And it came to pass after these things, that [one] told Joseph,
Behold, thy father [is] sick: and he took with him his (a) two sons,
Manasseh and Ephraim.
(a) Joseph valued his children being received into Jacob's family,
which was the Church of God, more than enjoying all the treasures of
Egypt.... [ Continue Reading ]
And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply
thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give
this land to thy seed after thee [for] an (b) everlasting possession.
(b) Which is true in the carnal Israel until the coming of Christ, and
in the spiritual forever.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joseph said unto his father, They [are] my sons, whom (c) God hath
given me in this [place]. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto
me, and I will bless them.
(c) The faithful acknowledge all benefits come from God's free mercy.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid [it] upon (d)
Ephraim's head, who [was] the younger, and his left hand upon
Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh [was] the
firstborn.
(d) God's judgments are often contrary to man's and he prefers what
man despises.... [ Continue Reading ]
The (e) Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let
my (f) name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and
Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
(e) This angel must be understood to be Christ, as in (Genesis 31:13;
Genesis 32:1).
(f)... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head
of Ephraim, it (g) displeased him: and he held up his father's hand,
to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head.
(g) Joseph fails by binding God's grace to the order of nature.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless,
saying, God make thee as (h) Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set
Ephraim before Manasseh.
(h) In whom God's graces should manifestly appear.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you,
and bring you again unto the land of (i) your fathers.
(i) Which they had by faith in the promise.... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which
(k) I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my
bow.
(k) By my children whom God spared for my sake.... [ Continue Reading ]