Genesis 48:17-22

17 Forsooth Joseph saw that his father had set his right hand on the head of Ephraim, and he took that heavily, and he endeavoured him(self) to raise his father's hand, and take it from the head of Ephraim, and to bear it over upon the head of Manasseh. (And Joseph saw that his father had put his right hand on Ephraim's head, and he was displeased, and he endeavoured to raise up his father's hand, and take it from Ephraim's head, and to bear it over onto Manasseh's head.)
18 And Joseph said to his father, Father, it accordeth not so; for this is the first begotten (for Manasseh is the first-born); set thy right hand on his head.
19 Which forsook to do so, and said, I know, my son, I know; and soothly this child shall be into peoples (and truly this child shall become a people), and he shall be multiplied; but his younger brother shall be more than he, and his seed shall increase into (a multitude of) folks, (or into a multitude of nations).
20 And he blessed them in that time, and said, Israel shall be blessed in thee, Joseph, and it shall be said, God do to thee as to Ephraim and as to Manasseh. And he set Ephraim before Manasseh; (And he blessed them at that time, and said, When they say a blessing in Israel, they shall say, God do to thee as to Ephraim and Manasseh. And so he put Ephraim before Manasseh;)
21 and (Jacob) said to Joseph, his son, Lo! I die, and God shall be with you, and shall lead you again to the land of your fathers; (and Jacob said to his son Joseph, Lo! soon I shall die, but God shall be with you, and he shall lead you back to the land of your fathers;)
22 (and now) I give to thee one part over thy brethren, which I took from the hand of Amorite, in my sword and bow. (and now I give thee one more portion than what thy brothers have, which I took from the hands of the Amorites, with my sword and my bow.)

Genesis 48:17-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 48

Joseph, hearing that his father Jacob was sick, paid him a visit, Ge 49:1,2; at which time Jacob gave him an account of the Lord's appearing to him at Luz, and of the promise he made unto him, Ge 49:3,4; then he adopted his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and blessed them, and Joseph also, Ge 49:5-16; and whereas he crossed his hands when he blessed the sons of Joseph, putting his right hand on the youngest, and his left hand on the eldest, which was displeasing to Joseph, he gave him a reason for so doing, Ge 49:17-20; and then assured him that God would bring him, and the rest of his posterity, into the land of Canaan, where he assigned him a particular portion above his brethren, Ge 49:21,22.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.