Vayechi“and he lived”
The 12th Torah Portion Reading12th reading in the Book of GenesisLast reading in the Book of Genesis
Genesis 47:28 – 50:261 Kings 2:1-12
Luke 4:31 – 5:11
Vayechi
VayechiThe Shadows of the Messiah
Titles of Messiah
• Lion of the Tribe of Judah - Revelation 5:5• The Scepter (Shevet) - Genesis 49:10• Iron Scepter (Rod of Iron) - Psalm 2:9• The Ruler's Staff - Genesis 49: 10• Shiloh - Genesis 49:10• He Who Comes Riding on a Donkey-Zechariah 9:9• Salvation - Genesis 49:18
VayechiThe Shadows of the Messiah
Titles of Messiah
• Hope of Israel- Genesis 49:18• The Shepherd - Genesis 49:24• The Stone of Israel- Genesis 49:24• The One distinguished among his brothers - Genesis 49:25• Nazirite - Genesis 49:25
Jacob Lived
Genesis 47:28 Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the length Jacob's life was one hundred and forty-seven years.
The Last Days
Genesis 49: 1 Assemble yourselves that I may tell you what will befall you in the days to come.
Lion of Judah
Genesis 49:9 Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who dares rouse him up?
The Sleeping Lion
The prophet Balaam echoed the messianic Iion prophecies. Compare these two seemingly identical passages, one from this parashah, the other from the book of Numbers:
He couches, he lies down (ravatz) as a lion, and as a lion, who dares rouse him up? Genesis 49:9
He couches, he lies down (shachav) as a lion, and as a lion, who dares rouse him? Numbers 24:9
The Scepter
Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Your Rod and Your Staff
Isaiah 11:4 But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted ofthe earth; and He will strike the earth with the rod (shevet) of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
The Donkey and the Vine
Genesis 49: 11 He ties his foal to the vine, and his donkey's colt to the choice vine.
He washes his garments in wine.
His robes in the blood of grapes.
He Fruitful Bough
Genesis 49:22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; its branches run over a wall.
The Pierced One
Genesis 49:23- 24 The archers bitterly attacked him, and shot at him and harassed him. But his bow remained firm, and his arms were agile, from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob.
Zechariah 12:10 …and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced…..,
Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
Blessings Above and Below
Genesis 49:25 From the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath.
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
Ends of the Earth
Genesis 49:26 The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors, up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.
The Nazirite
Genesis 49:26 May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.
Revelation 7Judah Praise the Lord,Reuben He has looked on my affliction (and) Gad granted good fortune.Asher Happy am I,Napthali my wrestlingManasseh has made me forget my sorrow.Simeon God hears me;Levi has joined me,Issachar purchased me, (and)Zebulun exalted me (by)Joseph adding to meBenjamin the Son of His right hand.