_JOSEPH BRINGS HIS TWO SONS, MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM, TO BE BLESSED BY HIS FATHER: JACOB, ADOPTING THEM, PLACES HIS RIGHT HAND ON THE HEAD OF EPHRAIM, AND HIS LEFT ON MANASSEH, AND ASSIGNS TO JOSEPH THAT PART OF THE LAND WHICH HE TOOK FROM THE AMORITES._ _Before Christ 1700-1688._... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD ALMIGHTY APPEARED UNTO ME AT LUZ— Jacob, now approaching near his end, dispatched a messenger, Genesis 48:1 to inform his son Joseph of his state, who immediately, full of filial affection, hastened to his aged father with his two sons, in order to obtain his blessing; dispatching first a messen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW THY TWO SONS— The LXX have it, _Now therefore thy two sons_ (thus expressing Jacob's faith in the Divine promises) _are mine, as Simeon and Reuben;_ that is, shall be reputed my _immediate_ sons, as if they were my natural offspring. I adopt them as my own sons, and they shall succeed to my... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS FOR ME, WHEN I CAME— As much as to say, "the favour I shew to your two sons is a new tribute which I pay to the memory of my beloved Rachel. The sudden death which deprived me of her, in circumstances which permitted me not to convey her body to the cave of Machpelah, robbed me at once of a m... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EYES OF ISRAEL WERE DIM FOR AGE, SO THAT HE COULD NOT SEE— The dimness of Jacob's sight well accounts for his not distinguishing these children of Joseph; but, as soon as they were known to him, he embraced them with all imaginable tenderness; and the feeling heart may easily conceive the satisf... [ Continue Reading ]
BROUGHT THEM OUT FROM BETWEEN HIS KNEES— We must suppose Jacob to be sitting upon his bed, with his legs upon the ground, see ch. Genesis 49:33. and the children standing between his knees, while he embraced them; whence Joseph took them to dispose them properly for the reception of his father's ble... [ Continue Reading ]
ISRAEL STRETCHED OUT HIS RIGHT HAND— Laying hands on the head was always used among the Jews in giving blessings, in appointing men to any office, and in the consecration of solemn sacrifices. This is the first time we meet with the mention of it; but we often read of it afterwards; see Numbers 18:2... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE BLESSED JOSEPH— Probably he might bless Joseph as well as his sons: but the context would rather lead one to believe that the blessing here appropriated to Joseph was that given immediately to his sons: Jacob blessed him in blessing his children; for to bless the children is to bless the pare... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL WHICH REDEEMED ME FROM ALL EVIL— See Gen 16:17 and chap. Genesis 31:11. It is to me evident, that this _angel_ was Christ; 1st, Because this same name is given to Christ in other places, and particularly in Malachi 1:2 nd, Because the angel who conducted the Israelites is called Jehovah, E... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN JOSEPH SAW—IT DISPLEASED HIM— Jacob was guided by the spirit of prophecy in what he did, Joseph only by paternal affection. Though Joseph himself was endowed with the spirit of prophecy, he possessed it not now; for prophets were not always inspired, nor with the knowledge of all things. Old Ja... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEE SHALL ISRAEL BLESS— i.e.. So eminent and prosperous shall these two tribes be, that it shall become a proverbial form among my posterity, in wishing happiness to others: _God make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh;_ a form, we are told, which continues among the Jews to this day; while their bles... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH I TOOK OUT OF THE HAND OF THE AMORITE— Where are many particulars in the lives of the patriarchs, and of others, which are not related at all in Scripture; and there are some instances of a transient reference to facts of this kind, to things which have been said and done, but are never relate... [ Continue Reading ]