Genesis 49:13

49:13 Zebulun will live ¹  by the haven of the sea

and become a haven for ships;

his border will extend to Sidon. ² 

Genesis 16:12

16:12 He will be a wild donkey ³  of a man.

He will be hostile to everyone, ⁴ 

and everyone will be hostile to him. ⁵ 

He will live away from ⁶  his brothers.”

[49:13]  ¹ tn The verb שָׁכַן (shakhan) means “to settle,” but not necessarily as a permanent dwelling place. The tribal settlements by the sea would have been temporary and not the tribe’s territory.

[49:13]  ² map For location see Map1 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.

[16:12]  ³ sn A wild donkey of a man. The prophecy is not an insult. The wild donkey lived a solitary existence in the desert away from society. Ishmael would be free-roaming, strong, and like a bedouin; he would enjoy the freedom his mother sought.

[16:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “His hand will be against everyone.” The “hand” by metonymy represents strength. His free-roaming life style would put him in conflict with those who follow social conventions. There would not be open warfare, only friction because of his antagonism to their way of life.

[16:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “And the hand of everyone will be against him.”

[16:12]  ⁶ tn Heb “opposite, across from.” Ishmael would live on the edge of society (cf. NASB “to the east of”). Some take this as an idiom meaning “be at odds with” (cf. NRSV, NLT) or “live in hostility toward” (cf. NIV).