Gen 48:8-22 | NETfull | STEP | When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he asked, “Who are these?”

Genesis 48:8-22

8 When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he asked, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are the ^{▼▼ Heb “my.”} sons God has given me in this place.” His father ^{▼▼ Heb “and he”; the referent (Joseph’s father) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} said, “Bring them to me so I may bless them.” ^{▼▼ The cohortative with prefixed vav (ו) indicates purpose after the imperative.} 10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing ^{▼▼ Heb “heavy.”} ^{▼▼ The disjunctive clause provides supplemental information that is important to the story. The weakness of Israel’s sight is one of several connections between this chapter and Gen 27. Here there are two sons, and it appears that the younger is being blessed over the older by a blind old man. While it was by Jacob’s deception in chap. 27, here it is with Jacob’s full knowledge.} because of his age; he was not able to see well. So Joseph ^{▼▼ Heb “he”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} brought his sons ^{▼▼ Heb “them”; the referent (Joseph’s sons) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} near to him, and his father ^{▼▼ Heb “and he”; the referent (Joseph’s father) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} kissed them and embraced them. 11 Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected ^{▼▼ On the meaning of the Hebrew verb פָּלַל (palal) here, see E. A. Speiser, “The Stem pll in Hebrew,” JBL 82 (1963): 301-6. Speiser argues that this verb means “to estimate” as in Exod 21:22.} to see you ^{▼▼ Heb “your face.”} again, but now God has allowed me to see your children ^{▼▼ Heb “offspring.”} too.”

12 So Joseph moved them from Israel’s knees ^{▼▼ Heb “and Joseph brought them out from with his knees.” The two boys had probably been standing by Israel’s knees when being adopted and blessed. The referent of the pronoun “his” (Israel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} and bowed down with his face to the ground. 13 Joseph positioned them; ^{▼▼ Heb “and Joseph took the two of them.”} he put Ephraim on his right hand across from Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh on his left hand across from Israel’s right hand. Then Joseph brought them closer to his father. ^{▼▼ Heb “and he brought near to him.” The referents of the pronouns “he” and “him” (Joseph and his father respectively) have been specified in the translation for clarity.} 14 Israel stretched out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim’s head, although he was the younger. ^{▼▼ The disjunctive clause is circumstantial-concessive here.} Crossing his hands, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

15 Then he blessed Joseph and said,
“May the God before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac walked –
the God who has been my shepherd ^{▼▼ Heb “shepherded me.” The verb has been translated as an English noun for stylistic reasons.}
all my life long to this day,
16 the Angel ^{▼▼ The Samaritan Pentateuch reads “king” here, but the traditional reading (“angel”) may be maintained. Jacob closely associates God with an angelic protective presence. This does not mean that Jacob viewed his God as a mere angel, but it does suggest that he was aware of an angelic presence sent by God to protect him. Here he so closely associates the two that they become virtually indistinguishable. In this culture messengers typically carried the authority of the one who sent them and could even be addressed as such. Perhaps Jacob thought that the divine blessing would be mediated through this angelic messenger.} who has protected me ^{▼▼ The verb גָּאַל (ga’al) has the basic idea of “protect” as a near relative might do. It is used for buying someone out of bondage, marrying a deceased brother’s widow, paying off debts, avenging the family, and the like. The meanings of “deliver, protect, avenge” are most fitting when God is the subject (see A. R. Johnson, “The Primary Meaning of √גאל,” Congress Volume: Copenhagen, 1953 [VTSup], 67–77).}
from all harm –
bless these boys.
May my name be named in them, ^{▼▼ Or “be recalled through them.”}
and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac.
May they grow into a multitude on the earth.”
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.}

21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you ^{▼▼ The pronouns translated “you,” “you,” and “your” in this verse are plural in the Hebrew text.} and will bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 As one who is above your ^{▼▼ The pronouns translated “your” and “you” in this verse are singular in the Hebrew text.} brothers, I give to you the mountain slope, ^{▼▼ The Hebrew word שְׁכֶם (sh^ekhem) could be translated either as “mountain slope” or “shoulder, portion,” or even taken as the proper name “Shechem.” Jacob was giving Joseph either (1) one portion above his brothers, or (2) the mountain ridge he took from the Amorites, or (3) Shechem. The ambiguity actually allows for all three to be the referent. He could be referring to the land in Shechem he bought in Gen 33:18–19, but he mentions here that it was acquired by warfare, suggesting that the events of 34:25–29 are in view (even though at the time he denounced it, 34:30). Joseph was later buried in Shechem (Josh 24:32).} which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.”