Genesis 48

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 48

1¶ And it came to pass after these things, that [one] told Joseph, Behold, thy father [is] sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

2And [one] told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

3And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

4And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee [for] an everlasting possession.

5And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, [are] mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

6And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, [and] shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.

7And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet [there was] but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same [is] Bethlehem.

8¶ And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who [are] these?

9And Joseph said unto his father, They [are] my sons, whom God hath given me in this [place]. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

10Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, [so that] he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

11And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.

12And Joseph brought them out from between 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 unto him.

14And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid [it] upon Ephraim's head, who [was] the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh [was] the firstborn.

15And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

16The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

17And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head.

18And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this [is] the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

19And his father refused, and said, I know [it], my son, I know [it]: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

20And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

21And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

22Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jacob, on his deathbed, adopts Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own, granting them full tribal inheritance. Despite Joseph's attempt to guide his hands, Jacob deliberately blesses the younger Ephraim with the greater blessing, prophesying his future prominence. He also reassures Joseph that God will return his descendants to the promised land.

Medium Summary

As Jacob falls ill, Joseph brings his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to receive a blessing. Jacob recounts God's promise of fruitfulness and land at Luz, then formally adopts Ephraim and Manasseh, declaring them equal to Reuben and Simeon in inheritance. Though his eyes are dim, Jacob discerns the boys and prepares to bless them. Joseph positions them according to birth order, but Jacob intentionally crosses his hands, placing his right hand on Ephraim, the younger. Joseph attempts to correct his father, but Jacob affirms his choice, prophesying that Ephraim's descendants will become a multitude of nations, surpassing Manasseh, though Manasseh will also be great. Jacob concludes by assuring Joseph of God's future guidance back to Canaan and bestows upon him an additional portion of land.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with news of Jacob's illness, prompting Joseph to bring his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to his father's bedside. Jacob, strengthening himself, recounts God Almighty's appearance at Luz, where promises of fruitfulness, multiplication into a multitude of people, and an everlasting possession of the land were given to his seed. Based on this covenant, Jacob formally adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons, declaring they shall inherit equally with Reuben and Simeon, thus establishing two tribes from Joseph. He also briefly recalls Rachel's death and burial near Bethlehem. Though Jacob's eyes are dim with age, he recognizes Joseph's sons and requests them to be brought near for a blessing. Joseph positions Manasseh, the elder, to Jacob's right hand, and Ephraim, the younger, to his left. However, Jacob deliberately crosses his hands, placing his right hand upon Ephraim's head and his left upon Manasseh's. Joseph, believing his father has made a mistake, attempts to move Jacob's right hand to Manasseh's head. Jacob refuses, asserting his full awareness of his actions, and prophesies that while Manasseh will become a great people, Ephraim, his younger brother, will be greater and his seed a multitude of nations. He then blesses them, invoking the God of Abraham and Isaac and the Angel who redeemed him, praying for his name and his fathers' names to be named upon them. This act establishes a blessing formula where Israel will bless by saying, "God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh." Finally, Jacob assures Joseph of God's presence and future return of their descendants to the land of their fathers, and grants Joseph an additional portion of land, taken by his own sword and bow.

Core Concepts

  • Adoption and InheritanceJacob formally adopts Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own, granting them full tribal status and an equal share in the inheritance of Israel, elevating Joseph's lineage within the twelve tribes.
  • Prophetic BlessingJacob, guided by divine insight despite his failing eyesight, deliberately bestows the greater blessing upon Ephraim, the younger son, prophesying his future prominence over Manasseh.
  • Divine ProvidenceJacob acknowledges God's faithfulness throughout his life, referring to "the God which fed me all my life long" and "The Angel which redeemed me from all evil," recognizing divine guidance and protection.
  • Covenant PromiseJacob reiterates God's covenant promise made at Luz, emphasizing the themes of fruitfulness, multiplication, and the everlasting possession of the land of Canaan for his descendants.
  • Crossed HandsThe symbolic act of Jacob crossing his hands to bless the younger Ephraim with his right hand signifies a reversal of birthright expectations, highlighting God's sovereign choice in bestowing favor.
  • Future Return to CanaanJacob reassures Joseph that though he is dying in Egypt, God will ultimately bring the Israelites back to the land of their fathers, reinforcing the promise of the land as their permanent inheritance.
  • Joseph's Double PortionJacob grants Joseph an additional "portion above thy brethren," specifically mentioning land taken from the Amorites, which is understood as the territory of Shechem, signifying a special inheritance for Joseph's lineage.