Jacob and his clan have settled in Egypt.
Genesis 48: 1-7, Jacob is dying
Some time later Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to you," Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.
Some time later Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to you," Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.
Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me and said to me, `I am going to make you fruitful and will increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.' Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath" (that is, Bethlehem).
Jacob briefly recounts his life, mentioning his grief for Rachel and her burial near Ephrath. (The author apparently adds the note that this is Bethlehem.)
Jacob adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as his own. This will be important later when there are twelve tribes plus the tribe of priests, the descendants of Levi. Moreover, he seems to treat them as his first- and second-born, replacing Reuben and Simeon in that order. (Reuben, Simeon and Levi have all dishonored Jacob, Reuben by sleeping with Jacob's concubine and Simeon and Levi by their massacre of the men of Shechem)
Genesis 48: 8-10, Jacob looks on Joseph's sons
When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, "Who are these?"
Genesis 48: 8-10, Jacob looks on Joseph's sons
When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, "Who are these?"
"They are the sons God has given me here," Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, "Bring them to me so I may bless them."
Now Israel's eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.
At the beginning of the chapter, Jacob adopts Ephraim and Manasseh; here he seems to finally meet them. Commentators suggest that the question, "Who are these?" could either follow from his failing eyesight or could be merely part of a ritual question in an adoption ceremony.
Genesis 48: 11-13, Praying over Ephraim and Manasseh
Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too."
Genesis 48: 14-16, Praying over Ephraim and Manasseh
But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. Then he blessed Joseph and said, "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm --may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth."
The blessing, putting both men (grown young men here) at his knees is apparently traditional. Switching hands is not. The one blessed by the right hand receives a superior blessing, a higher ranking. Crafty Jacob continues to focus on the second born, giving him status over the first born, as he had in taking Esau's birthright and in seeking to marry Rachel.
Genesis 48: 17-22, Ephraim over Manasseh
When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. Joseph said to him, "No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."
But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations."
He blessed them that day and said, "In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: `May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
Then Israel said to Joseph, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers. And to you, as one who is over your brothers, I give the ridge of land I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow."
The Hebrew word shek-em' , literally "shoulder", translated here "ridge of land" is unclear and is debated by commentators. The NIV footnotes give an alternative translation, suggesting the place Shechem. Alter suggests that the term means "with single intent", that is, with purpose. Others suggest that this implies an extra portion of inheritance for Joseph.
Jacob was the second born, following Esau out of the womb in Genesis 25. Here Jacob makes sure to give the superior blessing to Joseph's second-born son, Ephraim.
Jacob looks forward to a day when his descendants will return to the land of Canaan.
No comments:
Post a Comment