Before dying, Jacob blessed all his twelve sons and, by God’s inspiration, revealed what would befall them “in the last days” in the purpose of God. We are able to trace the fulfilment of these prophecies in the later experiences of the twelve tribes but, because Jesus was an Israelite and God’s purpose is in him, those prophecies which relate specifically to him are of most interest to us.
Simeon and Levi, sons of Leah, joined together to kill the men of Shalem (Genesis 34:25),Waiting for response for Genesis 34:25 and were described prophetically by Jacob as “instruments of cruelty” and this remained true for their descendants. It is instructive to consider their roles in the affliction of both Joseph and Jesus. Before Jesus' glory would come the suffering. In this suffering, members of certain tribes played a significant role, notably Judas Iscariot and the priests of the tribe of Levi. Therefore, in blessing Simeon and Levi, Jacob looked, not just at their past but also at their behaviour in “the last days” of the Mosaic age when Christ suffered at their hands. As “instruments of cruelty... in their anger they slew a man”, before which they gathered together to plot Christ’s death. Therefore these tribes were divided and scattered in Israel, with Simeon being given land only within Judah’s territory and Levi receiving no land at all, only cities among the other tribes.
Judah is identified as the royal tribe to whom the others would bow and who would be victorious over his enemies, therefore Jesus was born, through Mary, into this tribe. He is specifically referred to here by the title “Shiloh” being the one through whom God would speak his word, and he would also be the one, when he reigns in Israel, to raise up Judah. There is also a reference to his riding into Jerusalem upon an ass as he did when the common people proclaimed: “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”, acknowledging him as king of Israel Matthew 21:9Waiting for response for Matthew 21:9
Jesus was not only a son of a woman but also the Son of God, and this is foretold in the prophecy concerning Joseph. Joseph was made strong by the God of Jacob, and “from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel”. The reason for information about Christ being given in Joseph’s blessing is that he became the inheritor of the birthright 1 Chronicles 5:2Waiting for response for 1 Chronicles 5:2 and also because Joseph’s life was an enacted parable of Jesus’. Christ was, like Joseph, separate from his brethren, made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob being the son of man God made strong for himself, Psalm 80:17Waiting for response for Psalm 80:17 the one designated throughout the scriptures as the shepherd and stone of Israel, and the one upon whom abundant blessings will be poured.
In the end; Jacob had twelve sons whose names (with Joseph’s sons substituted for him, as in the tribes of Israel) express the purpose of God in Christ: “Behold a Son (Reuben) for the hearing of praise (Judah) by a purchased people (Issachar) dwelling (Zebulon) fruitfully (Ephraim) when toil is forgotten (Manasseh) through the Son of God’s right hand (Benjamin); judging (Dan) happily (Asher) in a great company (Gad) after victorious wrestling (Naphtali)”.