Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh
1 After these things, Joseph was told, “Your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 Someone told Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” and Israel strengthened himself and sat on the bed.
3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me 4 and said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people and will give this land to your offspring after you as an everlasting possession.’
5 Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. 6 Your offspring, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be named with their brothers in their inheritance.
7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).”
8 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 here.”
He said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.”
10 Now the eyes of Israel were weak because of his age, so that he could not see well. Joseph brought them near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 Israel said to Joseph, “I didn’t think I would see your face, and God has let me see your offspring as well.”
12 Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. 13 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 to him. 14 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 He blessed Joseph and said,
“May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
16 the angel who has redeemed me from all harm,
bless the boys and let them be called by my name,
and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac.
Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.”
17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He held up his father’s hand, to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”
19 His father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring will become a multitude of nations.”
20 He blessed them that day, saying,
“By you, Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.’ ” He set Ephraim before Manasseh.
21 Israel said to Joseph, “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 with my bow.”