Genesis 48
Big idea: A dying man adopts his grandsons and crosses his hands. Told his father is ill, Joseph brings Ephraim and Manasseh, and Jacob begins with Bethel — God Almighty appeared to me and promised this land — then adopts the two boys as his own, equal to Reuben and Simeon: they are the reason Joseph's line gets a double portion. His eyes are dim, as Isaac's were, but this time nobody is deceived: Joseph carefully places the firstborn under his father's right hand, and Jacob deliberately crosses his arms. When Joseph objects, the answer is unhurried — I know, my son, I know. The blessing is a summary of the old man's whole theology: the God before whom my fathers walked, the God who has fed me all my life long, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads.
Chapter 48 blesses Joseph's two sons and gives him a portion above his brothers. Chapter 49 gathers all twelve to hear what will happen to them in the last days.
48:1–7 — Your two sons are mine
Told his father is ill, Joseph comes with Manasseh and Ephraim. Israel strengthens himself and sits up, and begins with Luz: God Almighty appeared to me there, blessed me, and said he would make me fruitful and give this land to my offspring as an everlasting possession. Then he adopts: your two sons born in Egypt before I came are mine — Ephraim and Manasseh, like Reuben and Simeon; any children born after them will be yours. And he remembers Rachel, who died beside him on the road to Ephrath, and where he buried her.
1 After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 Someone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5 Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, will be mine. 6 Your offspring, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).”
48:8–16 — The God who has fed me all my life
Israel's eyes are dim; he asks who these are, and Joseph says they are the sons God has given him. Bring them, that I may bless them. He kisses and embraces them, saying, I didn't think I would see your face, and God has let me see your offspring too. Joseph bows and positions them — Ephraim toward Israel's left, Manasseh toward his right — but Israel crosses his hands, laying his right on the younger. Then he blesses Joseph: the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; let my name be named on them, and let them grow into a multitude.
8 Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” He said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he couldn’t see well. Joseph brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 Israel said to Joseph, “I didn’t think I would see your face, and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 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 Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.”
48:17–22 — I know, my son, I know
Joseph is displeased when he sees his father's right hand on Ephraim's head and takes hold of it to move it: not so, my father — this is the firstborn. His father refuses: I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people and be great, but his younger brother will be greater, and his offspring will become a multitude of nations. So he sets Ephraim before Manasseh, and blesses them with words Israel will use ever after. Then he tells Joseph: I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers — and gives him one portion above his brothers.
17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.” 19 His father refused, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring will become a multitude of nations.” 20 He blessed them that day, saying, “Israel will bless in your name, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’” He set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).