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.
2 And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,
4 And 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.
5 And 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.
6 And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.
7 And 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?
9 And 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.
10 Now 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.
11 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed.
12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.
13 And 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.
14 And 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.
15 And 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,
16 The 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.
17 And 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.
18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
19 And 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.
20 And 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.
21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
22 Moreover 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.
Genesis chapter 48 is a continuation of the story of Jacob and his family, which began in chapter 25. In this chapter, Jacob is nearing the end of his life and he calls his son Joseph to his bedside. He asks Joseph to bring his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to him so that he can bless them before he dies. This chapter is significant because it marks the passing of the blessing from Jacob to his grandsons, and it also foreshadows the future division of the twelve tribes of Israel.
As Jacob is nearing the end of his life, he calls Joseph to his bedside and reminds him of the promise that God had made to him in Bethel. He then tells Joseph that God has blessed him with two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and that they will be considered as his own sons. Jacob then asks Joseph to bring his two sons to him so that he can bless them before he dies.
When Joseph brings his sons to Jacob, he places them in front of him, with Manasseh on his right and Ephraim on his left. However, Jacob crosses his hands and places his right hand on Ephraim's head and his left hand on Manasseh's head. Joseph is surprised and tries to correct his father, but Jacob insists that he knows what he is doing. This act of crossing his hands and blessing the younger son over the older son is significant because it goes against the traditional customs of that time.
When Jacob blesses Manasseh and Ephraim, he prays that they will become great nations and that their descendants will be a blessing to the world. He also blesses Joseph, saying that he will be a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches will run over the wall. This blessing is a reminder of the promise that God had made to Jacob's father, Isaac, and his grandfather, Abraham, that their descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky and will inherit the land of Canaan.
After blessing Manasseh and Ephraim, Jacob tells Joseph that he is giving him an extra portion of land, which he took from the Amorites with his sword and bow. This land will be given to Joseph's sons, making them equal to Jacob's other sons in terms of inheritance. This act of giving an extra portion of land to Joseph's sons is significant because it foreshadows the future division of the twelve tribes of Israel.
As the story continues in the book of Exodus, the twelve tribes of Israel will each receive a portion of land in the promised land of Canaan. However, the tribe of Levi will not receive a portion of land because they will be set apart as priests to serve God. This leaves only eleven tribes to divide the land, but Jacob's blessing to Joseph's sons ensures that there will still be twelve tribes in total.
This division of the twelve tribes of Israel is also significant because it represents the unity and diversity of God's chosen people. Each tribe will have its own unique characteristics and strengths, but they will all be united under the same God and the same promise. This foreshadows the future unity of the church, where believers from different backgrounds and cultures will come together as one body under Christ.
Genesis chapter 48 is a reminder of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. Throughout the book of Genesis, we see God making promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and in this chapter, we see those promises being fulfilled. God promised to make Abraham's descendants into a great nation, and we see that promise being fulfilled through Jacob's twelve sons and their descendants.
This chapter also highlights the importance of family and the passing down of blessings from one generation to the next. Jacob blesses his grandsons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and passes down the blessing that he received from his father and grandfather. This reminds us of the importance of passing down our faith and values to the next generation, so that they may continue to walk in the ways of the Lord.
Furthermore, the act of crossing his hands and blessing the younger son over the older son shows that God's ways are not our ways. He often chooses the unexpected and the unlikely to fulfill His plans and purposes. This is a reminder for us to trust in God's sovereignty and to not limit Him based on our own understanding and expectations.
Lastly, the division of the twelve tribes of Israel reminds us of the unity and diversity within the body of Christ. Just as each tribe had its own unique characteristics and strengths, each believer has their own unique gifts and talents that they can use to serve God and His kingdom. But despite our differences, we are all united under the same God and the same promise of salvation through Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, Genesis chapter 48 is a significant chapter in the book of Genesis as it marks the passing of the blessing from Jacob to his grandsons, Manasseh and Ephraim. It also foreshadows the future division of the twelve tribes of Israel and reminds us of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. This chapter also teaches us the importance of family, trusting in God's ways, and the unity and diversity within the body of Christ. As we continue to read through the Bible, we can see how this chapter sets the foundation for the rest of the story of God's people and His plan for salvation.
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