Genesis 48:2

2 When Joseph arrived, someone told Jacob, "Your son Joseph has come to see you." Jacob was weak, so he used all his strength and sat up on his 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 Some time later Joseph learned that his father was very sick, so he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim and went to his father.

2 When Joseph arrived, someone told Jacob, "Your son Joseph has come to see you." Jacob was weak, so he used all his strength and sat up on his bed.

3 Then Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me there.

4 He said to me, 'I will give you many children. I will make you the father of many peoples, and I will give your descendants this land forever.'

5 Your two sons, who were born here in Egypt before I came, will be counted as my own sons. Ephraim and Manasseh will be my sons just as Reuben and Simeon are my sons.