1After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3And Jacob said to Joseph, #See ch. 17:1 “God Almighty#48:3 Hebrew El Shaddai appeared to me at #ch. 28:13, 19; 35:6, 9Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you #ch. 17:8for an everlasting possession.’ 5And now your #ch. 41:50-52; 46:20 two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, #Josh. 13:7; 14:4; 17:17are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow #See ch. 35:9-19Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance#48:7 Or about two hours’ distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

8When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9Joseph said to his father, #[ch. 33:5] “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that #ch. 49:25, 26; Heb. 11:21; [ch. 27:4]I may bless them.” 10Now #[ch. 27:1] the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, #ch. 27:27and he kissed them and embraced them. 11And Israel said to Joseph, #[ch. 37:33; 45:26]“I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13And 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 him. 14#ver. 17 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, #ver. 19crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15And he blessed Joseph and said,

“The God #ch. 17:1; 24:40before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,

the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,

16 # ch. 28:15; 31:11, 13, 24; Ex. 23:20 the angel who has #Isa. 44:22, 23; 49:7; 63:9; [2 Sam. 4:9; Ps. 34:22; 121:7] redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;

and in them let #Amos 9:12; Acts 15:17 my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;

and let them #[Num. 26:34, 37]grow into a multitude#48:16 Or let them be like fish for multitude in the midst of the earth.”

17When Joseph saw that his father #ver. 14laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19But his father refused and said, #[See ver. 17 above] “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, #Num. 1:33, 35; 2:19, 21; Deut. 33:17his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude#48:19 Hebrew fullness of nations.” 20So he blessed them that day, saying,

“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,

# [Ruth 4:11, 12] ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’”

Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but #ch. 46:4; 50:24God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22Moreover, I have given to #Josh. 24:32; John 4:5you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope#48:22 Or one portion of the land; Hebrew shekem, which sounds like the town and district called Shechem that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”

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Genesis 48

1After these things, it was told Joseph that his father was sick: and he set out to go to him, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim.

2And it was told the old man: Behold, thy son Joseph cometh to thee. And being strengthened he sat on his bed.

3And when Joseph was come in to him, he said: God Almighty appeared to me at Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, and he blessed me.

4And he said: I will cause thee to increase and multiply, and I will make of thee a multitude of people. And I will give this land to thee, and to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.

5So thy two sons, who were born to thee in the land of Egypt before I came hither to thee, shall be mine: Ephraim and Manasses shall be reputed to me as Ruben and Simeon.

6But the rest, whom thou shalt have after them, shall be thine, and shall be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions.

7For, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died from me in the land of Chanaan in the very journey. And it was springtime, and I was going to Ephrata, and I buried her near the way of Ephrata, which by another name is called Bethlehem.

8Then seeing his sons, he said to him: Who are these?

9He answered: They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said: Bring them to me that I may bless them.

10For Israel's eyes were dim by reason of his great age, and he could not see clearly. And when they were brought to him, he kissed and embraced them.

11And said to his son: I am not deprived of seeing thee. Moreover God hath shewed me thy seed.

12And when Joseph had taken them from his father's lap, he bowed down with his face to the ground.

13And he set Ephraim on his right hand, that is, towards the left hand of Israel; but Manasses on his left hand, to wit, towards his father's right hand: and brought them near to him.

14But he stretching forth his right hand, put it upon the head of Ephraim the younger brother; and the left upon the head of Manasses who was the elder, changing his hands.

15And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and said: God, in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, God that feedeth me from my youth until this day:

16The angel that delivereth me from all evils bless these boys: and let my name be called upon them, and the names of my fathers Abraham, and Isaac: and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.

17And Joseph, seeing that his father had put his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, was much displeased: and taking his father's hand he tried to lift it from Ephraim's head, and to remove it to the head of Manasses.

18And he said to his father: It should not be so, my father: for this is the firstborn, put thy right hand upon his head.

19But he refusing, said: I know, my son, I know. And this also shall become peoples, and shall be multiplied: but this younger brother shall be greater than he: and his seed shall grow into nations.

20And he blessed them at that time, saying: In thee shall Israel be blessed. And it shall be said: God do to thee as to Ephraim, and as to Manasses. And he set Ephraim before Manasses.

21And he said to Joseph his son: Behold, I die, and God will be with you, and will bring you back into the land of your fathers.

22I give thee a portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorrhite with my sword and bow.

An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.

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Genesis 48

Genesis 48