Bible Commentaries
Genesis 48

Verse 1

48:1 And it came to pass after these things, that [one] told Joseph, Behold, thy father [is] sick: and he took with him his {a} two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

(a) Joseph valued his children being received into Jacob’s family, which was the Church of God, more than enjoying all the treasures of Egypt.

Verse 4

48:4 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee [for] an {b} everlasting possession.

(b) Which is true in the carnal Israel until the coming of Christ, and in the spiritual forever.

Verse 9

48:9 And Joseph said unto his father, They [are] my sons, whom {c} God hath given me in this [place]. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

(c) The faithful acknowledge all benefits come from God’s free mercy.

Verse 14

48:14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid [it] upon {d} Ephraim’s head, who [was] the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh [was] the firstborn.

(d) God’s judgments are often contrary to man’s and he prefers what man despises.

Verse 16

48:16 The {e} Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my {f} name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

(e) This angel must be understood to be Christ, as in Genesis 31:13; Genesis 32:1.

(f) Let them be taken as my children.

Verse 17

48:17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it {g} displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.

(g) Joseph fails by binding God’s grace to the order of nature.

Verse 20

48:20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as {h} Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

(h) In whom God’s graces should manifestly appear.

Verse 21

48:21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of {i} your fathers.

(i) Which they had by faith in the promise.

Verse 22

48:22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which {k} I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

(k) By my children whom God spared for my sake.