Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:13

And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought [them] near unto him.

13. Ephraim in his right hand ] i.e. so that the right hand of Jacob might rest on Manasseh the elder. The gesture of benediction, by the laying on of hands, signified the communication of rights and privileges. As in the story of Isaac (ch. 27), the blessing by the head of the house, on his deathbed, was irrevocable. The person who received it could not be deprived of it.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. Joseph took them bothThevery act of pronouncing the blessing was remarkable, showing thatJacob’s bosom was animated by the spirit of prophecy.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand,…. He took Ephraim his youngest son in his right hand, and led him up to his father, by which means he would stand in a right position to have his grandfather’s left hand put upon him:

and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand; Manasseh his eldest son he took in his left hand, and brought him to his father, and so was in a proper position to have his right hand laid upon him, as seniority of birth required, and as he was desirous should be the case:

and brought [them] near unto him; in the above manner, so near as that he could lay his hands on them.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

‘And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand towards Israel’s left hand and Manasseh in his left hand, towards Israel’s right hand, and brought them near to him.’

Manasseh is the eldest and should receive the blessing from the right hand in acknowledgement of his seniority. The right hand was conceived as being the most powerful, as it usually is in practise. Thus Joseph guides them towards Jacob in the right positions for the blessing. But Jacob in his dying insight is aware of something that Joseph is not aware of .

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

As Jacob in the blessing was acting under the spirit of prophecy, he was guided more by what should take place in those tribes of Israel in the after ages of the Church, than by birth-right. See Num 1:32-35 . And some have thought that the sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, were types of the Jewish and Gentile Church. Hence the last is more numerous than the first. Gal 4:27 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Gen 48:13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought [them] near unto him.

Ver. 13. Both, Ephraim in his right hand. ] The right hand hath the pre-eminence of the left among most people: yet not so among the Turks; their soldiery especially. The right hand they hold uppermost ibr the clergy, and the left for a soldier: because it gives a man possession of his companion’s sword. Thus do both orders converse without the depression of either, saith mine author. a

a Sir Henry Blunt’s Voyage.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)