THE 4. S. 4 1032 PROPHETIC BLESSINGS OF JACOB AND OF MOSES, RESPECTING THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, EXPLAINED AND ILLUSTRATED. AN ARGUMENT FOR THE TRUTH OF DIVINE REVELATION. DEDICATED BY PERMISSION TO THE LORD BISHOP OF BRISTOL. "Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. & F. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD, AND WATERLOO-PLACE, PALL-MALL. 1832. TO THE RIGHT REV. ROBERT GRAY, D.D. LORD BISHOP OF BRISTOL, AND PREBENDARY OF DURHAM. MY LORD, THE elaborate attention bestowed by your Lordship upon the Sacred Scriptures, and the effective aid that you have given to the inquirer after truth towards obtaining a proper knowledge of the Old Testament, and tracing out the connexion between the invaluable contents of the inspired volume, and the writings of the classical ages, would have afforded me sufficient inducements to crave your Lordship's patronage for the following pages. But permit me to add, that the humble attempt made in them, to point out the fulfilment of the prophetic blessings of Jacob and Moses, was undertaken at your own suggestion; iv and that any success which may accompany it, will be entirely owing to the fostering care which I have experienced from your Lordship, during a period of more than a quarter of a century. Upon this occasion, your Lordship must allow me to express publicly the grateful sense which I entertain of the multiplied favours and acts of kindness which you and your highly-gifted consort have conferred upon me; and it is with an unabated recollection of them all, that I beg leave to subscribe myself, my Lord, Your Lordship's most obliged, and very obedient, Bishop Wearmouth, 10th Dec. 1831. humble servant, ROBERT RENNEY. PREFACE. THE following pages were drawn up to shew, how far the prophetic blessings of Jacob and Moses, relating to each of the tribes of Israel, have been accomplished, according to their natural interpretation, and without recourse being had to any peculiar theological theory, or preconceived opinions whatsoever. Truth alone, or what to me appeared to be the truth, hath been made the sole guide in the whole inquiry. The particulars relating to each tribe, referred to in the blessings, have been collected from the Old Testament, and from the best authors who have treated a |