Bible Commentary

And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, 15. And he blessed Joseph ] While his hands were resting on the lads’ heads, Jacob blessed Joseph by uttering his benediction upon Ephraim and Manasseh. LXX … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:15”

And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid [it] upon Ephraim’s head, who [was] the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh [was] the firstborn. 14. guiding his hands wittingly ] Better, as R.V. marg., crossing his hands. So LXX = “the hands crosswise”; Lat. commutans manus. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:14”

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, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:13”

And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 12. Joseph brought his knees ] To set a child upon the knees was to symbolize reception or adoption into the family: see note on Gen 30:3. From this passage it would appear that Joseph had … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:12”

And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed. 11. thy seed also ] This expression, like the question in Gen 48:8, seems to imply that Jacob had not before set eyes upon the sons of Joseph. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:11”

Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, [so that] he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 10. the eyes of Israel ] Cf. the similar account of Isaac, Gen 27:1. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Now the eyes of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:10”

And Joseph said unto his father, They [are] my sons, whom God hath given me in this [place]. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. Or, that I may bless them, not with a common, but with a paternal, and patriarchal, and prophetical blessing, in the name … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:9”

And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who [are] these? 8. And Israel ] The narrative resumes the thread which was interrupted at Gen 48:3 by the insertion of the P version. The incident about to be described was regarded as of national significance. Of the two divisions of Joseph, the younger one became the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:8”

And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet [there was] but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same [is] Bethlehem. 7. And as for me ] This verse, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:7”

And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, [and] shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. 6. begettest ] Better, as R.V. marg., hast begotten. they shall be called ] The meaning is that any other children of Joseph, and their descendants, shall be attached to the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:6”