Ephraim And Manasseh Blessed

Genesis 48:1-22

"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. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed." (Genesis 48:1-22)

At the age of a hundred forty seven, Jacob was undoubtedly experiencing some health problems, and his death seemed imminent. When Joseph was told of his father’s illness, he made a special trip to Goshen with his two sons, to visit Jacob for what might be the last time. The news of his coming was relayed to Jacob and he wanted to appear at his best, sitting up when Joseph arrived.

“And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 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. And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which 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. And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.” (Genesis 48:3-7)

Jacob then repeated what God told him about giving him and his heirs the land of Canaan forever. Joseph’s two sons were to inherit as Jacob’s sons, although any other children would have to inherit through Joseph. There would never be a tribe of Joseph, but Ephraim and Manasseh would each form their own tribe, and any brothers or sisters they had would become parts of one of their tribes. Technically there would be thirteen tribes, but as we see later, the tribe of Levi was never given a land of their own, as a separate tribe, but always a portion among each of the other tribes.

“And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed.” (Genesis 48:8-11)

Jacob was losing his sight, and he didn’t immediately see Ephraim and Manasseh. When told who they were, he asked that they come close enough so he could embrace and kiss them. It was an emotional moment because for twenty two years he had believed his son dead, and now he was seeing his grandsons.

“And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him.

And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” (Genesis 48:12-16)

When Joseph brought the boys forward, with Ephraim on his right and Manasseh on his left, Jacob deliberately crossed his arms to place his right hand on Ephraim’s head and his left on Manasseh’s, and began to pronounce a blessing on them, assigning the promises he had received to them as if they were his own children.

“And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.” (Genesis 48:17-18)

It was customary to place the right hand on the elder son as the rightful heir, and Joseph had deliberately placed his sons as he had to make it easy for his Dad. It troubled him that his father gave primacy to Ephraim, and he spoke out to correct what he perceived as a mistake on Jacob’s part. He may have thought Jacob was trying to do what he had tried to do in arranging the boys that way.

“And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.” (Genesis 48:19-20)

Jacob had knowingly crossed his arms, having been informed of God that Ephraim would be the greater of the two. The blessing was not simply a matter of expressing the parents opinions, but involved a prophecy from God beyond mere human power.

“And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.” (Genesis 48:21-22)

Israel then reminded Joseph of the promises of God to be with them and return them safely to Canaan. By making Ephraim and Manasseh his heirs, Jacob had effectively given Joseph twice as big a part in Israel as any of his brothers.

We have no record of the fighting Jacob may have had to do to obtain and hold the land he had occupied in Canaan. There is a great deal we don’t know about Jacob’s life but according to II Timothy 3;16-17, we have all the information we need. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” II Peter 1:3 reinforces the idea. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” Every story and passage in scripture is important for our understanding, but nothing of value has been left out.