Jacob Blesses Gad, Asher,
and Naphtali—A
Study of the 12 Tribes
Dr.
Jerry A. Collins
As for Gad, raiders shall raid him, but he will raid at their
heels. As for Asher, his food shall be rich, and he will yield royal dainties. Naphtali is a doe let loose, He gives beautiful words (Genesis 49:19-21).
Verse
19—As for Gad, raiders shall raid
him but he will raid at their heels—Even though Gad will be raided
by marauding bands, he will fight valiantly. That border raids would be the lot
of Gad is emphasized by the word plays in the verse—four of the six words play
on the name Gad. The rendering would be “Gad, a troop shall troop upon him, but
he shall troop on their heels.” Gad will be harassed by bands of hostile
enemies but will eventually repel their advances.
PT—A map of Israel in biblical times vividly displays the precarious
position of Gad in relation to some of Israel’s ancient enemies. Gad, along
with Reuben and half of Manasseh, was allotted a portion of the land on the
east side of the Jordan River (Joshua 13:24-28). This made the tribe
susceptible to the Moabites and Ammonites to the east and north and the
Edomites to the south. Hostile bands from these enemies bordered the entire
territory keeping Gad on their toes, ready to defend themselves whenever
necessary.
An Application—Sometimes we have to play
defense in our spiritual lives. Rather than conquering new territory we will
need to solidify and protect the territory we already possess. We will need to be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil,
prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour
(1 Peter 5:8). We will need to put on the
full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes
of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). Just like Gad, we are surrounded by an enemy
bent upon destroying the work of God through the people of God. So in your prayer life determine to stay on course with
whatever strategy you use. It will be attacked.
Verse
20—As for Asher, his food shall be
rich, and he will yield royal dainties—Jacob’s oracle predicted that Asher would be fertile and
productive, so much so that he would provide delicacies to royalty. The second
phrase describes what Asher would do with his abundant produce—deliver it to
the court and he will yield royal dainties. The term dainties signify that the produce was delightful or pleasurable. It
is probably not ordinary food but delicacies that kings could afford. So Asher will enjoy the rich products of a fertile land,
teeming with those things which contribute to the sustenance of life, and also
will, from the ample produce, supply those tasty morsels to royalty.
PT—During Solomon’s reign, each
of the 12 tribes in turn provided the royal provisions for one month each year.
Solomon had twelve deputies
over all Israel, who provided for the king and his household; each man had to
provide for a month in the year (1 Kings 4:7). Receiving Asher’s share of the monthly
supply would ensure delicacies and morsels fit for royalty. These were
excellent gourmet delights.
Verse
21—Naphtali
is a doe let loose, He gives beautiful words—Naphtali would be a free mountain people. But the specific point
of this oracle is that Naphtali would be a messenger with a message of victory.
The imagery of Naphtali as a hind let loose conveys swiftness and agility, especially in
battle. Consider David’s acknowledgement of God’s help during his flight from
Saul. He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me upon my high places (Psalms
18:33).
·
David
had apparently observed the hind as she fled from hunters in the desolate and
savage wilderness where David also was fleeing from his hunter, Saul. The second clause reveals what the
message is—words of beauty he gives beautiful words.
In this case, it means simply that he gives the words of the message. If beautiful is retained as the reading,
then it suggests good news.
A
Review of the History of the Tribe of Gad
· The geographical name for the
territory of Gad is Gilead—a name in the Old Testament that often stood for the tribe of Gad.
Judges 5:17 referred to the tribe this way. Gilead remained across the Jordan. Apparently, the people of Gilead remained on the other side of the river and did not
participate in the battle. Gilead, the area of ancient Palestine east of
the Jordan River, corresponds to modern northwestern Jordan. The region is bounded in the north
by the Yarmuk River and in the southwest by what were
known in ancient times as the “plains of Moab.” To the east there is no
definite boundary. Sometimes Gilead
is used in a more general sense for all the region east of the Jordan River.
· The book of Judges portrays
the tribe of Gad’s perilous existence they
[Philistines] afflicted and crushed the
sons of Israel that year; for eighteen years they afflicted all
the sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in Gilead in the land of the
Amorites (Judges 10:8). The Philistines were shattering and crushing the
tribes east of the Jordan. They sustained their oppression until it eventually
included tribes on the West side of the Jordan as well. Additionally, the
sons of Ammon crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah, Benjamin, and the
house of Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed (Judges 10:9). So, Israel was oppressed from both the east and the west.
·
It
was this constant exposure to hostile enemies that resulted in Gad’s developing
a reputation as fierce warriors, constantly ready to defend their land. In
David’s days, as a fugitive from Saul, the Gadite
warriors who joined him at Ziklag were described in
the following way. From the Gadites
there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of
valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces
were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the
mountains (1 Chronicles
12:8).
· Moses’
blessing on Gad also described their ferocity. Of Gad he said, “Blessed
is the one who enlarges Gad; He
lies down as a lion, and tears
the arm, also the crown of the head.” Gad was a warring tribe that was very
aggressive in conquering and subduing the land. They even rebuilt and fortified
cities as well as provisioning for their people. The sons of Gad built Dibon and Ataroth and Aroer… as fortified cities, and sheepfolds for sheep (Numbers 32:34-35).
· Scripture mentions nothing about any prominent
individuals in this small but strategically located tribe. The most famous Gadite mentioned in the Old Testament was Jair, who judged Israel twenty-two years (Judges
10:3-5).
An Application—The New Testament describes our responsibility
as an ordinary soldier who must be single-minded in
his purpose, rigorous in his self-discipline, and unquestioning in his
obedience. Suffer hardship with me, as
a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself
in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him
as a soldier (2 Timothy 2:3-4). Don’t let other duties drain off his energies or
interests or divert him from his primary responsibilities as a Christian
soldier.
A
Review of the History of the Tribe of Asher
· Evidently, Asher sacrificed
any military capability for his agricultural fame. According to Judges 1:31-32,
the tribe never dislodged the Canaanite/Phoenician inhabitants of the
northwestern coast of Israel. Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, or of Achzib, or of Helbah, or of Aphik, or of Rehob. So the Asherites
lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive
them out.
· Moses’ blessing of Asher mentioned “More
blessed than sons is Asher; May
he be favored by his brothers, and
may he dip his foot in oil” (Deuteronomy 33:24). To dip his
foot in oil is a metaphor for prosperity, one especially apt in light of
the abundance of olive groves in the area settled by Asher. The lesson of the prophecy is that Asher will
be blessed with an abundance which he will then share
with others.
·
The
most famous Asherite in the Bible was Anna, the
prophetess who greeted the infant Jesus in the Temple and there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter
of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years
(Luke 2:36). This
brief reference is evidence that Jews of our Lord’s time still maintained their
tribal identity and the northern tribes were never lost. Anna provides evidence
that representatives of the 10 northern tribes still existed over 700 years
after the Assyrian captivity. So, the 10 tribes were not really lost just
originally assimilated into the Southern Kingdom as refugees from the north.
An Application—Our Christian life and
witness should display contributing to
the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality (Romans 12:13). The writer
of Hebrews says do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without
knowing it (13:2). Asher had abundance and we often do too. The concept is
from a derivative of phileo—brotherly love. Benevolent
giving appropriate to the need. Practice hospitality not hoarding.
A Review of the History of
the Tribe of Naphtali
·
Jacob’s
prophetic blessing was that Naphtali would be characterized by the speed and
agility of a doe. This primarily refers to the swiftness characteristic of the
tribe of Naphtali. The beautiful words
of this tribe have been associated with the “Song of Deborah and Barak”
recorded in Judges 5. While some of the tribes were distinguished for their heroic
deeds during the battle against Jabin’s Canaanite
forces, it is interesting to note that Barak was from the tribe of Naphtali. Now
she sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali (Judges 4:6). His Naphtali like leadership swiftness and
agility would serve well in the battles to come.
· The
great battle between the Israelite and Canaanite forces described in Judges 4
prompted the tribes to send volunteers. While
such tribes as Reuben, Dan, and Asher refused to send their contingents, tribes
such as Naphtali were swift to rush their troops to battle Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh,
and ten thousand men went up with him; Deborah also went up with him (Judges
4:10).
· When
Jesus began His ministry in Galilee, Matthew 4:13-15 states and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in
Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.
He called His disciples in the very region of the tribe of Naphtali. Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of
Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his
brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers
of men" (Matthew 4:18-19). Hence, His first disciples
were from the region allotted to this ancient tribe. Those early disciples
carried the beautiful words of the
gospel swiftly as hinds let loose.
An Application—Be ready to take a stand for righteousness.
Distinguish yourself as a champion for the heart of the God of the Bible. Swift
to pursue the righteous life based on an accurate understanding of the biblical
authors meaning and intention. Jesus calls us to follow him. Be a Naphtali and
volunteer with a sincere heart and robust attitude to please God.
CONCLUSION:
1. Like the Gadites,
be strong in the Lord and in
the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand
firm against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-11).
2. Like the Asherites,
since you have in obedience
to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently
love one another from the heart (1 Peter 1:22).
3. Like the Naphtalites,
conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of
the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I
will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind
striving together for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).