Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:5
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, [are] mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
5. are mine ] Joseph’s sons are adopted into the family of Jacob (cf. Jos 14:4); and the account records their acknowledgment to be full tribes in the parent stock of Israel.
Ephraim and Manasseh ] Observe the change in order. The writer of P here, as E in Gen 48:20, gives the precedent to the recipient of the greater blessing. But, while this order is found in Num 1:10, Jos 17:17, the other is the more usual; cf. Jos 14:4; Jos 16:4.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 5. And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh – are mine] I now adopt them into my own family, and they shall have their place among my twelve sons, and be treated in every respect as those, and have an equal interest in all the spiritual and temporal blessings of the covenant.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Thy two sons are mine, by adoption: I shall own them as if they were my immediate children, and each of them shall have equal share, both in my present estate, and future inheritance of Canaan, with the rest of my children. Thus Jacob transfers the double portion, which was the right of the first-born, from which Reuben by his transgression fell, Gen 49:4, upon Joseph, 1Ch 5:1. He names the two eldest, who, if any, might seem to claim a greater privilege than the rest.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. thy two sons, Ephraim andManassehIt was the intention of the aged patriarch to adoptJoseph’s sons as his own, thus giving him a double portion. Thereasons for this procedure are stated (1Ch 5:1;1Ch 5:2).
are mineThough theirconnections might have attached them to Egypt and opened to thembrilliant prospects in the land of their nativity, they willinglyaccepted the adoption (Heb 11:25).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh,…. Ephraim was the youngest, but is mentioned first, as he afterwards was preferred in the blessing of him:
which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt, before I came unto thee into Egypt; and therefore must be twenty years of age, or upwards: for Jacob had been in Egypt seventeen years, and he came there when there had been two years of famine, and Joseph’s sons were born to him before the years of famine began, Ge 41:50; of these Jacob says, they
[are] mine: as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine; that is, by adoption; should be reckoned not as his grandchildren, but as his children, even as his two eldest sons, Reuben and Simeon; and so should be distinct tribes or heads of them, as his sons would be, and have a distinct part and portion in the land of Canaan; and thus the birthright was transferred from Reuben, because of his incest, to Joseph, who in his posterity had a double portion assigned him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 5-14:
Jacob pronounced the prophetic patriarchal blessing upon Joseph, in a special manner. Long ago he had acknowledged him as his chosen to receive the honor and property rights of the firstborn. He evidenced this choice in the distinctive coat he bestowed upon him (Ge 37:1-4). Now the sons of Joseph stood before Jacob to receive the portion alloted to him.
At this time, Jacob formally adopted into the family of Israel the two sons of Joseph, bestowing upon them equal footing with Reuben and Simeon. Reuben had forfeited his rights as firstborn in his incestuous relationship with Bilhah. Simeon had forfeited his rights as next in line, by his part in the bloody massacre at Shechem (Ge 34:25-31).
One manifestation of Jacob’s failing health was loss of eyesight. He was unable to see Joseph’s two sons to discern who they were. Joseph identified them as his sons, and placed them before Jacob to receive the prophetic blessing accompanied by the laying on of hands. He placed Manasseh on the right hand of Israel and Ephraim on the left. According to the order of their birth, this was the proper arrangement. Manasseh was the eldest, and Joseph assumed he would be preferred above Ephraim.
Even though Jacob was unable to see with his eyes, the vision of faith caused him to cross his hands, and place his right hand on Ephraim’s head and his left on Manasseh’s. This indicated the choice of Ephraim as heir to the rights of the firstborn, rather than Manasseh. This choice illustrates the superiority of faith’s vision over what men may see naturally.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
5. And now thy two sons. Jacob confers on his son the special privilege, that he, being one, should constitute two chiefs; that is, that his two sons should succeed to an equal right with their uncles, as if they had been heirs in the first degree. But what is this! that a decrepit old man assigns to his grandchildren, as a royal patrimony, a sixth part of the land in which he had entered as a stranger, and from which now again he is an exile! Who would not have said that he was dealing in fables? It is a common proverb, that no one can give what he has not. What, therefore, did it profit Joseph to be constituted, by an imaginary title, lord of that land, in which the donor of it was scarcely permitted to drink the very water he had dug for with great labour, and from which, at length, famine expelled him? But it hence appears with what firm faith the holy fathers relied upon the word of the Lord, seeing they chose rather to depend upon his lips, than to possess a fixed habitation in the land. Jacob is dying an exile in Egypt; and meanwhile, calls away the governor of Egypt from his dignity into exile, that he may be well and happy. Joseph, because he acknowledges his father as a prophet of God, who utters no inventions of his own, esteems as highly the dominion offered to him, which has never yet become apparent, as if it were already in his possession. Moreover, that Jacob commands the other sons of Joseph, (if there should be any,) to be reckoned in the families of these two brothers, is as if he directed them to be adopted by the two whom he adopts to himself.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) 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 Josephs (1Ch. 5:2). The legal right of the firstborn was a double share of the fathers goods. This was bestowed upon Joseph in giving him two tribes, and to the other sons but one. It was in a spiritual sense, and with reference to the promise that all mankind should be blessed in Jacobs seed, that the birthright was Judahs. As Joseph was the son of the chief and best-beloved wife, he had a sort of claim to the birthright; but in agreement with the law afterwards specially enacted (Deu. 21:15-17), Jacob acknowledges that the right had belonged to Reuben, but excludes him from the possession of it as the penalty of his great and terrible sin. Simeon and Levi are next passed over, because of their cruelty, and so Judah takes Reubens place.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Thy two sons are mine as Reuben and Simeon “They are to have the tribal rank of sons, although they were grandsons . In 1Ch 5:1-2, it is said that Reuben, the firstborn, was deprived of his birthright because of his sin, and it was given to the two sons of Joseph. Joseph thus had a double portion, which was reckoned one of the privileges of the firstborn.” Newhall. The law of Deu 21:15-17, forbidding the transfer of right of the firstborn to a son of a more favoured wife, could not have governed the action of Jacob. This transfer was for sufficient cause.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 48:5. And now thy two sons The LXX have it, Now therefore thy two sons (thus expressing Jacob’s faith in the Divine promises) are mine, as Simeon and Reuben; that is, shall be reputed my immediate sons, as if they were my natural offspring. I adopt them as my own sons, and they shall succeed to my inheritance in that quality; becoming, after my death, the heads of two different tribes, just in the same manner as Simeon and Reuben, my immediate issue, who are mentioned, as being the eldest: a double portion is thus bestowed upon Joseph, which was the privilege of the first-born, by putting his two sons upon a footing with Jacob’s own children, 1Ch 5:1. Whatever sons Joseph should have afterwards, 1Ch 5:6 were not to be ranked in this quality, but to be considered in the same light with the descendants of the other brethren.
REFLECTIONS.1. As it is our duty to visit the sick, so it is a peculiar mercy to be present at the departure of dying saints; as it is fabled of the dying swan, they often then sing sweetest, and leave behind them a deep remembrance of their words.
2. Lest the glare of the world’s pomp might seem to make the favour despicable which Jacob now confers on Joseph and his sons, the old patriarch recites the promise that God had made him, to encourage them, notwithstanding present appearances, to prefer the hope of Israel to the honours of AEgypt. Note; (1.) They who with dependance on God’s promises renounce the world, to suffer reproach and affliction with the people of God, will find in the end the wisdom of their choice. (2.) We cannot be too explicit in our wills, to prevent disputes when we are dead.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
This adoption of Joseph’s sons had a reference to the promised blessing. The apostle explains this when he saith, it was by faith. See Heb 11:21 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 48:5 And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, [are] mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
Ver. 5. As Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. ] God hath in like sort adopted us for his dear children; saying, “I will be a Father unto them, and they shall be my sons and my daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2Co 6:18 This St John calls a royalty or prerogative, , Joh 1:12 such as he elsewhere stands amazed at. 1Jn 3:1 And well he may; for all God’s children are “firstborn,” and so “higher than all the kings of the earth.” Psa 89:27 They “in the fulness of their sufficiency are in straits.” Job 20:22 Whereas the saints, in the fulness of their straits, are in an all-sufficiency.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
are. Hebrew they [are] mine. The united preference of Joseph’s two sons.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
two sons: Gen 41:50-52, Gen 46:20, Jos 13:7, Jos 14:4, Jos 16:1 – Jos 17:18
are mine: Lev 20:26, Num 1:10, Num 1:32-35, Num 26:28-37, Isa 43:1, Eze 16:8, Mal 3:17, 2Co 6:18, Eph 1:5
Reuben: 1Ch 5:1, 1Ch 5:2, Rev 7:6, Rev 7:7
Reciprocal: Gen 41:51 – called Gen 48:16 – my name Gen 49:22 – a fruitful Exo 2:10 – and he Num 1:33 – the tribe Num 2:18 – camp of Ephraim Deu 33:13 – Joseph Est 2:7 – took Eze 47:13 – Joseph Eze 48:4 – Manasseh Heb 11:21 – faith
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 48:5. Thy two sons are mine By adoption: I shall own them as if they were my immediate children, and each of them shall have an equal share both in my present property, and in the future inheritance of Canaan with the rest of my children. Thus Jacob transfers the double portion, which was the right of the firstborn, upon Joseph, because Reuben fell from it by transgression; concerning which see Gen 49:4, and 1Ch 5:1. As Reuben and Simeon Whom he names as being the eldest, and who, if any, might seem to claim a privilege above the rest.