It’s doubtful that Jacob ever thought this day would come.
After hearing from his other sons about Joseph’s alleged “demise” at the hands of wild animals, Jacob assumed that he would never see his favorite son ever again. Now, more than 20 years later, Jacob has him nearby as Jacob slips from this life – a clear testament to the words of God in Genesis 46:4 that Joseph will “close your eyes.”
Before he departs though, he has a blessing for Joseph. These five verses comprise the most words Jacob speaks to any of his sons in this chapter (Judah is a close second). It’s filled with a look into Joseph’s past as well as a glimpse into his – and his ancestor’s – future.
It’s also extremely repetitive, which isn’t a bad thing. The Bible often uses repetition to mark importance; think God’s use of “Holy of Holies” to describe the inner part of the Temple.
For Joseph, what’s being repeated is his bountiful blessings. Twice in Genesis 49:22 alone he is called a “fruitful bough,” which describes an exponential type of blessing – one that continues to get larger and larger. The vines of his branches run over walls too, which were probably placed as boundary markers and for its protection.
But Joseph doesn’t need protection from weeds, because, as Jacob remarks, Joseph’s hands remain firm “from the Mighty One of Jacob,” which is God.
This part of the blessing is especially sweet for Jacob, who probably couldn’t help but think about his own relationship with the Divine. From the moment he left his father’s house, God has been with him step by step. He recognizes that God will be with Joseph in the same way, and if that’s true, then success will be Joseph’s as well.
Not that it won’t come without pain, though. Jacob tells Joseph that archers will attack him out of hate (Genesis 49:23). This could be referring to Joseph’s own relationships with his brothers, but there’s also a few literal fulfillments later in the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (Judges 12:4-6; Joshua 17:16-18).
It almost seems unfair for Jacob to heap so much praise on Joseph to the exclusion of his brothers, but their individual histories bear this out. Most of Joseph’s brothers sinned in some kind of egregious way; Joseph is the only one whose relationship with God never really hit a valley (at least as far as we know). For that reason, Jacob is able to say that he is “distinguished among his brothers).
Did Jacob know this all those years ago when he made for Joseph a coat of many colors? It’s doubtful, but I do think he could probably tell a character in Joseph that was unique. Like his brothers though, it was up to him to forge a life that was loyal to God.
Unlike his brothers, that’s exactly what he did.