John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:1
And Jacob called upon his sons ,.... Who either were near at hand, and within call at the time Joseph came to visit him, or if at a distance, and at another time, he sent a messenger or messengers to them to come unto him: and said, gather yourselves together ; his will was, that they should attend him all together at the same time, that he might deliver what he had to say to them in the hearing of them all; for what he after declares was not said to them singly and alone, but when they... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 49:1-4
Here is, I. The preface to the prophecy, in which, 1. The congregation is called together (Gen. 49:2): Gather yourselves together; let them all be sent for from their several employments, to see their father die, and to hear his dying words. It was a comfort to Jacob, now that he was dying, to see all his children about him, and none missing, though he had sometimes thought himself bereaved. It was of use to them to attend him in his last moments, that they might learn of him how to die, as... read more