Genesis 48

This chapter recounts Jacob's final moments with his son Joseph and his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh. As Jacob nears death, he adopts Joseph's two sons as his own and blesses them, passing on the inheritance of the covenant promises. Significantly, Jacob places the younger, Ephraim, above the older, Manasseh, reflecting a recurring biblical theme where God's favor often goes to the younger over the older.

Genesis 48:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, “Indeed your father is sick”; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
2 And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed.
3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me,

Jacob, now nearing the end of his life, is sick. Joseph brings his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to visit their grandfather, possibly for a final blessing. Jacob, despite his frail condition, gathers his strength to sit up and speak to Joseph. In recalling God’s appearance to him at Luz (Bethel), Jacob reaffirms the divine blessing and covenant he received. This sets the stage for Jacob’s blessings to be passed down to the next generation, emphasizing the significance of God’s promises to his descendants.

Genesis 48:4-5 (NKJV)
4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’
5 And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

Jacob recalls God’s promise to him at Bethel, reiterating the promise of land and descendants. He then adopts Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, granting them full status as his own children. This is significant because Jacob elevates Ephraim and Manasseh to the same level as his firstborn sons, Reuben and Simeon, ensuring that they will inherit along with the other tribes of Israel. This act of adoption also gives Joseph a double portion of the inheritance, a sign of Jacob’s special favor toward him.

Genesis 48:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.
7 But as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

Jacob acknowledges that any future children Joseph may have will belong to him, but Ephraim and Manasseh are given a unique status among the tribes of Israel. He then recalls the death of his beloved wife, Rachel, emphasizing the sorrow he felt in losing her so close to their destination. This emotional memory highlights Rachel’s significance in Jacob’s life and perhaps also explains why Jacob bestows a special blessing on Joseph, Rachel’s firstborn.

Genesis 48:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”
9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.” And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.”

Jacob, now old and with poor vision, asks who the two young men are. Joseph introduces his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, whom God gave him during his time in Egypt. Jacob requests that they be brought closer to him for a blessing, signaling his intention to pass on a spiritual inheritance. This act of blessing is a formal recognition of God’s covenant continuing through these grandchildren.

Genesis 48:10-11 (NKJV)
10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.
11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!”

Jacob’s blindness parallels the condition of his own father, Isaac, when he gave Jacob the blessing. After embracing and kissing his grandsons, Jacob reflects on the providence of God in his life. Not only had he thought Joseph was dead, but now he was given the joy of seeing Joseph’s sons. This reveals Jacob’s deep gratitude and trust in God’s faithfulness despite the hardships he had endured.

Genesis 48:12-13 (NKJV)
12 So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth.
13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him.

Joseph, showing great respect, bows before his father in a gesture of humility. As he positions his sons for the blessing, Joseph places Manasseh, the firstborn, at Jacob’s right hand, the place of greater honor, and Ephraim at Jacob’s left. Joseph expects the traditional order of birthright to be followed, but as the following verses reveal, Jacob’s decision defies this expectation.

Genesis 48:14-15 (NKJV)
14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15 And he blessed Joseph, and said:
“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,

In a deliberate and symbolic act, Jacob crosses his hands, placing his right hand on Ephraim, the younger, and his left on Manasseh, the older. Despite Joseph’s careful arrangement, Jacob knowingly blesses Ephraim with the greater blessing. Jacob begins the blessing by acknowledging the God who has guided and provided for him throughout his life, grounding his blessing in the faithfulness of God to the covenant promises given to Abraham and Isaac.

Genesis 48:16 (NKJV)
16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
Bless the lads;
Let my name be named upon them,
And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

Jacob refers to "The Angel" who has protected and delivered him from harm throughout his life. This is likely a reference to God’s continual presence and intervention in his life. Jacob invokes this divine protection and blessing upon Ephraim and Manasseh, asking that they carry the family name and the covenant promises forward. His prayer for them to multiply as a great nation reflects the same promise God made to Abraham.

Genesis 48:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

Joseph is upset by Jacob’s reversal of the traditional birth order and tries to correct it. In Joseph’s view, the firstborn should receive the greater blessing, so he attempts to guide Jacob’s hand back to Manasseh’s head. However, as Jacob will soon explain, this is a deliberate act based on divine insight, not a mistake or oversight.

Genesis 48:19-20 (NKJV)
19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”
20 So he blessed them that day, saying,
“By you Israel will bless, saying,
‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!’ ”
And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

Jacob insists that his action is intentional and reveals that while Manasseh will indeed become a great people, Ephraim will be greater, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations. Jacob’s prophetic insight shows that God’s plans often go beyond human expectations. In this blessing, Ephraim takes precedence, and this moment becomes a significant tradition in Israel, as future generations will invoke Ephraim and Manasseh in blessings.

Genesis 48:21-22 (NKJV)
21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”

Jacob acknowledges that his time is near, but reassures Joseph that God will continue to be with him and will fulfill the promise of bringing his descendants back to the land of Canaan. Jacob then gives Joseph a special inheritance, a portion of land that Jacob had taken from the Amorites. This gesture further elevates Joseph's status among his brothers and serves as a final affirmation of Jacob’s deep love for him.