Genesis 48:11-22
Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he couldn’t see. He brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. Israel said to Joseph, “I didn’t think I would see your face, and behold, God has let me see your seed also.” Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near to him. 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. He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father; for this is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
His father refused, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his seed will become a multitude of nations.” He blessed them that day, saying, “In you will Israel bless, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’” He set Ephraim before Manasseh. Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”
It is easy for us to assume that because someone is old and handicapped, that they are not aware of what they are doing, but a wise old person is quite able to keep track of what is going on. Joseph had lined up his sons in the right order so that the right hand of Jacob would easily reach the head of his oldest son for “the right hand blessing” and the younger would be on the left. The right hand is a symbol of higher honor. Surprisingly, Jacob crossed his hands when he reached out to put his hands on the boys. Joseph actually tried to move his fathers hands because he didn’t like it, but Jacob did it on purpose.
Jacob predicted their future by this act. Jacob knew that God had planned for Ephraim to have a bigger family, even though Manasseh’s family would also be big. As we continue to read the history of this Israel, we will see that it happened just like Jacob said.
It’s interesting to note that Jacob did not repeat the sin of his father here. He blessed the one that God intended to bless. It is clear that this man had gained wisdom even though he had to go through many hard times. Notice that Jacob was gentle with Joseph even though he didn’t agree with the blessing. Jacob had also not agreed with his father’s blessing and even tricked him. Jacob was well aware of how difficult this was, but he still did what God wanted, so it ended in peace as following God’s will eventually does.