Shadowland: Beginnings

Shadowland: Beginnings: Week 57

Genesis 49

More on Zebulun

All the "bible maps" I could find of the territory of Zebulun show them as not touching the Sea of Galilea or the Mediterranean. However Josephus (Antiquities V 1.22) describes them as stretching from Galilea to the Carmel on the Mediterranean. The east and west borders in Joshua 19 are unclear in particulars, mentioning cities unidentified to us today, but scholars agree that they are clear in general: Zebulun received a landlocked estate from Joshua.

So, Jacob's prophecy was *not* fulfilled at the first inheritance of the land, but was by the time of Christ: Matthew 4:12-16. Furthermore, this "problem" blows theories about a late authorship of Genesis out of the water.

Other commentators note that Isaiah and Matthew mention Zebulun and Naphthali together - so that they shared the coastal territory (with a similar arrangement with Asher as hinted by Deuteronomy 33:19).

Jacob's Prophecy - the Sons of the Concubines

49:16 Sampson was from Dan. In Jewish tradition, the antichrist also comes from Dan.
49:17-18 "adder in the path" - Gen 3:15 A thumbnail history of Dan in the bible.
- Genesis 37:2 Joseph brings an evil report concerning the sons of the concubines.
- Genesis 46:23 "Hushan" not enumerated
- Numbers 10:25 Dan last
- Numbers 26:42 Dan not enumerated again
- Deuteronomy 29:18 gall and wormwood - blot out his name
- Joshua 19 Dan last
- Judges 18 Dan introduces idol worship
- 1 Chronicles 27 Dan last
- 1 Kings 12 Jereboam the Ephraimite sets idols at Dan and Bethel. v30: And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
- 2 Kings 10:29 idol still at Dan (and still at Tel-dan today)
- Ezekiel 48 Dan first to inherit in millenium
- Amos 8:4 "God of Dan"
- Revelation 7 Dan and Ephraim excluded
49:19 Gad - "a troop comes", "overcome at the last" Jeremiah 49
49:20 Asher - "happy", "provide royal dainties" - Asher includes Tyre and Sidon. King of Tyre provides supplies for temple. Deuteronomy 33:24,25 Luke 2:36 The prophetess Anna was from Asher.
49:21 "a hind let loose" - Barak was from Naphthali: Judges 4:14 "10000 men *after* him"