Genesis 48:2

2 When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph is here to see you," Israel gathered his strength and sat up in 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 Later Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim [to see Jacob].

2 When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph is here to see you," Israel gathered his strength and sat up in bed.

3 Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in Canaan and blessed me.

4 He said to me, 'I will make you fertile and increase the number of your descendants so that you will become a community of people. I will give this land to your descendants as a permanent possession.'

5 "So your two sons, who were born in Egypt before I came here, are my sons. Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine just as Reuben and Simeon are.