Genesis 48:4-14

4 et ait ego te augebo et multiplicabo et faciam in turbas populorum daboque tibi terram hanc et semini tuo post te in possessionem sempiternam

5 duo igitur filii tui qui nati sunt tibi in terra Aegypti antequam huc venirem ad te mei erunt Ephraim et Manasses sicut Ruben et Symeon reputabuntur mihi

6 reliquos autem quos genueris post eos tui erunt et nomine fratrum suorum vocabuntur in possessionibus suis

7 mihi enim quando veniebam de Mesopotamiam mortua est Rahel in terra Chanaan in ipso itinere eratque vernum tempus et ingrediebar Ephratam et sepelivi eam iuxta viam Ephratae quae alio nomine appellatur Bethleem

8 videns autem filios eius dixit ad eum qui sunt isti

9 respondit filii mei sunt quos dedit mihi Deus in hoc loco adduc inquit eos ad me ut benedicam illis

10 oculi enim Israhel caligabant prae nimia senectute et clare videre non poterat adplicitosque ad se deosculatus et circumplexus

11 dixit ad filium non sum fraudatus aspectu tuo insuper ostendit mihi Deus semen tuum

12 cumque tulisset eos Ioseph de gremio patris adoravit pronus in terram

13 et posuit Ephraim ad dexteram suam id est ad sinistram Israhel Manassen vero in sinistra sua ad dexteram scilicet patris adplicuitque ambos ad eum

14 qui extendens manum dextram posuit super caput Ephraim iunioris fratris sinistram autem super caput Manasse qui maior natu erat commutans manus

Genesis 48:4-14 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.