Gen 48:17-20 | NETfull | STEP | When Joseph saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him. So he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.

Genesis 48:17-20

17 When Joseph saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him. ^{▼▼ Heb “it was bad in his eyes.”} So he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a nation and he too will become great. In spite of this, his younger brother will be even greater and his descendants will become a multitude ^{▼▼ Heb “fullness.”} of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying,

“By you ^{▼▼ The pronoun is singular in the Hebrew text, apparently elevating Ephraim as the more prominent of the two. Note, however, that both are named in the blessing formula that follows.} will Israel bless, ^{▼▼ Or “pronounce a blessing.”} saying,
‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”
So he put Ephraim before Manasseh. ^{▼▼ On the elevation of Ephraim over Manasseh see E. C. Kingsbury, “He Set Ephraim Before Manasseh,” HUCA 38 (1967): 129-36; H. Mowvley, “The Concept and Content of ‘Blessing’ in the Old Testament,” BT 16 (1965): 74-80; and I. Mendelsohn, “On the Preferential Status of the Eldest Son,” BASOR 156 (1959): 38-40.}