Genesis 48:2

2 And one told Jacob and said, "Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee"; and Israel strengthened himself and sat upon the bed.

Genesis 48:2 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 48:2

And [one] told Jacob
The same that came from Jacob to Joseph might be sent back by him to, his father, to let him know that he was coming to see him, or some other messenger sent on purpose; for it can hardly be thought that this was an accidental thing on either side: and said, behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee;
to pay him a visit, and which no doubt gave him a pleasure, he being his beloved son, as well as he was great and honourable: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon his bed;
his spirits revived, his strength renewed, he got fresh vigour on hearing his son Joseph was coming; and he exerted all his strength, and raised himself up by the help of his staff, and sat upon his bed to receive his son's visit; for now it was when he blessed the sons of Joseph, that he leaned upon the top of his staff and worshipped, as the apostle says, ( Hebrews 11:21 ) .

Genesis 48:2 In-Context

1 And it came to pass after these things that one told Joseph, "Behold, thy father is sick"; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

2 And one told Jacob and said, "Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee"; and Israel strengthened himself and sat upon the bed.

3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, "God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me

4 and said unto me, `Behold, I will make thee fruitful and multiply thee; and I will make of thee a multitude of people, and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.'

5 And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.