Judah
(Lion cub)
Genesis 49:21 Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.
The area assigned to this tribe included Galilee, in which Jesus would one day minister.
Genesis 49:20 Asher's food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king.
This tribe received the most fertile territory, on the Mediterranean coast between Mount Carmel and Phoenicia.
Genesis 49:22 Joseph is a fruiful vine, a fruiful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.
The tribe of Joseph was divided between his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, whom Jacob also blessed (Genesis 48:9-20). Ephraim's descendants had a tendency to expand their territory.
Dan (Serpent)
Genesis 49:17 Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels.
This prophecy may refer to the tribe's treachery in acquiring land (Judges 18:27) or to Samson's singlehanded exploits against the Philistines (Judges 14-16). The verse quoted above and the omission of Dan from the list of tribes in Revelation 7:5-8 have led to a tradition that the antichrist will be a descendant of Dan.
Judah
(Lion cub)
Genesis 49:9,10 You are a lion's cub, O Judah. The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs.
The lion's cub is a symbol of sovereignty, strength, and courage. Judah's tribe would become the largest. The Jewish religion (Judaism) would be named after him, and both the great king David and ultimately Jesus Christ would be his descendants.
Genesis 49:14-15 Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down between two saddlebags. When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor.
The land assigned to Issachar was fertile and strategically located, yet flat and defenseless. The tribe's wealth and constant exposure to enemy intrusions put it in a position of servitude which it accepted easily.
Genesis 49:19 Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels.
This tribe, vulnerable to raids by the Moabites, was known for its skill in battle.
Benjamin (Wolf)
Genesis 49:27 Benjamin is a ravenous wolf.
Judges Chapter 19 records an act of depraved violence by a group of Benjamites which led to the near-annihilation of this tribe by outraged fellow Israelites.
Simeon
Levi (Swords)
Genesis 49:5-7 Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence. I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.
In retaliation for the seduction of their sister Dinah, Simeon and Levi slaughtered the men of Shechem and looted their city. For this act of brutality, their inheritance was also forfeit. Simeon's descendants were absorbed into the territory of Judah (Joshua 19:1). In keeping with their priestly duties, Levi's descendants were dispersed throughout the land.
Genesis 49:13 Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships.
Zebulun's territory was actually separated from the Mediterranean by that of Asher, although it was crossed by commercial routes connecting it with seaports in Asher and Manasseh.
Reuben (Water)
Genesis 49:4 Turbulent as the waters
Reuben forfeited his legal status as firstborn by prematurely laying claim to his right to inherit his father's concubine.
Built to exact specifications given by God to Moses (Exodus 25:10-20), the Ark carried the tablets of the Ten Commandments.
Another of the sacred furnishings of the Israelite tabernacle, the golden lampstand is described in great detail in Exodus 25:31-40. It has become a familiar symbol of the Jewish faith as the menorah (Hebrew word for "candlestick"). The biblical seven-branched version shown here is the Temple menorah. A special nine-branched menorah is used for Hannukah--one candle for each of the eight days of Hannukah, and a ninth candle to light the others.