[And He Walks With Me] Genesis 48
1 By adopting Joseph’s sons as his own, Jacob was elevating Joseph over his brothers. By including Manasseh and Ephraim among his own sons, Jacob was saying that they would get a share of the inheritance. Traditionally, the firstborn received a double portion, and every other son received a single portion, but this would effectively grant Joseph three shares.
5 For the first time, Ephraim’s name is placed before that of Manasseh even though he was the younger son. Traditionally, the older was always listed before the younger. The significance of this is underscored by the mention of Reuben and Simeon, Jacob’s eldest sons. Effectively, Jacob was promoting Joseph and his sons over his eldest sons.[123]
8 Identifying the recipient of a blessing was typically an important part of the blessing ritual,[124] but given the significance of this blessing (see note on 27:1-4), the failure of his own eyesight, and the way he had tricked his own father into giving him his brother’s blessing, Jacob’s question here – Who are these? – assumed even greater importance.
12 When Joseph bowed with his face to the ground, the second most powerful man in the world was humbling himself before Jacob, the recipient of God’s promises.
The knees were symbolic of parental responsibility and care.[125] By taking his sons back from his father’s knees, Joseph was re-assuming responsibility to raise them and provide for them as a steward for his father as well as his God. Parenting is never about owning your children. It is about caring, for a time, for God’s children. We have no claim over them, but we have assumed great responsibility for them on behalf of the one we serve and adore.
14 In ancient cultures, the right hand typically represented favor and strength. By extension, then, the right hand was given to those who were favored.
17-19 God’s blessing is not based on birth order or any other human qualification. Sometimes, it seems entirely random. Other times, it seems to be a mistake or even a joke. Yet, we must rest assured that, like Jacob, God knows what he is doing.
20 The prophetic nature of Jacob’s blessing was revealed after the exodus when Ephraim became the largest and most powerful tribe. In fact, after the split between northern and southern kingdoms, the northern kingdom was often referred to simply as Ephraim.
22 The meaning of mountain slope is debatable. The Hebrew word can mean “shoulder” or “ridge.” In fact, the NIV renders this ridge of land. Consequently, some scholars interpret the phrase as a reference to Joseph’s double portion as a high point among the rest of Israel. However, the word is also identical to the word Shechem, where Jacob purchased a field (33:18-19) and set up an altar. It is also the region which Jacob inherited after Simeon’s and Levi’s rampage in 34:25-29. Jacob did not approve of the rampage, but the land became his by default. Thus, other scholars see this as Jacob declaring his desire that this region, and the field in particular, should be inherited by Joseph and his descendants.[126]
[123] Sproul 2016, Genesis 48:5
[124] Sproul 2016, Genesis 48:8
[125] Sproul 2016, Genesis 48:12
[126] Sproul 2016, Genesis 48:22