Genesis 48

1Later they told Joseph that his father was sick. So Joseph went to Jacob and he took his 2 sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him

2The people told Jacob: Your son Joseph has come to you. Jacob gathered his strength and sat up in his bed.

4God told me: I will make you a great family. I will give you many children and you will be a great people. Your family will own this land forever

5Joseph you have two sons. These two sons were born here in the country of Egypt before I came. Joseph two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, will be like my own sons. They will be like Reuben and Simeon to me.

6So these two boys will be my sons. They will share in everything I own. But if you have other sons, they will be your sons. But they will also be like sons to Ephraim and Manasseh—that is, in the future, they will share in everything that Ephraim and Manasseh own.

7On the trip from Padan, Rachel died in the land of Canaan. We were still traveling toward Ephrath. I buried her there on the road to Ephrath.” (Ephrath is Bethlehem.)

8When Jacob saw Joseph’s sons, he asked: ‘Who are they?

9Joseph answered his father and said: These are the sons that God gave to me here in this land.’ Jacob said: ‘Bring them to me so that I can bless them

10Jacob’s eyes were weak because he was very old, and he could not see very well. Joseph took his sons to Jacob and Jacob kissed them and held them in his arms

11Then Israel said to Joseph, I never thought I would see your face again. But look! God has let me see you and your children.

12Joseph took his 2 sons from Jacob’s knees and Joseph bowed with his face to the ground.

13Then Joseph told his 2 sons to stand in front of Jacob. Joseph took Ephraim with his right hand to stand at Jacob’s left hand, and Joseph took Manasseh with his left hand to stand at Jacob’s right hand and he took them closer to Jacob

14But Israel crossed his hands and put his right hand on the head of the younger boy Ephraim. Then he put his left hand on Manasseh, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.

15Israel blessed Joseph’s sons and said: My grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac worshiped God, The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,

16He was the Angel who saved me from all my troubles. And I pray that he will bless these boys. Now they will have my name and the name of our ancestors, Abraham and Isaac. I pray that they will grow to become great families and nations on earth.

17When Joseph saw that his father put his right hand on Ephraim’s head, This didn’t make Joseph happy. Joseph took his father’s right hand and tried to put it on Manasseh’s head.

18Joseph said to his father, “You have your right hand on the wrong boy. Manasseh is the firstborn. Put your right hand on him.

19But his father refused and said, “I know, son. I know. Manasseh is the firstborn. He will be great and will be the father of many people. But his younger brother will be greater than he is. And the younger brother’s family will be much larger.

20So Israel blessed them that day. He said, The Israelites will use your names whenever they bless someone. They will say, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” In this way Israel made Ephraim greater than Manasseh.

21Jacob said to Joseph: ‘I am going to die, but God will be with you and He will bring you back to the land of your forefathers.

22I now give you more than your brothers. I gave you the land that I won from the Amorites. I used my sword and bow to take that land.