Genesis 48

1 Some time later, somebody informed Joseph, “Your father is ill!” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him to visit Jacob. ^{a48:1 The Heb. lacks to visit Jacob}ISV — Genesis 48:1

2 As soon as Jacob was informed, “Look! Your son Joseph has come to visit you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed.ISV — Genesis 48:2

3 Jacob reminded Joseph, “God Almighty revealed himself to me at Luz in Canaan and blessed me.ISV — Genesis 48:3

4 He told me, ‘Pay attention! I’m going to make you fruitful and numerous. I’m going to build you into a vast nation of people and then I’ll give this land to your descendants ^{b48:4 Lit. descendants who come after you} for an eternal possession.’ISV — Genesis 48:4

5 You have two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came to be with you, whom I now take as my own. Ephraim and Manasseh are mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are.ISV — Genesis 48:5

6 Your descendants ^{c48:6 Lit. descendants who come after you} are to be reckoned as yours, but are to be referred to among the names of their brothers in their respective ^{d48:6 The Heb. lacks respective} inheritances.ISV — Genesis 48:6

7 “Now as for me, Rachel died after I arrived in Canaan from Paddan, much to my sorrow. While I was on my journey to Ephrathah (also known as Bethlehem), I buried her there.”ISV — Genesis 48:7

8 Just then, Israel saw Joseph’s sons and asked, “Who are these?”ISV — Genesis 48:8

9 “These are my sons,” Joseph replied. ^{e48:9 Lit. replied to his father} “God gave them to me here in Egypt.” ^{f48:9 The Heb. lacks in Egypt} “Please bring them close to me,” Jacob ^{g48:9 Lit. he} said, “so I can bless them.”ISV — Genesis 48:9

10 Now Israel’s eyesight had become poor ^{h48:10 Lit. dim} from age. Because he couldn’t see well, Joseph brought them close to him, and Israel ^{i48:10 Lit. he} kissed them both and embraced them.ISV — Genesis 48:10

11 Then he told Joseph, “I never thought I’d see you again, and now God has allowed me to see your children as well!”ISV — Genesis 48:11

12 Joseph took them off his knees and then bowed low with his face to the ground.ISV — Genesis 48:12

13 Then he brought them both close to his father, ^{j48:13 The Heb. lacks to his father} placing Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right.ISV — Genesis 48:13

14 But Israel stretched out his right hand, laying it on Ephraim’s head (he was the younger son) and laying his left hand on Manasseh’s head (even though Manasseh was the firstborn).ISV — Genesis 48:14

15 Then Israel blessed Joseph by saying: “May the God in whose presence my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has continued shepherding me my whole life even until today,ISV — Genesis 48:15

16 the angel who has been rescuing ^{k48:16 Or redeeming} me from all sorts of evil, bless these young men. May my name continue to live on within them, including the names of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a vast multitude throughout the earth.”ISV — Genesis 48:16

17 But Joseph observed that his father had laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head. That displeased him, so he grabbed his father’s hand and started to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.ISV — Genesis 48:17

18 “No, father, this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.”ISV — Genesis 48:18

19 But his father refused. “I know,” he said. “I know. He’s going to produce a large nation, and he’s going to be very great. However, his younger brother will become even greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations.”ISV — Genesis 48:19

20 That very day, Jacob ^{l48:20 Lit. he} blessed them with this blessing: ^{m48:20 The Heb. lacks with this blessing} “By you Israel will extend this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’” By doing this, he placed Ephraim before Manasseh.ISV — Genesis 48:20

21 Then Israel told Joseph, “Pay attention! I’m about to die, but God will be with you. He’ll bring you back to the land that belongs to your ancestors.ISV — Genesis 48:21

22 I’m assigning you one portion more than your brothers from the land that I confiscated from the control ^{n48:22 Lit. hand} of the Amorites in battle.” ^{o48:22Lit. Amorites with my sword and my bow}ISV — Genesis 48:22