was at that time taxed as one of the provinces, Luke 2. 1. And at the time of his death the Jews expressly owned, We have no king but Cæsar. Hence it is undeniably inferred against the Jews, that our Lord Jesus is he that should come, and that we are to look for no other; for he came exactly at the time appointed. Many excellent pens have been admirably well employed in explaining and illustrating this famous prophecy of Christ.
5. That it should be a very fruitful tribe, especially that it should abound with milk for babes, and wine to make glad the heart of strong men, v. 11, 12. Vines, so common in the hedge-rows, and so strong, that they should tie their asses to them, and so fruitful, that they should load their asses from them. Wine, as plentiful as water, so that the men of that tribe should be very healthful and lively, their eyes brisk and sparkling, their teeth white. Much of that which is here said concerning Judah, is to be applied to our Lord Jesus. (1.) He is the Ruler of all his father's children, and the conqueror of all his father's enemies; and he it is, that is the praise of all the saints. (2.) He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, as he is called with reference to this here. (Rev. 5. 5.) who, having spoiled principalities and powers, went up a Conqueror, and couched so as none can stir him up, when he sat down on the right hand of the Father. (3.) To him belongs the sceptre; he is the Law-giver, and to him shall the gathering of the people be, as the Desire of all nations, (Hag. 2. 7.) who, being lifted up from the earth, should draw all men unto him, (John 12. 32.) and in whom the children of God, that are scattered abroad, should meet, as the centre of their unity, John 11. 52. (4.) In him there is plenty of all that which is nourishing and refreshing to the soul, and which maintains and cheers the divine life in it; in him we may have wine and milk, the riches of Judah's tribe, without money, and without price, Isa. 55. 1.
13. Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. 14. Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: 15. And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. 16. Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel, 17. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse-heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. 18. I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord. 19. Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. 20. Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. 21. Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
Here we have Jacob's prophecy concerning six of his sons.
I. Concerning Zebulun, (v. 13.) that his posterity should have their lot upon the sea-coast, and should be merchants and mariners, and traders at sea. This was fulfilled, when two or three hundred years after, the land of Canaan was divided by lot, and the border of Zebulun went up towards the sea, Josh. 19. 11. Had they chosen their lot themselves, or Joshua appointed it, we might have supposed it done with design to make Jacob's words good; but, being done by lot, it appears that that was divinely disposed, and Jacob divinely inspired. Note, The lot of God's providence exactly agrees with the plan of God's counsel, like a true copy with the original. If prophecy says, Zebulun shall be a haven of ships, Providence will so plant him. Note, 1. God appoints the bounds of our habitation. 2. It is our wisdom and duty to accommodate ourselves to our lot, and to improve it. If Zebulun dwell at the haven of the sea, let him be for a haven of ships.
II. Concerning Issachar, v. 14, 15. 1. That the men of that tribe should be strong and industrious, fit for labour, and inclined to labour, particularly the toil of husbandry, like the ass, that patiently carries his burden, and, by using himself to it, makes it the easier. Issachar submitted to two burdens, tillage and tribute. It was a tribe that took pains, and, thriving thereby, was called upon for rent and taxes. 2. That they should be encouraged in their labour by the goodness of the land that should fall to their lot. (1.) He saw that rest at home was good. Note, The labour of the husbandman is really rest, in comparison with that of soldiers and seamen, whose hurries and perils are such, that those who tarry at home in the most constant service, have no reason to envy them. (2.) He saw that the land was pleasant, yielding not only pleasant prospects to charm the eye of the curious, but pleasant fruits to recompense his toils. Many are the pleasures of a country life, abundantly sufficient to balance the inconveniences of it, if we can but persuade ourselves to think so. Issachar, in prospect of advantage, bowed his shoulder to bear: let us, with an eye of faith, see the heavenly rest to be good, and that land of promise to be pleasant; and that will make our present services easy, and encourage us to bow our shoulder to them.
III. Concerning Dan, v. 16, 17. What is said concerning Dan, has reference either, 1. To that tribe in general; that though Dan was one of the sons of the concubines, yet he should be a tribe governed by judges of his own as well as other tribes; and should, by art, and policy, and surprise, gain advantages against his enemies, like a serpent suddenly biting the heel of the traveller. Note, (1.) In God's spiritual Israel there is no distinction made of bond or free, Col. 3. 11. Dan shall be incorporated by as good a charter as any of the other tribes. (2.) Some, like Dan, may excel in the subtlety of the serpent, as others, like Judah, in the courage of the lion; and both may do good service to the cause of God against the Canaanites. Or, it may refer, 2. To Samson, who was of that tribe, and judged Israel, that is, delivered them out of the hands of the Philistines, not as the other judges, by fighting them in the field, but by the vexations and annoyances he gave them underhand: when he pulled the house down under the Philistines that were upon the roof of it, he made the horse throw his rider.
Thus was Jacob going on with his discourse; but now, being almost spent with speaking, and ready to faint and die away, he relieves himself with those words which come in as a parenthesis, (v. 18.) I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord; as those that are fainting, are helped by taking a spoonful of a cordial, or smelling at a bottle of spirits; or, if he must break off here, and his breath will not serve him to finish what he intended, with these words he pours out his soul into the bosom of his God, and even breathes it out. Note, The pious ejaculations of a warm and lively devotion, though sometimes they may be incoherent, yet they are not therefore to be censured as impertinent; that may be uttered affectionately, which does not come in methodically. It is no absurdity, when we are speaking to men, to lift up our hearts to God. The salvation we waited for, was, [1.] Christ, the promised Seed, whom
