GENESIS 48
17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’ ”Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.” – Genesis 48:17-22
GENESIS 48 MORE BLESSING FOR EPHRAIM
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When Joseph noticed that Jacob’s right hand was on Ephraim
He corrected his father and directed it to Manasseh’s head
But Jacob said that he wanted Ephraim to get more blessings
Manasseh will also get favor but the promise will be on Ephraim’s
Jacob also gives his mountain slope to Joseph and not to his brothers
It was to honor the Lord’s plan to hand over what he had to Joseph.
According to Wikepedia.com, the firstborn or firstborn son (Hebrew בְּכוֹר bəḵōr) is an important concept in Judaism. The role of firstborn son carries significance in the redemption of the first-born son, in the allocation of a double portion of the inheritance, and in the prophetic application of “firstborn” to the nation of Israel.
No wonder Joseph wanted his firstborn son Manasseh to get the double portion instead of the younger son. I wonder if Jacob was repeating history since he wasn’t the firstborn son either and yet he was chosen by God to be the one to receive the covenant promise of multiplication and the promised land.
REFLECTION
- How do we know if Jacob’s blessings on Ephraim was God’s will?
