- Book: [[Genesis]] - Next chapter: [[Genesis 49]] > [!summary] Summary > - While dying, [[Jacob]] adopts [[Joseph]]’s sons [[Ephraim]] and [[Manasseh]] > - He places the greater blessing on younger [[Ephraim]] rather than first-born [[Manasseh]] > - Foreshadows [[Ephraim]]’s later dominance in northern [[Israel]] and continues the pattern of [[Younger supplanting older]] > [!info] Why is this here? > - Secures [[Joseph]]’s line within the twelve tribes > - Showcases [[God]]’s consistent choice of the unexpected heir with another [[Younger supplanting older]] # Overview ## v. 1-7 Adoption of [[Joseph]]’s sons - News of [[Jacob]]’s illness prompts [[Joseph]] to visit with his sons - [[Jacob]] recalls God’s promise at Luz/[[Bethel]] and adopts [[Ephraim]] and [[Manasseh]] "as [[Reuben]] and [[Simeon]]" - Ensures each receives a tribal inheritance; later children of [[Joseph]] will belong to them ## v. 8-14 Seeing & seating the boys - [[Jacob]]’s failing eyesight (similar to [[Isaac]] in [[Genesis 27]]) has [[Joseph]] arrange the boys: [[Manasseh]] at [[Jacob]]’s right, [[Ephraim]] at his left - [[Jacob]] embraces them, then crosses his hands, right on [[Ephraim]], left on [[Manasseh]] ## v. 15-16 The patriarchal blessing prayer - Invokes “the [[God]] of my fathers,” “the [[God]] who shepherded me,” and “the angel who redeemed me” - Prays the boys bear his name and **multiply “like fish”** within the land ## v. 17-20 Protest & prophetic reversal - [[Joseph]] objects, but [[Jacob]] insists: “His younger brother shall be greater... a multitude of nations.” - Sets formula: "May God make you as [[Ephraim]] and [[Manasseh]]," naming [[Ephraim]] first ## v. 21-22 Extra portion to [[Joseph]] - [[Jacob]] foretells [[Exodus]] back to [[Canaan]] - Grants [[Joseph]] “one ridge of land ([[Shechem]]) more than your brothers” # Details - [[Jacob]] recounts his first encounter with [[God]] at [[Luz]] in [[Canaan]] - In general, our attention is repeatedly brought back to [[Canaan]] in this chapter - Double portion of the first-born inheritance goes to [[Joseph]], seemingly from [[Reuben]] ([[Genesis 35]], [[Genesis 49]]) - [[Joseph]] is granted [[Shechem]]; later his bones buried there ([[Joshua 24]]:32) - [[Younger supplanting older]] # Questions - Why does Jacob single out “the angel who redeemed me”?