Genesis 49:24

24. His bow He turned archer in another way, and was empowered by a supernatural energy, against which all lords of the bow found it folly to contend . He proved an unconquerable hero . This part of the prophecy, based also on Joseph’s personal experience, was further illustrated and confirmed, but not entirely fulfilled, in Joshua, who sprang from Ephraim, and led all Israel to the conquest of the land of promise . The description throughout is true to the general character of the tribe of Joseph .

The arms of his hands The expression is peculiarly significant when speaking of an archer, whose pliant hand must be supported by a firm arm in order to be effective . The designation of God as the Mighty One, or the Might of Jacob; the Shepherd, (compare Genesis 48:15,) and Stone (compare Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:3; 2 Samuel 23:3,) is peculiarly appropriate and suggestive. משׁם is rendered from thence in the common version, and this is sustained by the Masoretic punctuation, the Sept . , Vulg . , and most expositors . But it is in more perfect analogy with the word מידי , of the previous line, and the harmony of parallelism, to translate as we have done from the name; perhaps an allusion to Genesis 32:29. So the Syriac, Dathe, Turner, and others . In this way, the strength, triumphs, and blessings of Joseph are attributed to God as the Shepherd and Stone of Israel . The attempt to make Joseph and Joshua the shepherd and stone, or to render Shepherd of the stone of Israel, and understand it of God watching the stone on which Jacob slept at Bethel, seems far fetched and unnatural .