Preface: In Genesis 48, Jacob blesses Joseph’s two sons, but placing the younger brother before the older.

There are many chapter commentaries on the book of Genesis. This will be the most extensive examination of Genesis 48, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text. Every attempt has been made to make this both a complete and self-contained study. Therefore, all references, vocabulary, and related concepts should be found within this extensive study. Easy access links to more in-depth studies of some vocabulary words, concepts and doctrines are also provided.

Outline of Chapter 48:

Preface

Introduction

         vv.     1–7           Jacob Adopts Manasseh and Ephraim, Thus Giving the Double Blessing to Joseph

         vv.     8–22         Jacob Places Ephraim (the Younger Son) Before Manasseh

Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Preface

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Prequel of Genesis 48

         Introduction         The Principals of Genesis 48

         Introduction         The Places of Genesis 48

         Introduction         The Patriarchal Timeline for Genesis 48

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Genesis 48

         Introduction         Paragraph Divisions of Modern Translations for Genesis 48 (from Dr. Bob Utley)

         Introduction         Chapter Updates

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         v.       2              A Privilege, a Responsibility and a Blessing

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         v.       3              The Net Bible on El Shaddai

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         v.       8              “Who [are] these?” What does this mean?

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         v.      12              "Jacob Blessing Ephraim and Manasseh" painted by Benjamin West

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         v.      14              Jacob Is Blessing Joseph and His Sons from Illustrators of the 1897 Bible Pictures

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         v.      16              The Heritage Bible on the Messenger of Jehovah

         v.      16              The Six Blind Men and the Elephant (a graphic)

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         v.      20              The Preeminence of Ephraim over Manasseh

         v.      20              Comparing Ephraim and Manasseh

         v.      20              Map of Ephraim and Manasseh

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         v.      22              Interpretations of Genesis 48:21–22

         v.      22              Jacob Gives Some Land to Joseph (Commentators/Discussion)

         v.      22              Tribal Allotments of Israel (Map)

         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            An Abbreviated Exegesis of Genesis 48

         Summary            Why Genesis 48 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Genesis 48

         Summary            Matthew Henry Summarizes Genesis 48

         Summary            B. H. Carroll Summarizes Genesis 48

         Summary            Edersheim Summarizes Genesis 48

         Summary 

         Addendum 

         Addendum          Josephus’ History of this Time Period

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Genesis 48

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Genesis 48

         Addendum          Word Cloud from a Reasonably Literal Paraphrase of Genesis 48

         Addendum          Word Cloud from the Exegesis of Genesis 48

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An Introduction to Genesis 48

I ntroduction: Genesis 48 is the first meeting between Jacob and his two grandsons by Joseph. They will be considered part of the twelve (actually, thirteen) tribes; there will not be a tribe called Joseph. This is Joseph's double portion, which is usually reserved for the first-born. As has often occurred in the Bible, Jacob will bless the younger over and above the older.

We are dealing with Jacob's last days on this earth and they are covered in detail in this and the next chapter. Obviously he was too old to write any of this; he could barely see (Genesis 48:10), as he was suffering from cataracts (that is an assumption on my part).

There are several portions of this chapter which I found difficult to understand (and, therefore, difficult for me to explain).

In Genesis 48, Joseph brings in his two sons to be blessed by his father Jacob. Jacob will adopt those sons (not as we think of as adoption), and therefore, it will be as if these sons came from Jacob. Therefore, there will be two tribes Israel which will come from Joseph: Ephraim and Manasseh (we never almost hear about the tribe of Joseph, except, interestingly enough, in Revelation 7:8). Joseph’s reward for his great faithfulness is, he will have the double portion. The blessing of the double portion—usually a blessing reserved for the firstborn—falls upon Joseph.

All that we have studied about Reuben, Joseph and Judah now comes into play. Reuben, as the firstborn, should have been the ruling tribe and the double-portion. However, Judah will become the ruling tribe and Joseph will receive the double-portion.

The Patriarchal Timeline for Genesis 48

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Jacob Adopts Manasseh and Ephraim, Thus Giving the Double Blessing to Joseph

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       Note: I compare the Hebrew text to English translations of the Latin, Syriac (= Aramaic) and Greek texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation ; George Lamsa’s translation, and Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton’s translation as revised and edited by Paul W. Esposito, respectively. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.). I often use the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible instead of Brenton’s translation, because it updates the English text.

The Septuagint was the earliest known translation of a book (circa 200 b.c.). Since this translation was made before the textual criticism had been developed into a science and because different books appear to be translated by different men, the Greek translation can sometimes be very uneven.

When there are serious disparities between my translation and Brenton’s (or the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible), I look at the Greek text of the Septuagint (the LXX) to see if a substantive difference actually exists (and I reflect these changes in the English rendering of the Greek text). I use the Greek LXX with Strong’s numbers and morphology available for e-sword. The only problem with this resource (which is a problem for similar resources) is, there is no way to further explore Greek verbs which are not found in the New Testament. Although I usually quote the Complete Apostles’ Bible here, I have begun to make changes in the translation when their translation conflicts with the Greek and note what those changes are.

The Masoretic text is the Hebrew text with all of the vowels (vowel points) inserted (the original Hebrew text lacked vowels). We take the Masoretic text to be the text closest to the original. However, differences between the Masoretic text and the Greek, Latin and Syriac are worth noting and, once in a great while, represent a more accurate text possessed by those other ancient translators.

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Bracketed portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are words, letters and phrases lost in the scroll due to various types of damage. Underlined words or phrases are those in the Dead Sea Scrolls but not in the Masoretic text.

I will only list the translation from the Dead Sea Scrolls if it exists and if it is different from the Masoretic text.

The Targum of Onkelos is actually the Pentateuchal Targumim, which are The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel. On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. From http://www.becomingjewish.org/texts/targum/onkelos_genesis.html and first published in 1862.

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And so he is after the words the these and so he says to Joseph, “Behold, your father is ill.” And so he takes two of his sons with him—Manasseh and Ephraim.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Targum (trans. Etheridge)      .

Targum (Onkelos)                  And it was after these words that it was said to Joseph, Behold, thy father is ill. And he took his two sons with him, Menashe and Ephraim. Translation for Onkelos and Pseudo-Jonathan by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. (1862).

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   And after these things it was told Joseph, Behold, thy father is lying ill. And he took his two sons with him., Menasheh and Ephraim.

Jerusalem targum                  .

Revised Douay-Rheims         .

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) After these things, it was told Joseph that his father was sick: and he set out to go to him, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim.

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        It happened after these things, that someone said to Yoseph, "Behold, your father is sick." He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Peshitta (Syriac)                     AND it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, Behold, your father is sick; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Septuagint (Greek)                Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh. Gn.48.1-22

And it came to pass after these things, that it was reported to Joseph, Behold, your father is ill; and, having taken his two sons, Manasse and Ephraim, he came to Jacob. This is the New Brenton translation from http://www.katapi.org.uk/

NETS (Greek)                        .

Brenton’s Septuagint             .

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             .

Easy English                          Some time passed. And someone told Joseph, ‘Your father is ill.’ So, Joseph took his 2 sons, Manasseh and Ephraim with him.

Easy-to-Read Version–2006  .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  .

God’s Word™                         .

Good News Bible (TEV)         .

International Children’s B.     Blessings for Manasseh and Ephraim

Some time later Joseph learned that his father was very sick. So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim and went to his father.

The Message                         Some time after this conversation, Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” He took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to Jacob.

Names of God Bible               Jacob [Israel] Blesses Joseph’s Two Sons

Later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim to see Jacob.

NIRV                                      .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           .

Contemporary English V.       Joseph was told that his father Jacob had become very sick. So Joseph went to see him and took along his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

The Living Bible                     One day not long after this, word came to Joseph that his father was failing rapidly. So, taking with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, he went to visit him.

New Berkeley Version           .

New Century Version             Blessings for Manasseh and Ephraim

Some time later Joseph learned that his father was very sick, so he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim and went to his father.

New Life Version                    .

New Living Translation           Jacob Blesses Manasseh and Ephraim

One day not long after this, word came to Joseph, “Your father is failing rapidly.” So Joseph went to visit his father, and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          Well sometime after that, this report came to JoSeph: '{Look!} Your father is ill!' So he took his two sons, ManasSeh and Ephraim, and they went to [see] Jacob.

Beck’s American Translation .

International Standard V        Joseph Visits His Ill Father

Some time later, somebody informed Joseph, “Your father is ill!” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him to visit Jacob [The Heb. lacks to visit Jacob].

New Advent (Knox) Bible       Soon after this, Joseph was told that his father had fallen sick, and took his two sons, Ephraim and Manasses, to visit him.

Revised Knox Bible                .

Today’s NIV                          .

Translation for Translators                                 Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh

Some time after this, someone told Joseph, “Hey, your father is ill.” When Joseph heard that, he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to see his father.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Awful Scroll Bible                   After these concerns, it was said to Joseph: Your father is to be ailing. He was to take his two sons with him, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Conservapedia                       It happened after these things that someone told Joseph, "Sir! Your father is ill." He took his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him.

Ferrar-Fenton Bible                But it was after these events that it was reported to Joseph, " Your father is ill," so he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him ; and Jacob was told, " Your son Joseph has come to you." A portion of v. 2 is included for context.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           (Part Eight)

After these deeds, tidings were brought unto Joseph, that his father was sick. And he took with him his two sons, Manasse and Ephraim.

HCSB                                     Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

Some time after this, Joseph was told, “Your father is weaker.”.

Jubilee Bible 2000                  .

H. C. Leupold                         CHAPTER XLVIII

12. Jacob’s Provisions for His End (Continued)

b. The Blessing of Joseph’s Sons (48:1-22)

And it came to pass after these things that the report came to Joseph: Behold, thy father is sick. So he took his two sons along with him, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Lexham English Bible            .

NIV, ©2011                             .

NIV – UK                                .

Tree of Life Version                Blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh

After these things, someone told Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him.

Urim-Thummim Version         After some time had passed it was reported to Joseph, your dad is sick: and he then brought with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Wikipedia Bible Project          .

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  Jacob adopts Joseph’s children

Some time later, when Joseph was told that his father was ill, he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

The Heritage Bible                 And it was after these words, that one told Joseph, Lo, your father is worn out; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

New American Bible (2002)   .

New American Bible (2011)    Some time afterward, Joseph was informed, “Your father is failing.” So he took along with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

[48:1–22] Jacob continues his preparations for death. In a scene that evokes the nearly blind Isaac blessing Jacob and Esau (chap. 27), Jacob blesses Joseph’s two sons. He adopts them, elevating them to a status equal to that of Jacob’s first sons Reuben and Simeon (cf. 1 Chr 5:1). The adoption is one more instance of Jacob’s favoring Rachel and those born of her. The mention of Jacob’s failing eyesight and his selection of the younger son over the older evokes the great deathbed scene in chap. 27. He reaffirms to Joseph the ancient divine promise of progeny and land.

New Jerusalem Bible             .

New Revised Standard V.      .

Revised English Bible            Some time later Joseph was informed that his father was ill, so he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him and came to Jacob.

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           Awhile later someone told Yosef that his father was ill. He took with him his two sons, M’nasheh and Efrayim.

exeGeses companion Bible   THE FINAL DAYS OF YISRA EL

And so be it, after these words,

someone tells Yoseph, Behold, your father is sick:

and he takes with him his two sons,

Menash Sheh and Ephrayim.

Hebraic Roots Bible               .

Israeli Authorized Version      .

JPS (Tanakh—1985)               Some time afterward, Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Kaplan Translation                 Jacob's Last Days

A short time after this, Joseph was told that his father was sick. [Joseph went to his father,] taking his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, along with him. The Kaplan Translation, particularly in Exodus through Deuteronomy, takes note of historic rabbinic opinions.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           And it came to pass after these things, that one told Yosef, Hinei, Avicha is choleh (ill); and he took with him his two banim, Menasheh and Ephrayim.

The Scriptures 1998              .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                Israel’s Last Days

Now some time after these things happened, Joseph was told, “Your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him [to go to Goshen].

The Expanded Bible              Blessings for Manasseh and Ephraim

·Some time later [^LAnd after these things] Joseph ·learned [was told] that his father was very sick, so he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim ·and went to his father [^Lwith him].

Kretzmann’s Commentary    Verses 1-7

Jacob Adopts the Sons of Joseph

And it came to pass after these things that one told Joseph, the news was brought him by a special messenger, Behold, thy father is sick. This was not long after Jacob had made arrangements for the transfer of his body to Canaan for burial. And he (Joseph) took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, who were now about twenty years old; Manasseh may have been about twenty-four and Ephraim a few years younger.

NET Bible®                             Manasseh and Ephraim

After these things Joseph was told [Heb “and one said.” With no expressed subject in the Hebrew text, the verb can be translated with the passive voice.], “Your father is weakening.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. When it comes to making an actual material change to the text, the NET Bible® is pretty good about indicating this. Since most of these corrections will be clear in the more literal translations below and within the Hebrew exegesis itself, I will not continue to list every NET Bible® footnote. Language footnotes will be placed in the Hebrew exegesis. Some footnotes will quoted elsewhere in this document.

Syndein/Thieme                     {Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons and Treats Them Both as His Own Sons}

{Verses 1-7: Jacob takes Three Looks at Life - 2) Now Looks Backward}

And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, your father is sick and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh {oldest} and Ephraim.

Soon after this, Joseph was brought word that his father was gravely ill; so he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to see Jacob.

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

Benner’s Mechanical Trans.  ...and it came to pass, after these words, and he said to Yoseph ^[Adding], look, your father is sick and he took his two sons with him, Menasheh ^{[Causing to overlook]} and Ephrayim ^{[Double fruitfulness]},...

Concordant Literal Version    And coming is it after these things that someone is saying to Joseph, "Behold! Your father is ailing.And taking is he his two sons with him, Manasseh and Ephraim, and comes to Jacob.

Context Group Version          .

Darby Translation                  .

Emphasized Bible                  And it came to pass after these things, that one said to Joseph, Lo! thy father, is sick. So he took his two sons with him, Manasseh and Ephraim. I need to point out that this reads Lo! and not Lol.

English Standard Version      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.

English Standard V. – UK       .

Evidence Bible                       .

Green’s Literal Translation    And after these things it happened, one said to Joseph, Behold, your father is sick. And he took his two sons with him, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Jack Ballinger’s translation    .

Modern English Version         Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons

After these things, Joseph was told, “Your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.

Modern KJV                           .

NASB                                     Israel’s Last Days

Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.

New European Version          Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons

It happened after these things, that someone said to Joseph, Behold, your father is sick. He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

New King James Version       .

Owen's Translation                .

Ron Snider’s Translation       .

Stuart Wolf’s Translation       .

Third Millennium Bible            .

Updated Bible Version 2.11   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      .

Webster’s Bible Translation  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.

World English Bible                .

Young's Literal Translation     .

Young’s Updated LT             And it comes to pass, after these things, that one says to Joseph, “Lo, your father is sick;” and he takes his two sons with him, Manasseh and Ephraim.

The gist of this passage:     Much time passes; and we come to a time when Jacob is seriously ill; and Joseph is informed of this.

Translation: After these things, [one] says to Joseph,...

There are no chapter or verse divisions in the original text. However, there are natural breaks and natural divisions. The previous things were Joseph’s handling of the famine and the people who came to him without any silver and yet needed grain to eat. After that, Jacob asked Joseph to see to it that he would be buried in the Land of Promise (one of Jacob’s great moments).

Now, because the person speaking is not named, it would appear at first to be Jacob from the previous chapter. However, the words after these things takes us to a different time and possibly different place. So, all of this takes place after the incidents just summarized, meaning that we are no longer with Jacob and Joseph.

Based upon the context, the person speaking is neither Jacob nor Joseph; so this is likely an official and/or messenger.

Translation: ...“Observe, your father is ill [and dying].”

This messenger came to Joseph and told him that his father Jacob was dying. He tells Joseph that his father is ill, but the idea is, his father is seriously ill. The reason that we know this is twofold: (1) someone comes and tells Joseph this (the #2 man in Egypt); and (2) Joseph will take his sons with him to see his sickly father.

Translation: Therefore, Joseph [lit., he] took his two sons—Manasseh and Ephraim—with him [to see his father].

As a result, Joseph took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to see his father.

The Christian Community Bible: The twelve tribes of Israel were actually thirteen, with the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, together, called the tribes of Joseph. This is how they arrived at the number twelve. The present chapter explains this: Ephraim and Manasseh will be considered as two sons of Jacob to replace Joseph. Jacob’s blessing, like the blessing of Isaac, his father, goes to the younger son and not to the elder. God favors whom he wishes, and is not bound to regard the right of succession, or the parents’ wishes.

Because of his various duties, Joseph had not yet brought his sons to his father for his blessing. However, this information concerning his father's illness indicated that there was not much time left.

Genesis 48:1 And it happened after these things, that one told Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” And he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Genesis 48:1 After these things, [one] says to Joseph, “Observe, your father is ill [and dying].” Therefore, Joseph [lit., he] took his two sons—Manasseh and Ephraim—with him [to see his father]. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Genesis 48:1 After these things, an official came to Joseph and told him that his father was very ill and possibly dying. Therefore, Joseph took Manasseh and Ephraim, his two sons, to go see his father (their grandfather). (Kukis paraphrase)

The language used here suggests a succession of events. What occurred in Genesis 47 happened previous to this passage (there are no chapter divisions in the original text).

Joseph goes to Jacob with his two sons. Jacob is going to bless these two sons as if they were his own. In this, Joseph receives the double-portion which is usually reserved for the firstborn son.

Near the end of the life of a patriarch, he would gather his sons and bless them (or son; Abraham blessed Isaac and then Isaac blessed who he thought was Esau). Jacob would bless his 12 sons; but first, he would adopt and then bless Joseph’s two sons.

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