Jacob's Deathbed Blessing on His Sons (49:1-28).
‘And Jacob called to his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together that I may tell you what will befall you in later days.”
This is, and is stated to be, not so much a blessing as a series of prophecies. But that does not diminish its effectiveness. The dying words of a man were considered to have powerful effect on the future, and Jacob knew that God was with him (Genesis 48:20). Yet at the end they are called a blessing, for such words were a guide to each one as to his future, and we can always change our futures. The prophecy begins in Genesis 49:2 as is witnessed by the parallel form. The form of the prophecies suggest the expansion of the family tribe since coming to Egypt, and the building up of diverse interests by some of his sons. With their brother as Vizier of Egypt there need be no limit to their ambitions and they could give free reign to their dreams, leaving the shepherding to inferiors.
“In later days.” Compare Deuteronomy 4:30; Deuteronomy 31:29. This is not ‘the latter days' of the prophets.