Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

1  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass) אַחֲרֵי֙ (after) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (the things) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (that someone said) לְיוֹסֵ֔ף (to Joseph), הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold), אָבִ֖יךָ (your father) חֹלֶ֑ה (is sick). וַיִּקַּ֞ח (And he took) אֶת־ (-) שְׁנֵ֤י (his two) בָנָיו֙ (sons) עִמּ֔וֹ (with him), אֶת־ (-) מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה (Manasseh) וְאֶת־ (and) אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ (Ephraim). 2  וַיַּגֵּ֣ד (And someone told) לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב (Jacob), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), הִנֵּ֛ה (Behold), בִּנְךָ֥ (your son) יוֹסֵ֖ף (Joseph) בָּ֣א (has come) אֵלֶ֑יךָ (to you). וַיִּתְחַזֵּק֙ (And strengthened himself) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב (and sat up) עַל־ (on) הַמִּטָּֽה׃ (the bed).

3  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יַעֲקֹב֙ (Jacob) אֶל־ (to) יוֹסֵ֔ף (Joseph), אֵ֥ל (El-) שַׁדַּ֛י (Shaddai) נִרְאָֽה־ (appeared) אֵלַ֥י (to me) בְּל֖וּז (at Luz) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (in the land) כְּנָ֑עַן (of Canaan), וַיְבָ֖רֶךְ (and He blessed) אֹתִֽי׃ (me) 4  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and He said) אֵלַ֗י (to me) הִנְנִ֤י (Behold) מַפְרְךָ֙ (I am making you fruitful), וְהִרְבִּיתִ֔ךָ (and I will multiply you), וּנְתַתִּ֖יךָ (and I will make of you) לִקְהַ֣ל (to be an assembly) עַמִּ֑ים (of peoples), וְנָ֨תַתִּ֜י (and will give) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֧רֶץ (the land) הַזֹּ֛את (this) לְזַרְעֲךָ֥ (to your seed) אַחֲרֶ֖יךָ (after you) אֲחֻזַּ֥ת (as a possession) עוֹלָֽם׃ (everlasting).

5  וְעַתָּ֡ה (And now) שְׁנֵֽי־ (two) בָנֶיךָ֩ (your sons) הַנּוֹלָדִ֨ים (who were born) לְךָ֜ (to you) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (in the land) מִצְרַ֗יִם (of Egypt) עַד־ (before) בֹּאִ֥י (my coming) אֵלֶ֛יךָ (to you) מִצְרַ֖יְמָה (in Egypt) לִי־ (mine) הֵ֑ם (they are), אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ (Ephraim) וּמְנַשֶּׁ֔ה (and Manasseh); כִּרְאוּבֵ֥ן (like Reuben) וְשִׁמְע֖וֹן (and like Simeon); יִֽהְיוּ־ (they shall be) לִֽי׃ (mine). 6  וּמוֹלַדְתְּךָ֛ (And your offspring), אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) הוֹלַ֥דְתָּ (you beget) אַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם (after them), לְךָ֣ (yours) יִהְי֑וּ (shall be). עַ֣ל (By) שֵׁ֧ם (the name) אֲחֵיהֶ֛ם (of their brothers) יִקָּרְא֖וּ (they will be called) בְּנַחֲלָתָֽם׃ (in their inheritance).

7  וַאֲנִ֣י׀ (And I), בְּבֹאִ֣י (when I was coming) מִפַּדָּ֗ן (from Paddan), מֵ֩תָה֩ (died) עָלַ֨י (upon me) רָחֵ֜ל (Rachel) בְּאֶ֤רֶץ (in the land) כְּנַ֙עַן֙ (of Canaan) בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ (on the way), בְּע֥וֹד (when) כִּבְרַת־ (there was a distance) אֶ֖רֶץ (of land) לָבֹ֣א (to go to) אֶפְרָ֑תָה (to Ephrathah). וָאֶקְבְּרֶ֤הָ (And I buried her) שָּׁם֙ (there) בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ (on the way to) אֶפְרָ֔ת (Ephrath), הִ֖וא (that is) בֵּ֥ית (in Beth-) לָֽחֶם׃ (lehem)).

8  וַיַּ֥רְא (And saw) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יוֹסֵ֑ף (of Joseph), וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), מִי־ (Who are) אֵֽלֶּה׃ (these)?

9  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יוֹסֵף֙ (Joseph) אֶל־ (to) אָבִ֔יו (his father), בָּנַ֣י (My sons), הֵ֔ם (they are), אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) נָֽתַן־ (has given) לִ֥י (to me) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) בָּזֶ֑ה (in this place).

וַיֹּאמַ֕ר (And he said), קָֽחֶם־ (Bring them) נָ֥א (please) אֵלַ֖י (to me), וַאֲבָרֲכֵֽם׃ (and I will bless them).

10  וְעֵינֵ֤י (And the eyes) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) כָּבְד֣וּ (were heavy) מִזֹּ֔קֶן (from old age); לֹ֥א (not) יוּכַ֖ל (he was able) לִרְא֑וֹת (to see). וַיַּגֵּ֤שׁ (And he brought near) אֹתָם֙ (them) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק (and he kissed) לָהֶ֖ם (them) וַיְחַבֵּ֥ק (and he embraced) לָהֶֽם׃ (them).

11  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) אֶל־ (to) יוֹסֵ֔ף (Joseph), רְאֹ֥ה (To see) פָנֶ֖יךָ (your face) לֹ֣א (not) פִלָּ֑לְתִּי (I had expected), וְהִנֵּ֨ה (and behold) הֶרְאָ֥ה (has shown) אֹתִ֛י (me) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) גַּ֥ם (also) אֶת־ (-) זַרְעֶֽךָ׃ (your seed).

12  וַיּוֹצֵ֥א (And brought) יוֹסֵ֛ף (Joseph) אֹתָ֖ם (them) מֵעִ֣ם (from between) בִּרְכָּ֑יו (his knees), וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ (and he bowed himself) לְאַפָּ֖יו (with his nose) אָֽרְצָה׃ (to the earth).

13  וַיִּקַּ֣ח (And took) יוֹסֵף֮ (Joseph) אֶת־ (the) שְׁנֵיהֶם֒ (two) אֶת־ (of them), אֶפְרַ֤יִם (Ephraim) בִּֽימִינוֹ֙ (in his right hand) מִשְּׂמֹ֣אל (from the left) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), וְאֶת־ (and) מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה (Manasseh) בִשְׂמֹאל֖וֹ (in his left hand) מִימִ֣ין (from the right) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וַיַּגֵּ֖שׁ (and brought them near) אֵלָֽיו׃ (to him). 14  וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ (And stretched out) יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל (Israel) אֶת־ (-) יְמִינ֜וֹ (his right hand) וַיָּ֨שֶׁת (and set it) עַל־ (on) רֹ֤אשׁ (the head) אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ (of Ephraim), וְה֣וּא (and he was) הַצָּעִ֔יר (the younger); וְאֶת־ (and) שְׂמֹאל֖וֹ (his left hand) עַל־ (on) רֹ֣אשׁ (head) מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה (of Manasseh) שִׂכֵּל֙ (he acted wisely) אֶת־ (-) יָדָ֔יו (with his hands), כִּ֥י (for) מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה (Manasseh was) הַבְּכֽוֹר׃ (the firstborn). 15  וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ (And he blessed) אֶת־ (-) יוֹסֵ֖ף (Joseph), וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said),

הָֽאֱלֹהִ֡ים (God), אֲשֶׁר֩ (whom) הִתְהַלְּכ֨וּ (walked) אֲבֹתַ֤י (my fathers) לְפָנָיו֙ (before), אַבְרָהָ֣ם (Abraham) וְיִצְחָ֔ק (and Isaac),

הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ (the God) הָרֹעֶ֣ה (who has been shepherd) אֹתִ֔י (me) מֵעוֹדִ֖י (from my continued being), עַד־ (to) הַיּ֥וֹם (day) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this),

16  הַמַּלְאָךְ֩ (the angel) הַגֹּאֵ֨ל (who has redeemed) אֹתִ֜י (me) מִכָּל־ (from all) רָ֗ע (evil),

יְבָרֵךְ֮ (may he bless) אֶת־ (-) הַנְּעָרִים֒ (the boys).

וְיִקָּרֵ֤א (And let be called) בָהֶם֙ (upon them) שְׁמִ֔י (my name)

וְשֵׁ֥ם (and the name) אֲבֹתַ֖י (of my fathers) אַבְרָהָ֣ם (Abraham) וְיִצְחָ֑ק (and Isaac),

וְיִדְגּ֥וּ (and may they multiply like fish) לָרֹ֖ב (into a multitude) בְּקֶ֥רֶב (in the midst) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the earth).

17  וַיַּ֣רְא (And saw) יוֹסֵ֗ף (Joseph) כִּי־ (that) יָשִׁ֨ית (had set) אָבִ֧יו (his father) יַד־ (hand) יְמִינ֛וֹ (his right) עַל־ (on) רֹ֥אשׁ (the head) אֶפְרַ֖יִם (of Ephraim), וַיֵּ֣רַע (and it was evil) בְּעֵינָ֑יו (in his eyes); וַיִּתְמֹ֣ךְ (and he took hold) יַד־ (of the hand) אָבִ֗יו (of his father) לְהָסִ֥יר (to remove) אֹתָ֛הּ (it) מֵעַ֥ל (from) רֹאשׁ־ (the head) אֶפְרַ֖יִם (of Ephraim) עַל־ (to) רֹ֥אשׁ (the head) מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃ (of Manasseh). 18  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) יוֹסֵ֛ף (Joseph) אֶל־ (to) אָבִ֖יו (his father), לֹא־ (Not) כֵ֣ן (so), אָבִ֑י (my father), כִּי־ (for) זֶ֣ה (this one is) הַבְּכֹ֔ר (the firstborn); שִׂ֥ים (set) יְמִינְךָ֖ (your right hand) עַל־ (on) רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ (his head).

19  וַיְמָאֵ֣ן (And refused) אָבִ֗יו (his father), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), יָדַ֤עְתִּֽי (I know), בְנִי֙ (my son), יָדַ֔עְתִּי (I know)! גַּם־ (Also) ה֥וּא (he) יִֽהְיֶה־ (shall become) לְּעָ֖ם (a people), וְגַם־ (and also) ה֣וּא (he) יִגְדָּ֑ל (shall be great). וְאוּלָ֗ם (And yet), אָחִ֤יו (brother) הַקָּטֹן֙ (his younger) יִגְדַּ֣ל (shall be greater) מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (than he), וְזַרְע֖וֹ (and his seed) יִהְיֶ֥ה (shall become) מְלֹֽא־ (the fullness) הַגּוֹיִֽם׃ (of the nations).

20  וַיְבָ֨רֲכֵ֜ם (And he blessed them) בַּיּ֣וֹם (day) הַהוּא֮ (that), לֵאמוֹר֒ (saying),

בְּךָ֗ (By you) יְבָרֵ֤ךְ (will bless) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying),

יְשִֽׂמְךָ֣ (May make you) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (God) כְּאֶפְרַ֖יִם (like Ephraim) וְכִמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה (and like Manasseh).

וַיָּ֥שֶׂם (And thus he set) אֶת־ (-) אֶפְרַ֖יִם (Ephraim) לִפְנֵ֥י (before) מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃ (Manasseh).

21  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) אֶל־ (to) יוֹסֵ֔ף (Joseph), הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold), אָנֹכִ֖י (I) מֵ֑ת (am dying), וְהָיָ֤ה (and will be) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God) עִמָּכֶ֔ם (with you⁺) וְהֵשִׁ֣יב (and He will bring back) אֶתְכֶ֔ם (you⁺) אֶל־ (to) אֶ֖רֶץ (the land) אֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (of your⁺ fathers). 22  וַאֲנִ֞י (And I) נָתַ֧תִּֽי (I have given) לְךָ֛ (to you) שְׁכֶ֥ם (portion) אַחַ֖ד (one) עַל־ (above) אַחֶ֑יךָ (your brothers), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (which) לָקַ֙חְתִּי֙ (I took) מִיַּ֣ד (from the hand) הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י (of the Amorite) בְּחַרְבִּ֖י (with my sword) וּבְקַשְׁתִּֽי׃פ (and with my bow).