# These are the twelve tribes of Israel

"These" refers to the sons Jacob mentioned in 49:1-27. Each son became the leader of his own tribe.

# when he blessed them

Here the word "blessed" refers to the speaking of formal blessings.

# Each one he blessed with an appropriate blessing

"He gave each son a fitting blessing"

# he instructed them

"he commanded them"

# I am about to go to my people

This is a polite way of saying he is about to die. AT: "I am about to die" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

# go to my people

Jacob is referring to where his inner man will go when he dies. He expects to join Abraham and Isaac in the afterlife. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

# Ephron the Hittite

This is the name of a man. "Hittite" means "descendent of Heth." See how you translated this in [Genesis 23:8](../23/07.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

# Machpelah

Machpelah was the name of an area or region. See how you translated this in [Genesis 23:9](../23/07.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

# Mamre

This was another name for the city of Hebron. It may have been named after Mamre, the friend of Abraham who lived there. See how you translated this in [Genesis 13:18](../13/16.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/12tribesofisrael]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/bless]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/peoplegroup]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/bury]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/father]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/hittite]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/canaan]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/abraham]]