Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 49:22-27

"Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a fountain; His branches run over the wall. The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him, and persecute him: But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel), Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee, And by the Almighty, who shall bless thee, With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that coucheth beneath, Blessings of the breasts, and of the womb. The blessings of thy father Have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors Unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth: In the morning she shall devour the prey, And at even he shall divide the spoil." — Genesis 49:22-27 (ASV)

The blessing of Joseph is very full. What Jacob says of him is history as well as prophecy. Jacob reminds him of the difficulties and fiery darts of temptations he had formerly struggled through. His faith did not fail, but through his trials he bore all his burdens with firmness and did not do anything unbecoming. All our strength for resisting temptations and bearing afflictions comes from God; his grace is sufficient.

Joseph became the shepherd of Israel, to take care of his father and family, and also the stone of Israel, their foundation and strong support. In this, as in many other things, Joseph was a remarkable type of the Good Shepherd and the tried Cornerstone of the whole church of God. Blessings are promised to Joseph's descendants, typical of the vast and everlasting blessings that come upon the spiritual seed of Christ. Jacob blessed all his sons, but especially Joseph, who was separated from his brethren. He was not only separated in Egypt but also possessed eminent dignity and was more devoted to God.

Of Benjamin it is said, He shall ravin as a wolf. Jacob was guided in what he said by the Spirit of prophecy and not by natural affection; otherwise, he would have spoken with more tenderness of his beloved son Benjamin. Concerning him, Jacob only foresaw and foretold that his descendants would be a warlike tribe, strong and daring, enriching themselves with the spoils of their enemies and being active. Blessed Paul was of this tribe (Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:5); he, in the morning of his day, devoured the prey as a persecutor, but in the evening, divided the spoils as a preacher; he shared the blessings of Judah's Lion and assisted in his victories.