Genesis 48:12 Commentary and Bible Study

Ephraim and Manasseh are now about twenty years old so that, as Luther notes, it is strange to read of them being brought out from between Joseph’s knees as if they were little children, but this could equally be translated ‘from by his knees’. Joseph has evidently been waiting for this moment and wants his father to bless the boys individually, so he brings them out from where they have been waiting by him. They are to be presented to Jacob. Joseph and his sons are probably kneeling but he now wishes to prostrate himself before his father on this solemn occasion, so the sons are first moved out of way. Joseph then arranges things so that Manasseh, the firstborn, will receive the primary blessing, which traditionally came from the right hand. As Joseph and Jacob face each other Manasseh is therefore led by Joseph’s left hand towards Jacob’s right, and Ephraim by his right hand towards Jacob’s left. In that position they approach Jacob. Jacob is expected to place each hand on the nearest son’s head, but then he does a strange thing. He crosses over his arms and reaches with his right hand to Ephraim. Moses tells us that he did this knowingly, lest we, like Joseph, think that he did it by mistake because of his blindness. Manasseh was the firstborn and Jacob was well aware of it; he deliberately placed his right hand on the younger son, reversing the order of nature. Jacob knows something Joseph does not know. Although Jacob could not see with his bodily eyes, his spiritual eyes were keener than Joseph’s, for as the prophet of God he saw what Joseph could not see. Though both would be blessed, the younger would be more blessed than the older. Jacob blesses Joseph in the person of his sons. Instead of one tribe, there will come two tribes from this favourite son, as the grandsons are adopted. Jacob is deeply conscious that he is walking in the footsteps of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham had died when he was 15, and Isaac when he was 120 years old. These two men have been examples to him all his life and now through much turmoil he has come to the end and finished his pilgrimage. The Angel of the Lord had appeared to him in a dream when he was shown how the ringstraked rams mated with the flock (Genesis 31:11). This was the preincarnate Son of God, who had called himself ‘the God of Bethel’ (Genesis 31:13), and who had appeared to Abraham on several occasions. That same Angel had led him all the way through life. This is the first mention of redemption in the Bible. He sees him as one who has purchased his soul.The blessing secures what only God can give. The future is out of Jacob’s hand and God alone could do what is spoken of here. It is in line with the promises given to Abraham and Isaac, but it is a further detail of God’s plan revealed to Jacob for the first time.