Jacob blesses his sons
Near death, Jacob adopted Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh and spoke a prophetic blessing over each of his twelve sons.
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs. The obedience of the peoples will be to him.
Genesis 49:10 (World English Bible)
Jacob crossed his hands to put his right hand on Ephraim, the younger grandson, once again showing God's habit of choosing the younger. Then he gathered his sons and told them what would happen to their descendants.
Reuben lost the firstborn's place, and Simeon and Levi were rebuked for their violence at Shechem. Judah received the promise of the scepter: kings would come from his line until the one to whom it belongs arrives. Christians read this as a prophecy of the Messiah, Jesus, “the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5).
Places
Dating notes
In the last year of Jacob's life, 17 years after arriving in Egypt (Genesis 47:28).