Genesis 49:22

22 Joseph, a son increasing, (yea,) a son increasing, and fair in beholding; [the] daughters run about on the wall (his branches climb up over the wall),

Genesis 49:22 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 49:22

Joseph is a fruitful bough
Or as one, like the bough or branch of a tree laden with fruit, as he was with children; one of which he called Ephraim from his fruitfulness, and both his sons became numerous, and the heads of two tribes in Israel; and with other temporal fruits and blessings, as riches, honour and especially with the fruits of grace and righteousness: [even] a fruitful bough by a well;
those are the most fruitful that are near a well or fountain of water, as such trees are which are planted by rivers of water, see ( Psalms 1:3 ) this being repeated may have respect to the two boughs or branches of Joseph's family, or the two fruitful and numerous tribes that sprung from him: whose branches run over the wall;
as such trees that are set against one, and by the reflected heat of the sun grow the more, and become more fruitful. The word for "branches" is "daughters", which some refer to the daughters of Manasseh and Zelophehad, who received their inheritance on both sides of Jordan; and others interpret it of the cities of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, as cities are sometimes called.

Genesis 49:22 In-Context

20 Asher, his bread shall be fat, and he shall give delights to kings.
21 Naphtali shall be an hart sent out, and giving speeches of fairness.
22 Joseph, a son increasing, (yea,) a son increasing, and fair in beholding; [the] daughters run about on the wall (his branches climb up over the wall),
23 but his brethren wrathed (at) him, and chided him, and they had darts, and had envy to him (and they had arrows, and they envied him).
24 His bow sat in the strong (One), the Lord, and the bonds of his arms and his hands were unbound by the hand of the mighty (God) of Jacob; of him a shepherd went out, the stone of Israel. (But his bow stood strong, and the bonds on his arms, and on his hands, were unbound by the power of the mighty God of Jacob; yea, by his Shepherd, by the Rock of Israel.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.