XLVIII. THE BLESSING OF MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM, AND THE RECOGNITION OF THEM BY JACOB AS HEADS OF TRIBES. (1) HIS TWO SONS. — We have already seen that the purpose of the genealogy given in Genesis 46 was not the enumeration of Jacob’s children and grandchildren, but the recognition of those of his des... [ Continue Reading ]
STRENGTHENED HIMSELF. — Jacob thus prepared himself, not merely because he wished to receive Joseph in a maimer suitable to his rank, but chiefly because he was about himself to perform a sacred act, under the influence of the Divine Spirit. SAT UPON THE BED. — We learn that he left his bed, and pl... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD ALMIGHTY. — Heb., _El Shaddai._ The act recorded in this chapter is grounded by Jacob upon the promise made to him at Bethel on his return from Padan-aram; and it was under the old covenant name by which God had revealed Himself to Abram (Genesis 17:1) that he was there made the heir of the Abra... [ Continue Reading ]
A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE. — In Genesis 35:11 the words are “a congregation (or church) of nations;” here “a congregation (same word) of peoples.” (_See_ Note there.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AS REUBEN AND SIMEON, THEY SHALL BE MINE. — That is, Ephraim shall be regarded as my firstborn, and Manasseh as my second son. This was undoubtedly the case; for though “Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the prince (and of him the Messiah), yet the birthright was Joseph’s” (1 Chron... [ Continue Reading ]
THY ISSUE, WHICH THOU BEGETTEST AFTER THEM. — We gather from Genesis 1:23 that Joseph probably had no other sons. But if such were born to him, they were not to count as heads of tribes, but be regarded as the children of Ephraim and Manasseh, and take rank only as heads of families.... [ Continue Reading ]
RACHEL DIED BY ME. — Heb., _died upon me,_ or as we should say, “died in my arms.” The mention of Rachel is to account for an act so authoritative as the bestowal of the double portion of the firstborn upon Joseph. Jacob grounds the justification of his act, not upon her being the chief wife, but up... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO ARE THESE? — This question is asked as the solemn turning of the discourse to the young men who were now to be invested with the patriarchal rank. They were at this time about eighteen or twenty years of age.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BOWED HIMSELF. — The Samaritan, Syriac, and LXX. Versions regard the Hebrew verb as a contracted plural, and many modern commentators adopt this view. It would thus be Manasseh and Ephraim who stood before Jacob with faces bent towards the ground. The pronoun, however, is in favour of the verb be... [ Continue Reading ]
GUIDING HIS HANDS WITTINGLY. — The LXX., Syriac, and Vulg. translate, “placing his hands crosswise;” but the Targum of Onkelos favours the translation of our version. There is some amount of philological support for the rendering of the three chief versions; but it must mainly rest upon their own au... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BLESSED JOSEPH, AND SAID. — In Jacob’s blessing there is a threefold appellation of the Deity, and a threefold blessing given to Joseph’s sons. God is, first, the Elohim before whom his fathers had walked. Next, He is the Elohim who, as a shepherd, had watched over Jacob all his life long. But, t... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS YOUNGER BROTHER SHALL BE GREATER. — In the final numbering of the tribes on the plains of Moab, the tribe of Manasseh had 52,700 souls, and that of Ephraim only 32,500 (_Numbers 26:34; Numbers 26:37_). It was the division of the tribe of Manasseh into two portions which made it politically insig... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEE SHALL ISRAEL BLESS. — In conformity with these words, the Israelites to this day use Jacob’s formula in blessing their children.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE PORTION. — Heb., _one Shechem._ In favour of this being the town of Shechem is the fact that it did belong to Jacob (Genesis 37:12, where see Note); also that Joseph’s embalmed body was deposited there (see Joshua 24:32, where the land is said to have been bought for a hundred kesitas); and, las... [ Continue Reading ]