Passing on the Torch of Promise

      This portion is called Va-Yechi, meaning "And he lived." Jacob's life is rapidly coming to an end, and he calls his children to his side for blessings. This whole passage is filled with Jacob's blessings for his children and grandchildren. Because his words here are not always clear, we forget that this is not idle chatter on Jacob's part. As the spiritual patriarch of Israel, he is speaking prophetically as G‑d's mouthpiece. Jacob begins by upsetting the applecart for Joseph. The older of Joseph's sons was Manasseh, and the birthright would have naturally gone to him. Yet, Jacob, led by the L‑rd, switched the order around and gave the primary blessing to the younger, Ephraim. When we read the historical record of Israel, we find that in fact, the tribe of Ephraim was always in the limelight instead of Manasseh. This illustrates a principle that we found earlier with Jacob. The L‑rd often chooses people contrary to what seems "logical" or "natural." 

      Jacob's blessings over his sons (not grandsons) illustrate a mixed record. In fact, for several of them, the "blessings" really appear to be more of a curse or a condemnation. Judah stands out in the bunch: "The scepter will not depart from Judah. . . until Shiloh comes. . ." (49:10). Again, Jacob seems to have it backwards—Reuben was the firstborn, not Judah. Yet Jacob gives the authority to rule to Judah. (In those days, the king extended his scepter to anyone he wished to see.) 

      What about the meaning of "Shiloh?" (The NIV's translation is probably not the best choice here, "to whom it belongs"). Most Jewish and Christian scholars agree that here, Shiloh is a code name for Messiah. In other words, the kings of Israel would come from the tribe of Judah, until the Messiah appears.      

            Did you realize that about 40 years after Yeshua came, the Temple was destroyed and with it, all the genealogical records of Israel? We now have no way of knowing who comes from the tribe of Judah. In other words, Shiloh must have already come! Jacob, seeing into the future through the Holy Spirit, was able to see all of that, and now he could pass on in peace. The promise, first given to his grandfather Abraham, will now come to fruition in one of his descendants.