| Geneva Study Bible All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. Scofield Reference Notes [1] blessed them Jacob's life, ending in serenity and blessing, testifies to the power of God to transform character. His spiritual progress has six notable phases: (1) the first exercise of faith, as shown in the purchase of the birthright Gen 25:28-34 27:10-22. (2) the vision at bethel Gen 28:10-19. (3) walking in the flesh Gen 29:1-31:55. (4) the transforming experience Gen 32:24-31. (5) the return to Bethel: idols put away Gen 35:1-7. (6) the walk of faith Gen 37:1-49:33. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 28. all these are the twelve tribes of Israel-or ancestors. Jacob's prophetic words obviously refer not so much to the sons as to the tribes of Israel. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 49:28-33 Jacob blessed every one according to the blessings God in after-times intended to bestow upon them. He spoke about his burial-place, from a principle of faith in the promise of God, that Canaan should be the inheritance of his seed in due time. When he had finished both his blessing and his charge, and so had finished his testimony, he addressed himself to his dying work. He gathered up his feet into the bed, not only as one patiently submitting to the stroke, but as one cheerfully composing himself to rest, now that he was weary. He freely gave up his spirit into the hand of God, the Father of spirits. If God's people be our people, death will gather us to them. Under the care of the Shepherd of Israel, we shall lack nothing for body or soul. We shall remain unmoved until our work is finished; then, breathing out our souls into His hands for whose salvation we have waited, we shall depart in peace, and leave a blessing for our children after us. | 
