Blessings and Cursings
- Justin Ray
- May 2, 2020
- 5 min read
I Chronicles 4-5
Today, we pick up the pace a little, in our discussion of the genealogies of the Children of Israel. Chapters 4 and 5 talk about the tribes of Judah, Ashur, Simeon, Reuben, and Gad. Yes, there is a little more discussion of Judah in chapter 4. This should be a good indication to us of just how important this family was/is.
There is really one quick note about Judah that we want to consider from today's reading.
And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur,
the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Beth-lehem. I Chronicles 4:4
If you are familiar with Old Testament history, this may strike you as a strange verse. Jacob buried Rachel in Ephratah on his way back home from his period of servitude to Laban. This was long before the children of Israel, and the tribe of Judah, settled in the Promised Land. So, lets clarify. The location has been present since creation. It was destined for great importance as the birth place of David and later Jesus.
From the family of Ashur (Asher), we find the story of Jabez. A few years back a widely popular book came out about Jabez. There are only two verses in all of scripture about this man, but the book based around him took Christian culture by storm during that time. Let's look at what the Bible says about this man.
And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. I Chronicles 4:9-10
The first part of verse nine is quite an accolade. Jabez was more honorable than his brethren. To have the inspired by the Holy Spirit to be included in scripture says a lot for the man. He prayed that God would bless him, enlarge his coast (land boundary), that God would be with him, and protect him, so that sin would not grieve him. Then, God heard him and gave him what he asked for. Out of no where, this man appears, prays a prayer, and God gives him what he asked for. Then, he disappears as quickly as he appears. Yet, God chose to tell people about him for thousands for years!
When we move to the family of Simeon, there is an interesting verse:
And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply, like to the children of Judah.
I Chronicles 4:27
The land give to the tribe of Simeon was encircled by the land of Judah. They had no room to expand or grow. This was because God knew that their population would not expand like some of the other tribes. This was due to the "blessing" of Jacob on his sons.
Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
Genesis 49:5-7
Honestly, this was not really a blessing from their father. Here is why. Simeon and Levi had a sister who was raped by a man. The man then asked to marry her. The boys said that he could, but first he and all the men of the town must be circumcised. The man apparently had a lot of control in the town, and he agreed. The men of the town were circumcised. The Bible says that while the men were sore, Simeon and Levi went into the town and killed all of them men to avenge their sister. This brought great shame and worry to their father; thus his "blessing".
Chapter 5 is about the family of Reuben. Reuben was Jacob's oldest son. Just like with Simeon and Levi, we must look at Jacob's "blessing" on Reuben as well.
And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. 2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. 3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: 4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
Genesis 49:1-4
The reason we must look at the blessing is because of how chapter 5 begins:
Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. 2 For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s:). I Chronicles 5:1-2
Both the blessing and the introduction to his lineage reference how he "defiled his father's bed". So what does this mean? In Genesis 35, Reuben had sexual relations with Bilhah. She was Rachel's servant that Rachel gave to Jacob to have children with when Rachel thought she was barren. Bilhah was mother to Dan and Naphtali. Because Reuben committed this sin against his father, he lost his birthright. As firstborn, he should have received a double portion of inheritance. Jacob chose to give the double portion to Joseph, who was the firstborn of his favored wife, Rachel. Thus, we have the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (the two sons of Joseph). Also, where he would have been the head of the family after Jacob, that honor went to Judah (the fourth born) by it becoming the royal family.
The little notes in the genealogies are interesting. They reveal a lot to us about individuals, as well as the family as a whole. We also see where Jacob's blessing on his sons was prophetic of the family's future. This is because God is sovereign over the affairs of men. While we have freewill to obey or rebel, God knows what we will do, and the ramifications of our choices on our families and our future. In the midst of such a messed up family, he chose to bring forth his son to be the Savior of the world!
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