Genesis 49:22-24

"Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a fountain; And his branches run over the wall. The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him, and persecuted him: But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the arms of the Mighty One of Jacob (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel)."

Both from the length of this blessing as well as from the content of it, one gets the impression that Jacob still had excessive fondness for Joseph; and we must believe that, if God had not required otherwise, Jacob would have conferred upon him the kingship already conveyed to Judah. What is indicated here is extreme strength and fruitfulness, blessings that were most adequately fulfilled in the subsequent history of this tribe, which came in time to inherit all of northern Israel, and which also gave their name to the whole kingdom.

The reference to "the archers" would appear to prophesy a continuation of the jealous hatred and persecution which had marked the early life of Joseph in his relationship with his brothers. Triumph for Joseph is clearly foretold.

Of very great interest in these verses is the reference to "The Mighty One of Jacob." This is the first of five names for God which Jacob used here and in Genesis 49:25, below. They are:

The Mighty One of Jacob. (Psalms 132:2,5; Isaiah 49:26; 60:16).

The Shepherd. (Psalms 23; Ezekiel 34:11-16; Psalms 80:1).

The Stone of Israel. (Deuteronomy 32:4,15,18,30,31; Psalms 18:2).

The God of thy Father. (Exodus 3:15)

God Almighty. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; 43:14; Exodus 6:3).

This is another instance in which separate names for God afford no evidence at all of multiple sources.