeon。 In the settlement of Canaan this tribe had only a small
portion of Judah's lot； and such families as afterward became powerful
formed different colonies and settled in territory outside the borders of
the Holy Land。 Levi also received no inheritance except forty…eight cities
scattered in different parts of the land。 In the case of this tribe；
however； their fidelity of Jehovah when the other tribes apostatized；
secured their appointment to the sacred service of the sanctuary； and thus
the curse was changed into a blessing。
The crowning blessings of the birthright were transferred to Judah。 The
significance of the namewhich denotes praise；is unfolded in the
prophetic history of this tribe：
〃Judah； thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise：
Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies；
Thy father's children shall bow down before thee。
Judah is a lion's whelp：
From the prey； my son； thou art gone up：
He stooped down； he couched as a lion；
And as an old lion： who shall rouse him up？
The scepter shall not depart from Judah；
Nor a lawgiver from between his feet；
Until Shiloh come；
And unto Him shall the gathering of the people be。〃
The lion； king of the forest； is a fitting symbol of this tribe； from which
came David； and the Son of David； Shiloh； the true 〃Lion of the tribe of
Judah；〃 to whom all powers shall finally bow and all nations render homage。
For most of his children Jacob foretold a prosperous future。 At last the
name of Joseph was reached； and the father's heart overflowed as he invoked
blessings upon 〃the head of him that was separate from his brethren〃：
〃Joseph is a fruitful bough；
Even a fruitful bough by a well；
Whose branches run over the wall：
The archers have sorely grieved him；
And shot at him； and hated him：
But his bow abode in strength；
And the arms of his hands were made strong
By the hands of the mighty God of Jacob；
（From thence is the shepherd； the stone of Israel；）
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Even by the God of thy fathe
