Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons
Genesis 48
Even though this last section of Genesis has focused a lot on Joseph and Jacob’s other sons, Moses introduced it back in Genesis 37:1 with the heading: “This is the history of Jacob” (NKJV) or “These are the generations of Jacob” (ESV). Now having walked through Jacob’s history in Genesis, let me ask: what event in the life of Jacob would you have chosen to illustrate his faith in God? It is interesting and significant that the writer of the book of Hebrews in his great chapter on faith has only one verse about the patriarch Jacob’s faith. And what in Jacob’s life demonstrates his faith? The events of this Genesis 48. Hebrews 11:21 says, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”
“By faith, Jacob crossed his hands in worship and blessed his adopted sons as he surrendered his life and the future of his people to God’s word.”[1] Hebrews 11:1 defines faith this way: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1). This is the characteristic of faith that shines forth, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews says of all the patriarchs:
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (Heb. 11:13-16).
This is what the writer of Hebrews thinks is the important thing in the life of Jacob, the conviction of things that are not seen. Here, Jacob is concerned about the future of his family, their inheritance. Jacob had not yet received the fulfillment of God’s promises. But he blessed Joseph’s sons believing that God would keep His word through them. In that act of faith, we see Jacob imparting to his son and grandsons the most important thing he could have given them: faith in the promises of God.[2] And here, Hebrews says, Jacob worships by faith. “This is because to believe God’s word, and to base everything in the future upon His word, is worship!”[3]
Here in Genesis 48, we find that the last days of Jacob’s earthly sojourn were drawing to a close. The death of which Jacob had so frequently spoken and, at one time, desired was soon to visit him. Joseph was summoned to his father’s side where Jacob bestowed the birthright on Joseph. Our text comes in three parts: 1) the birthright revealed (Gen. 48:1-7); 2) the birthright rendered (Gen. 48:8-20); and the birthright reiterated (Gen. 48:21-22).[4]
1. Birthright Revealed: Jacob Adopts Joseph’s Sons (Gen. 48:1-7)
1 Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, “Indeed your father is sick”; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed. (Gen. 48:1-2).
What we have here in Genesis 48 and Genesis 49 are Jacob’s final words. He will pronounce a blessing (Gen. 49:28) on each of his sons in Genesis 49, commanding his sons (Gen. 49:33) and prophesying about their future (Gen. 49:1). But before blessing all his sons, Jacob concentrates on his faithful son Joseph. So Joseph is summoned to Jacob’s side and gathering all his strength, Jacob sat up in bed to speak words of vital significance to Joseph.
3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, “Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’ (Gen. 48:3-4)
Twice God had appeared to Jacob at Luz (Bethel, 28:10-17; 35:9-12), and in both appearances God had blessed him, promising him that he would become a great nation and that he would possess the land of Canaan. God had promised to give all the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants “as an everlasting possession” (Gen. 17:8).
Jacob looked at his beloved son Joseph—his son who had spent the majority of his life in Egypt, who was raised to the highest position in the land, who now enjoyed great fame, power, prestige and wealth—and in effect, said to him: “Don’t ever forget about the promises of God. These promises of God that were given first to Abraham, then to Isaac and now to me are more precious than anything found within Egypt, and they are yours. God has blessed us, Joseph. God has promised to make a nation of us and to give us Canaan. Don’t ever forget it.” Jacob is keeping that promise and his inheritance ever before Joseph’s eyes.
Jacob then does an amazing thing. He literally adopts Joseph’s sons as his own:
5 And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. 6 Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. (Gen. 48:5-6).
Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, were born in the land of Egypt. As sons of Joseph, their future in Egypt may have seemed very bright. Perhaps they might fill the shoes of their father, taking places of power and influence in Pharaoh’s administration. But their greatest hope lay in a land they had not yet seen, for they were destined to be a part of the “multitude of people” (Gen. 48:4) that God had promised Jacob.
From Jacob’s perspective now, “Ephraim and Manasseh” are his sons just as “Reuben and Simeon” are. This is how Jacob will enact his bestowing of the birthright on Joseph who was the eleventh of Jacob’s twelve sons. Reuben was the firstborn (Gen. 49:3), but due to his sin of lying with Bilhah, Jacob’s concubine (Gen. 35:22), he would be stripped of his birthright (Gen. 49:4). The normal course would have been to transfer the birthright to the next oldest son, Simeon. But both he and the next after him, Levi, were guilty of the mass murder of the Shechemites (Gen. 34:25). The next in line after them was Judah. But although we will see that the kings would come from Judah (Gen. 49:10), Joseph got the birthright. 1 Chronicles 5 explains it:
1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; 2 yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph’s— (1 Chron. 5:1-2)
The effect of Jacob adopting Joseph’s sons is that he got the double portion of the inheritance, the birthright. Any other sons who might be born to Joseph would receive their inheritance as though they were the sons of either Ephraim or Manasseh (although no other sons of Joseph are recorded). The primary focus of Jacob was the promise of the land of Canaan and the assurance that Jacob would become a numerous people. Since God had assured Jacob of becoming a great and numerous people, then surely he was justified in adopting two more sons who would contribute to this proliferation of people.
If the justification for Jacob’s adoption of Joseph’s sons is found in the promise God had made at Bethel, the reason seems to be reported in verse 7:
7 But as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”
Joseph was the son of Rachel, Jacob’s chosen wife. A major factor in his preference for Joseph was the fact that he was the firstborn of Rachel, his bride by choice. The adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh provided Jacob with two more sons, technically “through Rachel.”[5]
Next, we see:
2. Birthright Rendered: Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48:8-20)
8 Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.” And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. (Gen. 48:8-10).
Just as his father Isaac had suffered the infirmity of poor eyesight in his later years (Gen. 27:1), Jacob’s vision was dim with years. So, Jacob asked for identification of Joseph’s sons before he would pronounce their blessings. Notice that Joseph recognized that it was God who gave him his sons. Notice also the affection of Jacob toward his grandson who have become his own sons.
11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!” (Gen. 48:11).
Jacob remembers God’s goodness to him is in this event. Jacob not only had the joy of reuniting with his son Joseph, but of blessing his grandsons.
12 So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. (Gen. 48:12-13).
Joseph, knowing that his father was about to bless them (verse 9), drew the boys, now near the age of twenty,103 from his father in order to arrange them properly for the blessing. Manasseh, the eldest, he had at his left hand (Jacob’s right), and Ephraim was at Joseph’s right hand (Jacob’s left). This was intended so that Jacob’s right hand would rest upon Manasseh, the oldest. But look at what Jacob does:
14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
Israel surprised Joseph by crossing his hands and pronouncing this blessing:
15 And he blessed Joseph, and said: “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
Notice first, Jacob’s God is the God of his fathers, Abraham and Isaac, the God who had made His covenant with them and kept them all the days of their lives. Second, Jacob, the shepherd (cf. 30:27ff.), recognized that God had cared for him as his Shepherd. Jacob, in effect, testified, “The Lord is my shepherd …” Third, Jacob’s God was the “Angel” (cf. 32:22-32) who had redeemed him from all evil. This is the first occurrence of the word “redeemer” in the bible. To redeem means to “buy back”. God was a redeemer who paid the debt and bought him back.
This God, this Shepherd, this Angel, will bless the sons of Joseph in a special way. In them, Jacob’s name (Israel) will live on. The work which God began in Abraham and Isaac and faithfully continued in Jacob, He will carry on in these men. They will grow into a great multitude in fulfillment of God’s promise.
When Joseph saw his father crossing his hands and giving the preeminence to Ephraim, he assumed it was a mistake and attempted to correct it, but he learned from his father that his action was intentional:
17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for 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; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will bless, saying, “May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!”‘ And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh. (Gen. 48:17-20).
The book of Genesis is full of instances in which the younger was chosen over the older. Seth was chosen over Cain; Shem over Japheth; Isaac over Ishmael; Jacob over Esau; and now, Ephraim over Manasseh. Why does Jacob set Ephraim over Manasseh? Personally, I believe that this is Jacob’s method of demonstrating his belated comprehension of and submission to the doctrine of divine election. In the choice of Ephraim above Manasseh the principle of election is clearly illustrated, for Jacob’s choice is not conditioned by selfish motives.
God is not obliged to act “traditionally” or according to our expectations. That is the prerogative of a God who is sovereign. It is again a reminder that God doesn’t operate by a scale of human merit, but on a scale of sovereign grace. Jacob, at last, has come to see this and has symbolically given testimony to his grasp of the principle of divine election.
3. Birthright Reiterated: Jacob Gives Joseph the Double Portion (Gen. 48:21-22)
Having given priority to Ephraim, the younger, Jacob now turns again to Joseph to give him yet another blessing before Jacob’s other sons are called to his bedside (Gen. 49):
21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.” (Gen. 48:21-22).
Jacob’s death is imminent, and he will not live to see the return to Canaan. As a special blessing, Jacob gives to Joseph a particular portion of land, that which Jacob took with his sword and bow. What piece of land is this?
The term “portion” is literally Shechem. Jacob had lived there for a time and his family pastured their flocks there. Does Jacob give Shechem to Joseph? Ephraim will inherit this portion of land when Israel returns to the promised land. Joseph’s bones were brought up from Egypt and buried at Shechem:
The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of silver, and which had become an inheritance of the children of Joseph. (Joshua 24:32).
When Joseph is buried at Shechem, it is referred to as the land “which Jacob had bought,” not the land for which he had fought. Some commentators believe that Jacob is referring to what Simeon and Levi did in killing the men of Shechem. Jacob may now look back upon this incident as being prophetic of the future possession of Canaan by Israel. That land will not be purchased, but it will be taken by force. The main point is that Joseph will get the double portion in the inheritance of the land.
Jacob is passing out land as an inheritance land that he doesn’t possess. It would be like your dad putting in his will that he was leaving you all of the Rocky Mountains. Jacob obviously believes the promise of God. He believes the word of God.
Jacob’s deathbed was the singular triumph of his life. There he worshiped by faith, trusting God and believing God for the future which Jacob would not see with his own eyes. This is true worship: to believe God’s word and to base everything in life and in the future upon His word.
Are you believing in God’s Word? Are you standing on the promises of God?
Standing on the promises of Christ, my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring;
“Glory in the highest,” I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
This is how we worship.
[1] Kent Hughes, Genesis: Beginning and Blessing, Crossway, Wheaton Ill 2004. p. 547.
[2] Steven Cole, A Godly Heritage (Genesis 48:1-22), https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-79-godly-heritage-genesis-481-22
[3] Hughes, p. 542.
[4] I borrowed the alliterative outline from a sermon on https://fbcspur.org/josephs-birthright-genesis-481-22/
[5] Robert Deffinbaugh, The View From the Graveyard (Genesis 48:1-22), https://bible.org/seriespage/48-view-graveyard-genesis-481-22
