“Jacob called to his sons, and he said: Gather, and I will tell you what will befall you at the end of days. Assemble and hear, sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel your father” (Genesis 49:1–2). “Jacob called to his sons.” “The lot is cast in the bosom” (Proverbs 16:33) – this is the lottery of Yom Kippur.
“And all of one’s judgment is from the Lord” (Proverbs 16:33) – to determine which will be for God and which will go to an uninhabitable land. Another matter: “The lot is cast in the bosom” – this is the lot of the tribes.3Their destiny as expressed in the blessings they received from Jacob. “And all of one’s judgment is from the Lord” – that the Holy One blessed be He agreed with him to give each and every one as befitting him.
“Jacob called to his sons” – Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Pinḥas: Rabbi Yudan said: Jacob called the Almighty to be with his sons. Rabbi Pinḥas said: He invited Him to his sons.4He invited Him [zimno] to share in his joy over the fact that all his sons had remained righteous (Matnot Kehuna). Alternatively, he asked God to be always available [mezuman] to come to his sons’ aid (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Avun said: He appointed Him steward for his sons.
“He said: Gather ….” – gather from the land of Egypt and assemble in Rameses. Gather from the ten tribes and assemble to the tribe of Judah and Benjamin. He commanded them to act with deference to the tribe of Judah and Benjamin. Rabbi Aḥa said: Purify yourselves, just as it says: “They gathered themselves together…” (Nehemiah 12:28), “and they purified the chambers” (Nehemiah 13:9).
The Rabbis say: He commanded them regarding dissension. He said to them: ‘You shall all be one assembly.’ That is what is written: “You, Son of man, take for you one piece of wood, and write on it: [For Judah] and for the children of Israel [his companions]” (Ezekiel 37:16) – it is written “his companion”5The term “his companions [ḥaverav]” is written without a vav, which would ordinarily be read “his companion [ḥavero],” even though in this instance it is traditionally pronounced in the plural, ḥaverav. – the children of Israel became a single group.
Prepare yourselves for redemption. What is written thereafter? “I will render you one nation…” (see Ezekiel 37:22). “[I will tell you] what will befall you at the end of days” – Rabbi Simon said: He showed them the downfall of Gog, just as it says: “It will be at the end of days” (Ezekiel 38:16). Rabbi Yehuda said: He showed them the building of the Temple, just as it says: “It will be at the end of days that the mountain of the House of the Lord will be established” (Micah 4:1).
The Rabbis said: He came to reveal the End, but it was concealed from him. Rabbi Yehuda in the name of Rabbi Elazar bar Avina: Two people, the End was revealed to them and was then concealed from them. They are Jacob and Daniel. Daniel – “But you, Daniel, obscure the matters and seal” (Daniel 12:4).
Jacob – “what will befall you at the end of days.” “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, and the first of my potency; greater honor and greater power” (Genesis 49:3). “Reuben, you are my firstborn” – this teaches that he came to reveal the End, but it was concealed from him.6He began with, “I will tell you what will befall you at the end of days,” and continued with, “Reuben you are my firstborn,” which does not pertain to the end of days.
This shows that the events of the end of days were concealed from Jacob so that he would not reveal them. This is analogous to a king’s confidant who was passing from the world, and his sons were surrounding his bed. He said to them: ‘Come and I will reveal to you the secrets of the king.’ He lifted his eyes and gazed at the king.7He saw from the king’s expression that he did not want him to reveal the secrets.
He said to them: ‘Be vigilant regarding the honor of the king.’ So, Jacob our patriarch lifted his eyes and saw the Divine Presence standing over him. He said to them: ‘Be vigilant regarding the honor of the Holy One blessed be He.’ The Rabbis said: So, the congregation of Koraḥ was sinking and descending, sinking and descending, until Hannah stood and prayed on their behalf: “The Lord puts to death and brings to life; He lowers to the netherworld and elevates” (I Samuel 2:6).8Just as the congregation of Koraḥ was ostracized until Hannah prayed on their behalf, so too, Reuben was ostracized until Moses restored him.
Some commentaries write that this passage should not appear here, and belongs instead at the end of section 4 (see, e.g., Matnot Kehuna).