Page 67 - Demo

Chapter IV63Muhammad (pbuh) is the “Shiloh”Jacob (pbuh) , the grandson of Abraham (pbuh) , is lying sick in bed; he is in his one hundred and forty-seventh year, and the end is approaching rapidly. He summons his twelve sons and their families to his bedroom; and he blesses each son and foretells the future of his tribe. It is generally known as the “Testament of Jacob (pbuh) ,” and is written in an elegant Hebrew style with a poetic touch.It contains a few words which are unique and never occur again in the Bible. The Testament recallsthe varied events in the life of a man who has had many ups and downs. He is reported to have taken advantage of his brother’s hunger and bought his right of birth for a dish of pottage, and deceived his blind old father and obtained the blessing which by birthright belonged to Esau. He served seven years to marry Rachel, but was deceived by her father, being married to her elder sister Liah; so he had to serve another term of seven years for the former. Themassacre of all the male population by his(Jacob’s) two sons Simon and Livi for the pollution of his (Jacob’s) daughter Dina by Schechim, the prince of that town, had greatly grieved him. The shameful conduct of his first-born, Reubin, in defiling his father’s bed by lying with his concubine was never forgotten nor forgiven by him. But the greatest grief that befell him after the loss of his beloved wife Rachel was the disappearance for many years of his favourite son Joseph (pbuh) . His descent into Egypt and his meeting with Joseph (pbuh) caused him great joy and the recovery of his lost sight. Jacob (pbuh) was a Prophet, and surnamed by God “Israel,” the name which was adopted by the twelve tribes that descended from him.