Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

1Some time later Joseph (YHWH has added) was told, “Your father is ill.” So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh (causing to forget) and Ephraim (doubly fruitful). 2When Jacob (he grasps the heel) was told, “Your son Joseph (YHWH has added) has come to you,” Israel (he wrestles with God) rallied his strength and sat up in bed.

3Jacob (he grasps the heel) said to Joseph (YHWH has added), “God Almighty {El-Shaddai}a appeared to me at Luz (almond tree) in the land of Canaan (lowland), and there He blessed me 4and told me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you; I will make you a multitude of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’

5And now your two sons born to you in Egypt (land of bondage) before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim (doubly fruitful) and Manasseh (causing to forget) shall be mine, just as Reuben (behold a son) and Simeon are mine (heard). 6Any children born to you after them shall be yours, and they shall be called by the names of their brothers in the territory they inherit.

7Now as for me, when I was returning from Paddan (northwest Mesopotamia),b to my sorrow Rachel (little lamb) died along the way in the land of Canaan (lowland), some distance from Ephrath (place of fruitfulness). So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem (house of bread)).

8When Israel (he wrestles with God) saw the sons of Joseph (YHWH has added), he asked, “Who are these?”

9Joseph (YHWH has added) said to his father, “They are the sons God {Elohim} has given me in this place.”

So Jacob said, “Please bring them to me, that I may bless them.”

10Now Israel’s (he wrestles with God) eyesight was poor because of old age; he could hardly see. Joseph brought his sons to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.

11“I never expected to see your face again,” Israel (he wrestles with God) said to Joseph (YHWH has added), “but now God {Elohim} has let me see your children as well.”

12Then Joseph (YHWH has added) removed his sons from his father’s knees and bowed facedown.

13And Joseph (YHWH has added) took both of them—with Ephraim (doubly fruitful) in his right hand toward Israel’s (he wrestles with God) left hand, and Manasseh (causing to forget) in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand—and brought them close to him. 14But Israel (he wrestles with God) stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim (doubly fruitful), the younger; and crossing his hands, he put his left on Manasseh’s (causing to forget) head, although Manasseh was the firstborn. 15Then he blessed Joseph (YHWH has added) and said:

“May the God {Elohim} before whom my fathers Abraham (father of many) and Isaac (he laughs) walked,

the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,

16the angel (Angel)c who has redeemed me from all harm—

may He bless these boys.

And may they be called by my name

and the names of my fathers Abraham (father of many) and Isaac (he laughs),

and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.”

17When Joseph (YHWH has added) saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s (doubly fruitful) head, he was displeased and took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s (causing to forget). 18“Not so, my father!” Joseph (YHWH has added) said. “This one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

19But his father refused. “I know, my son, I know!” he said. “He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”

20So that day Jacob blessed them and said:

“By you shall Israel (he wrestles with God) pronounce this blessing:

‘May God {Elohim} make you like Ephraim (doubly fruitful) and Manasseh (causing to forget).’”

So he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

21Then Israel (he wrestles with God) said to Joseph (YHWH has added), “Look, I am about to die, but God {Elohim} will be with you⁺ and bring you⁺ back to the land of your⁺ fathers. 22And to you, as one who is above your brothers, I give the ridge of land (one portion of the land)d that I took from the Amorites (sayers) with my sword and bow.”