Genesis 48

1 Some time after these things, someone said to Joseph, "Look, your father is sick." He took his two sons with him, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 Someone told Jacob, "Look, your son Joseph has come to you." Israel gathered his strength and sat up on the bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, "El Shaddai appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and he blessed me. 4 He said to me, 'Look, I am going to make you fruitful and make you many. I will make you an assembly of peoples, and I will give this land to your descendants after you, to hold forever.' 5 Now, your two sons who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt are mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 Any children you have after them will be yours. In their inheritance they will be called by the name of their brothers. 7 As for me, when I was coming from Paddan, Rachel died in the land of Canaan, to my sorrow. It was on the way, while there was still some distance to go to Ephrath. I buried her there on the way to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem." 8 Israel saw Joseph's sons and said, "Who are these?"

9 Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." Israel said, "Please bring them to me, and let me bless them." 10 Israel's eyes were heavy with age, and he could not see. Joseph brought them close to his father, and Israel kissed them and hugged them. 11 Israel said to Joseph, "I did not expect to see your face. And look, God has let me see your children too." 12 Joseph took them from beside his father's knees, and he bowed down with his face to the land. 13 Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right, and brought them close to him. 14 Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head—and he was the younger—and his left hand on Manasseh's head. He guided his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 He blessed Joseph and said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd from my earliest days until this day, 16 the messenger who has redeemed me from all that is bad—may he bless these boys. Let my name be called on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. And may they grow into a great number within the land."

17 Joseph saw that his father was putting his right hand on Ephraim's head, and he was displeased. He took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, because this one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head." 19 His father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will be the fullness of the nations." 20 He blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.'" He put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. 21 Israel said to Joseph, "Look, I am about to die. God will be with you, and he will bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 As for me, I have given you one shoulder more than your brothers. I took it from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and my bow."