But Jacob refused. The English translation is quoted from Ramban (Nachmanides) Commentary on the Torah, Genesis (trans. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. CP. 22 And to you I give one more ridge of land than to your brothers, the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.. Jacob then blesses them directly. (see Genesis 48:13-14). Ephraim really has become a MULTITUDE OF NATIONS! 47:29 The time for Israel to die approached, so he called for his son Joseph and said to him, If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and show me kindness and faithfulness. So Joseph brought his sons near to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. Why the Name Change From Jacob ToIsrael? Ephraim was the son of Joseph and Asenath and the younger brother of Manasseh (Gen. 41:50-52). Joseph was one of Jacobs 12 sons. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. [1954-56], 3:250 . Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Why is this so? 3 Who was loved more by Jacob in the Bible? 18 Joseph said to him, No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.. 14, 17-20). Being the firstborn, Manasseh would normally have received the bigger blessing, but Jacob switched things up on purpose. Then Joseph took the two boys, Ephraim with his right hand setting him to Israels left, and Manasseh with his left hand setting him to Israels right, and stood them before him. Z. Katz, Judah Hahasid, Three Controversial Commentaries, Jewish Bible Quarterly, 25:1 (1997), pp. Which is why we bless our sons to be like them, expressing our hope for proud Jewish children and grandchildren. The Holy Land is the most hospitable Jewish environment, where the Talmud reports that even the air makes you wise. In one sense, being Jewish in Israel is easy. 5 Which is greater, Manasseh or the tribe of Ephraim? It took . In his blessing to Joseph, Jacob refers to God as the God who has been my shepherd all my life, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm. Applying the label angel to God is unusual. 48:1-7 - Jacob passes the Patriarchal blessing to Joseph. In Genesis 48, Joseph sought to continue this tradition, placing Ephraim on the left side of the elderly Jacob and Manasseh on the right to receive their blessings. Ephraim (/ i f r i m /; Hebrew: Epraym, in pausa: Eprym) was, according to the Book of Genesis, the second son of Joseph ben Jacob and Asenath.Asenath was an Ancient Egyptian woman whom Pharaoh gave to Joseph as wife, and the daughter of Potipherah, a priest of wen. 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 Beth-lehem. At first, Jacob states that Ephraim and Manasseh will be to him like his own sons (Genesis 48:5). This meant he was saying Ephraim would be greater than Manasseh. Required fields are marked *. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. Then further on, we read of the biblical practice of placing . Jacob told Joseph, If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. The act of putting a hand under anothers thigh was a symbolic act used to commit oneself to carry out a promise. And Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me . The verse has long puzzled translators. As for me, when I was returning from Paddan, Rachel died some distance from Ephrath. Your email address will not be published. . 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. Judah he-Hasid or R. Moshe Zaltman: Who Proposed that Torah Verses Were Written After the Time of Moses?, Journal of Jewish Studies 66:1 (2015): 97115. The words of King David ring true: How good and pleasant is it for brothers to sit peacefully together Hiney ma tov umanayim, shevet achim gam yachad (Psalms 133:1). 1: Ashkenaz, (Jerusalem: Magnes, 2005), pp. And it was told to Jacob, "Your son Joseph has come to you." Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. In this scene, Joseph brings his two sons ( Manasseh and Ephraim) to his dying father Jacob so that they can receive the family blessing. Dr. John Walvoord explains, "Joseph, like so many others, expected God to work in a certain way, but found that He is often pleased to work differently and sometimes even unconventionally. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israels left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israels right hand, and brought them near unto him. Manasseh, being the older boy, he had placed on his fathers right hand side, Ephraim on his left. When Jacob was told that his son Joseph had come to see him, he gathered his strength and sat up in bed. Joseph became the overseer of a vast amount of grain that would deliver Egypt and many other people from a future famine. As Joseph guided his two sons toward Jacob, he made sure Manasseh was on Jacob's right side and Ephraim, the younger of the two sons, was on Jacob's left (Genesis 48:13). The Holy Bible: King James Version. 31 And he said, Swear unto me. However, Jacob deliberately crossed his arms and put his right hand on Ephraims (the younger sons). Gods plan for Israel did not always follow the customs of birthright whether by deception or design. Put your hand under my thigh, a sign that youre loyal and true to me to the end. News without bias or noise. Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh 19 But his father refused. [9] The speaker throughout the commentary is R. Judahs son, so that R. Judah himself is consistently referred to as my father.. He was finally content to allow the Lord to accomplish His . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Thanks to Jesus, you and I can be born into the family of God and enjoy the blessing of the first born. But first, Jacob calls upon two of his grandchildren Josephs sons Ephraim and Menashe to receive blessings. Ephraim was born in Egypt before the arrival of the . Which Google app is similar to Truecaller? Jacob knowingly bestows the greater blessing on the younger son, Ephraim, reserving a lesser blessing for Manasseh, the firstborn. Ignacio de la Llave 213 2 piso, Col. Centro, Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. 48:3 Jacob said to Joseph, The sovereign God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). In a surprise twist, we will find the story is not centered around Joseph and his line. (Exodus 15:1 15:21). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 48:11 Israel said to Joseph, I never expected to see you again, but now God has allowed me to see your children too.. Schwartz is especially interested in how academic biblical scholarship and traditional Jewish belief and observance may co-exist. It is made up of savedJewish people and saved Gentiles. Jacob said, " [Manasseh] too will become a people, and . See, for example, B. But you still need to be informed about events around you. This is because Jacob adopted the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, in order that they might have the double inheritance due to the birthright son. script>. Jacob told Joseph that these two boys, his grandsons, are like sons to him "Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine like Reuben . Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years. Jacob dies, and Genesis concludes with Joseph's death in Egypt. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.. The latter half-tribe was also referred to as "Machir," after the son of Manasseh whose descendants comprised that half-tribe. Put your right hand on his head.. New transgender policy for public schools empathizes with those with gender dysphoria while being steadfast in opposing gender ideology. You see, in their culture, they use the right hand to bestow the first-born blessing, indicateing power, position and prosperity. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Why are Ephraim and Menashe instead the subjects of this important tradition? [21] Israel Meir Ta-Shema, Knesset Mehkarim, Studies in Medieval Rabbinic Literature, Vol. A central focus in this chapter is the blessing of Ephraim, the younger son, over Manasseh, the elder son. FAQ Jacob wished to emphasize the point that with these siblings, there is no rivalry. It happened along the way, some distance from Ephrath. Copyright 2021 Bible Blender. [14] For a somewhat different way of explaining R. Judahs interpretation, see Viezel, R. 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. Jacob also blessed the two sons of Joseph with the blessings of their father, which they inherited, and he placed Ephraim, the younger, before Manasseh, the elder, and by inspiration of the Lord conferred upon Ephraim the birthright in Israel" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Joseph named his second-born son Ephraim because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering ( Genesis 41:52 ). Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. That will leave half a tribe. Someone once said that if there is a blessing that every single person needs to hear again and again, it is the Ephraim and Manasseh blessing. Joseph put Ephraim on his right, directly across from Jacobs left hand, and put Manasseh on his left side across from Jacobs right hand. Sign up for the Bible Blender newsletter and periodically receive the latest Christian news, Bible study articles, modern-day life lessons, new product announcements, and more. Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh. In prior verses, we are told that God sends angels (typically as messengers). What happened to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? In the next chapter, we will see a similar reversal of custom during Jacobs blessing of the remaining twelve sons (the Tribes of Israel). "I know, my son, I know!" he said. 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.. Where is the Church today? Manasseh was placed close to the right hand of Jacob. Ephraim was born in Egypt to Josephs wife, Asenath. Ephraim and Menashe were the first set of Jewish brothers who did not fight. By crossing his hands, he was giving Ephraim the blessing of the first born instead. He also will develop into a people, and he also will be great. Peter heals a lame beggar at the Temple (Acts 3:1 3:10). Terms and Conditions The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". What was the outcome with Ephraim and Menashe? Although the question could have arisen due to Jacobs failing eyesight, it seems to be part of a formal blessing ritual. Thats why you dont hear the tribe of Joseph talked about very much but, instead, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. 1. Girls receive the blessing: May God make you like the matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. Boys, meanwhile, are blessed to be like Ephraim and Menashe.. [23] For the Talmudic origins of this idea, see Ta-Shema (note 8, above); cf. // Javascript URL redirection 48:6 Any children that you father after them will be yours; they will be listed under the names of their brothers in their inheritance. Surprisingly, the editor neglected to remove R. Judahs comment on Lev 2:13, which also suggests that words were added after the time of Moses; it seems likely that those who demanded the censorship did not realize the commentators intent. See Jesus in all the scriptures concerning Himself. Though recorded long after Jacob lived, he would certainly have been familiar with this custom. Anyone familiar with Jewish tradiation immediately understands that Jacob was giving the first-born blessing to the younger son. 2 When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to you," Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. He had absolute control over who would receive any grain that was stored up in Egypt. Manasseh, being the older boy, he had placed on his father's right hand side, Ephraim on his left. 2 When Jacob was told, Your son Joseph has come to you, Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. Obviously it had tremendous value which they fully understood it in those days. Hence the popular saying among Jews: The issue is not whether you have Jewish children, its whether you have Jewish grandchildren.. You know how shy little toddlers are. Genesis 48:5, Ephraim and Manasseh. Which routine is best for gaining muscle? Joseph was displeased when he saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraims head. Its the kind of sight that tugs at your heart strings. 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. 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. Remember how Isaac before his death blessed Jacob . As one who is above your brothers, I give to you the mountain slope, which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.. I LOVE YOUR OLIVE OIL IM OFF WORK DUE TO SURGERIES AND I CANT AFFORD IT. 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. Still, it seems that this case is unique, and not only because the wording of the verse is in the first person I have given [] that I took [] with my sword and my bow but also because of the second person address: I have given you one portion more than yourbrothers, as if Moses were speaking to Joseph, or to his descendants, directly. 9 And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. Is Modern Critical Study a Jewish Way of Studying Torah? Jacob (Israel) tells Joseph, I give you one more ridge of land than to your brothers, the ridge I gook from the Amorites with my sword and my bow. The statement is a surprise since Jacob is seen as peaceful and gentle in the prior chapters. 6 Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. I will make you into a group of nations, and I will give this land to your descendants as an everlasting possession.. If he did though, Jacob says the territory they inherit will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. In other words, any other sons will still have a share in Israel under the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Bear in mind, now, that these two boys are half-breed kids because their mother wasnt Jewish. Who or what is the Israel of God? However, Jacob crossed his . 2345 Charles Ave. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. Here Jacob gives Joseph's two sons the first born status and blessing. The Parable of the Ten Virgins Keep watch because you do not know the day or hour of His return (Matthew 25:1 25:13). by Bible Blender, Complete but concise summary of each book of the Bible (Old Testament and New Testament), Chronological summary of the New Testament Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John timeline), Jacob blesses Josephs sons and places Ephraim before firstborn Manasseh (Genesis 47:28 48:22), Joseph is generously blessed, but the biblical narrative will soon turn to another son, Blessing Ephraim as the firstborn ahead of Manasseh, Jacobs blessing of the younger son over the elder, When Jacob sees Josephs sons, he asks Who are these?, Placing a hand under the thigh during a promise, To you I give one more ridge of land than your brothers, Sources: NIV, The Message, The NET Bible, King James Version, NET Bible Notes, Faithlife Study Bible, The Apologetics Study Bible, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary, The Bible Readers Companion, Matthew Henrys Commentary, Holman Concise Bible Commentary, The Bible Exposition Commentary, The Teachers Bible Commentary, The Teachers Commentary, The Bible Guide, Word Studies in the New Testament, Holman Bible Handbook, Calvin Commentaries, Wiersbes Expository Outlines, The New Manner and Customs of the Bible, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, The Lexham Bible Dictionary, Eastons Bible Dictionary, Harpers Bible Dictionary, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, The Archaeological Encyclopedia, Biblical Archaeology Review, The New Bible Dictionary, The Lexham Analytical Lexicon, Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database, blessing Jacob himself received from Isaac, Joseph saves (by enslavement) the people of Egypt during the great famine (Genesis 47:13 47:27), Joseph mourns his fathers death, reassures his brothers they are safe, then passes from earth (Genesis 50:1 50:26), Jacob blesses the Twelve Tribes before breathing his last (Genesis 49:1 49:33). 47:27-31 - Jacob makes Joseph promise not to bury him in Egypt, but in Machpelah. But human beings have a concept of grandchildren, of perpetuation beyond a single generation. As believers, we are all first born. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. 12 Then Joseph removed them from Israels knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. 77-85 [Hebrew], and more at length in his book: The Ear Discerns Words: Studies in Ibn Ezras Exegetical Methodology (Ramat Gan: Bar Ilan University Press, 2013) [Hebrew]. It is with this thought that parents bless their children today. Determine the structure of the passage. 137150; 223224, and recently Eran Viezel, The Commentary on Chronicles Attributed to Rashi, (Jerusalem 2010), pp. Joseph intended for Jacob to bless Manasseh more than Ephraim, since Manasseh was the firstborn and the customary recipient of the birthright. When Jacob was told, Your son Joseph has come, he roused himself and sat up in bed. Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch (19th century Germany) offers another explanation of why Jewish boys throughout the ages have received the blessing of Ephraim and Menashe: The first generations of Jews Abraham, Isaac and Jacob raised their children primarily in the Land of Israel. 48:2 When Jacob was told, Your son Joseph has just come to you, Israel regained strength and sat up on his bed. 48 After this, Joseph was told, "Behold, your father is ill." So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Throughout the Old Testament, the name Ephraim often refers to the ten tribes comprising Israels Northern Kingdom, not just the single tribe named after Josephs son (Ezekiel 37:16; Hosea 5:3). 17But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wifeasthe firstborn bygiving him aDOUBLEPORTIONof all that he has, for heisthe beginning of his strength; the right of the firstbornis his.. In fact, WE are called the Church of the first-born.. Evangelist Andrew Palau Joins Dozens of Churches in Austin, Texas for Historic SXSW Outreach Event. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Very cute. 2122 Israel then said to Joseph, Im about to die. This is the blessing spoken by the patriarch Jacob in Genesis 48:20 over his two grandsons. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. Moses Commandments: The Secret of R. Nissim of Marseilles. Dont bury me in Egypt. So he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him. He told me I am going to make you fruitful and will multiply you. 18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh - After this, Joseph was told, "Behold, your father is ill." So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. When Jacob was about to pass away, he called Joseph to his bedside and asked to bless his two sons. So I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 1 Why did Jacob favor Ephraim over Manasseh? WE ARE DOUBLY BLESSED! In spite of this, his younger brother will be even greater and his descendants will become a multitude of nations. 48:20 So he blessed them that day, saying, 48:21 Then Israel said to Joseph, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers. Tel: +52 (921) 21.19901 Charles Whitaker (1944-2021) Then Israel said, Bring them to me so I may bless them.. Who was loved more by Jacob in the Bible? In Deuteronomy 21:15-17 we find the law concerning this blessing:15If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and they have borne him children,boththe loved and the unloved, andifthe firstborn son is of her who is unloved,16then it shall be, on the day he bequeaths his possessions to his sons,thathe must not bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved, thetruefirstborn. Jacob built an altar and called it betel or Bethel (the house of God). A central focus in this chapter is the blessing of Ephraim, the younger son, over Manasseh, the elder son. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". ). As the "birthright" tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh eventually received the great physical blessings God mentions through Jacob in Genesis 49:22-26 and through Moses in Deuteronomy 33:13-17. Possibly Jacobs statement was meant to emphasize the location of Ephrath which is mentioned twice here, and similarly noted in Genesis 35:16. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. In other words, he crossed his arms. He further writes: The Hebrew text is from Mikraot Gedolot Haketer. What did Joseph do with Manasseh and Ephraim? Then Joseph moved them closer to his father. This follows a familiar theme where blessings are not necessarily given based on birthright but on the rightful recipient according to Gods plan. New birth is, by far, the greater portion of the blessing of the first born, which you and I have! Is Taco Bell healthier than other fast food? It is like a modern-day marriage when the pastor asks, who gives away this bride?, even though he knows that brides father is standing before him. Launched Shavuot 5773 / 2013 | Copyright Project TABS, All Rights Reserved, script type="text/javascript"> Obviously, it won't take long before Manasseh on the east will be absorbed by other nations. In blessing Joseph's sons, Jacob also blessed Joseph, for the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh became strong leaders in Israel. Here however, what at first appears to be a mistake in Jacobs true intent. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. He too will become a nation and he too will become great. Here R. Judahs suggestion strains credulity indeed. According to the book of Genesis, Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because Joseph was born to Jacob after he was already an old man. Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26) Guest Post by Shraga Simmons. In doing so, Jacob noted that Ephraim would be greater than Manasseh (Genesis 48:521). 48 Some time later Joseph was told, Your father is ill. So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. This meant he was saying Ephraim would be greater than Manasseh. So he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to see Jacob. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. 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. For more on R. Feinsteins claim, and the harsh response he received from R. Menashe Klein in return, see Zev Farber, The Song of the Well, Psalm 136, Was Removed from the Torah TheTorah (2016). 2 And Jacob was told, Look, your son Joseph is coming to you; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed. 48:8-22 - Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh. When Jacob was told that Joseph had arrived, he regained some strength and sat up in bed. Jacobs Fight with the Amorites: They were also not intended to be historical narratives as such, but rather to serve as the foundation myths of the Jewish people that was emerging after the Exile. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. 47:31 Jacob said, Swear to me that you will do so. So Joseph gave him his word. 9 They are the sons God has given me here, Joseph said to his father. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For geeks and other superhero types, Geek Slop provides the latest science and technology news, features, and an online shop chock full of geek gear.