Y q 1,2. Joseph's sons brought.
r 3,4. Blessing of Jacob.
s 5-7. United preference.
q 8-12. Joseph's sons presented.
r 13-16. Blessing by Jacob.
s 17-20. Inverted preference.
1701 B.C.Genesis 48)
1 And it came to pass after these things (the blessings of Joseph's sons took place after Jacob's charge concerning his burial), that one told Joseph, "Behold, your father is sick:" and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
2 And one told Jacob, and said, "Behold, your son Joseph comes to you:" and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. (this is neither leaning on it nor worshiping -cp. v.12)
3 And Jacob said to Joseph, "GOD ALMIGHTY (El Shaddai) appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, (Cp. 28:13,19; 35:6)
4 And He said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people; and will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.'
5 And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine (the united preference of Joseph's two sons); as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
6 And your issue, which you beget after them, shall be yours, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.
7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way (cp. 35:19), when yet there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem."
8 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, "Who are these?"
9 And Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God (Elohim) has given me in this place." And he said, "Bring them, I pray you, to me, and I will bless them."
10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
11 And Israel said to Joseph, "I had not thought to see your face: and, lo, God has showed me also your seed."
12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. (Jacob worshiped; and, as we know from the Divine addition in Heb.11:21, he leaned on his staff=sitting on the Egyptian bed-v.2)
13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near to him.
14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly (= knowingly, making his hands to understand); for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, "God Himself, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk habitually, the God Himself Which fed me all my life long to this day,
16 The Angel (note the 3 titles vv.15,16. The creature form of the second person as messenger of Yahaveh, Elohim as consecrated by oath. This form not assumed for the occasion, but for permanent communion with his creatures-Gen.3:8; 15:1; 17:1; 18:1,2; 28:13; 32:24,30. Ex.23:20,21. Num.22:21. Josh.5:13-15. Prov.8:22-31. Mal.3:1. Col.1:15. Rev.3:14) Which redeemed me from all evil (by payment of charge. See Ex.6:6), bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow (swarm as fishes) into a multitude in the midst of the earth."
17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him (it was evil in his eyes): and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
18 And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put your right hand upon his head." (This was Joseph's "will", which Jacob's faith overcame.)
19 And his father refused (this was Jacob's faith overcoming "the will of man"-Heb.11:21, as Isaac's faith overcame "the will of the flesh"-Gen.27. Heb.11:20), and said, "I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he (Fulfilled. Cp. Num.1:32-35; 2:18-20. Deut.33:17), and his seed shall become a multitude (=an assembly) of nations."
20 And he blessed them that day, saying, "In you shall Israel bless, saying, "God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh:' " and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
21 And Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.
22 Moreover I have given to you one portion (Heb. Shechem. Both Abraham and Jacob bought property at Shechem. 28:18,19; 33:18,19; an here supplemental history tells how Jacob received it out of the hand of the Amorites who must have seized it) above your brethren (i.e. the double portion of the firstborn, which Reuben forfeited. Cp. Deut.21:17. Cp.1 Chron.5:2. Ezek.47:13), which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow."