What happensPermalink
Jacob blesses his sons. He denies Reuben (#1) his birthright for sleeping with Bilhah; he denies Simeon (#2) and Levi (#3) for their slaughter of Shechem; he makes Judah the ruler. He commands that he be buried with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah in Canaan.
Why it mattersPermalink
Again God has chosen a younger son—the youngest of Leah’s first children—to lead. “The scepter shall not depart from [Judah’s] hand,” says Jacob, and both David and Jesus are born of the tribe of Judah. Jacob will be buried in the homeland—they will not be in Egypt forever.
Key versePermalink
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him.