Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 49:13-18

"Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; And he shall be for a haven of ships; And his border shall be upon Sidon. Issachar is a strong ass, Couching down between the sheepfolds: And he saw a resting-place that it was good, And the land that it was pleasant; And he bowed his shoulder to bear, And became a servant under taskwork. Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent in the way, An adder in the path, That biteth the horse`s heels, So that his rider falleth backward. I have waited for thy salvation, O Jehovah." — Genesis 49:13-18 (ASV)

Concerning Zebulun: if prophecy says, Zebulun shall be a haven of ships, be sure Providence will plant him accordingly. God appoints the bounds of our habitation. It is our wisdom and duty to adapt ourselves to our lot and to improve it; if Zebulun dwells at the haven of the sea, let him be for a haven of ships. Concerning Issachar: he saw that the land was pleasant, yielding not only pleasant views, but also pleasant fruits to reward his labors.

Let us, with an eye of faith, see the heavenly rest to be good, and that land of promise to be pleasant; this will make our present duties easy. Dan should, by skill, strategy, and surprise, gain advantages against his enemies, like a serpent biting the heel of the traveler. Jacob, almost spent and ready to faint, relieves himself with those words, I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord! The salvation he waited for was Christ, the promised Seed; now that he was going to be gathered to his people, he longs for Him to whom the gathering of the people shall be.

He declared plainly that he sought heaven, the better country (Hebrews 11:13–14). Now he is going to enjoy the salvation, he comforts himself that he had waited for the salvation. Christ, as our way to heaven, is to be waited on; and heaven, as our rest in Christ, is to be waited for. It is the comfort of a dying saint to have thus waited for the salvation of the Lord; for then he shall have what he has been waiting for.