The family of Jacob had
been in Egypt for seventeen years when Joseph heard that his father was
sick. He went to see him at once. At that time, Jacob was one hundred
forty-seven years old. He said to
Joseph, “I am dying, but God will be with you.
He will take care of you and will take you back into the land of your
fathers.”
When all his sons were
around him, Jacob told them about the things that would happen to each one of
them. The twelve sons of Jacob were to
be the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The greatest blessing
given by Jacob before dying was imparted to Juda. Jacob said to Juda: “You shall rule over your
enemies. The sons of your father shall
bow down before you. The scepter shall
not be taken away from Juda till He comes that is to be sent and Who shall also
be the Expectation of Nations.” These words of Jacob contain a prophecy,
because Jacob foretells very clearly the time when the Messiah will come. The prophecy of Jacob was accomplished when
Herod, the first foreigner, ruled over Juda.
At that time the sceptre passed from Juda to Herod. It was also at that time that Jesus Christ
was born, as foretold by Jacob before dying.
After blessing his sons,
Jacob told them that he wished to be buried with Abraham and Isaac in the land
of Chanaan. He also told his sons that
the day would come when they would have to leave the land of Egypt.
The sons of Jacob did as
they were commanded. They buried their
father in Chanaan after which they returned to Egypt.
Joseph lived one hundred
and ten years. Before he died, he told
his children: “God will visit you and take you back to the land He promised to
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Carry my bones
with you when you leave this place.”
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