Joseph's Blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh in Genesis
Jacob's blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh, recorded in Genesis 48, is a pivotal moment in the patriarchal narrative, establishing the future prominence of Joseph's sons within the tribes of Israel [6, 9]. Joseph brought his two sons, Manasseh, the elder, and Ephraim, the younger, to his father Jacob for a blessing [2, 4]. Joseph intended for Jacob to place his right hand, signifying the primary blessing, on Manasseh's head and his left hand on Ephraim's head [3, 10]. However, Jacob "guided his hands wittingly," crossing his arms to place his right hand on Ephraim, the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh, the elder [1, 3].
This act reversed the traditional birth order, granting Ephraim precedence over Manasseh [1, 3, 5]. Jacob declared, "By you shall Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh’" [1]. This meant that in future blessings, Israelites would invoke the names of Ephraim and Manasseh as models of prosperity and fruitfulness [7]. This blessing was an act of faith on Jacob's part, as he believed that what he had spoken concerning them would be accomplished [7, 9].
The names of Joseph's sons themselves reflect God's blessing. Manasseh means "who makes to forget," as Joseph stated, "God hath made me forget" his toil and his father's house. Ephraim means "double fruitfulness," as Joseph declared, "God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction" [3, 4, 11]. Through Jacob's blessing, Ephraim and Manasseh were elevated to the status of Jacob's own sons, making them coheirs with his other sons [6]. This resulted in the descendants of Joseph forming two distinct tribes within Israel, whereas each of Jacob's other sons founded only one [5, 6]. Consequently, while there were thirteen tribes, the number twelve was maintained by excluding the tribe of Levi when Ephraim and Manasseh were counted separately [5].
The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh became significant in Israel's history [6]. At the time of the first census in the wilderness, the tribe of Ephraim numbered 40,500 [5]. Joseph lived to see his great-great-grandchildren through Ephraim and his great-grandchildren through Manasseh, which was considered a sign of God's blessing [8]. The precedence given to Ephraim in Jacob's blessing foreshadowed the tribe's later prominence, often taking the lead over Manasseh [5].
Sources
- Genesis “Genesis 48:20 (BSB) — So that day Jacob blessed them and said: “By you shall Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” So he put Ephraim before Manasseh.”
- Genesis “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 to him. -- Genesis 48:13”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ephraim — Double fruitfulness ("for God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction"). The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt (Gen. 41:52; 46:20). The first incident recorded regarding him is his being placed, along with his brother Manasseh, before their grandfather, Jacob, that he might bless them (48:10; comp. 27:1). The intention of Joseph was that the right hand of the aged patriarch should be placed on the head of the elder of the two; but Jacob set Ephraim the younger before his brother, "guiding his hands wittingly." Before Joseph's death, Ephraim's ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Manasseh — Who makes to forget. "God hath made me forget" (Heb. nashshani), Gen. 41:51. (1.) The elder of the two sons of Joseph. He and his brother Ephraim were afterwards adopted by Jacob as his own sons (48:1). There is an account of his marriage to a Syrian (1 Chr. 7:14); and the only thing afterwards recorded of him is, that his grandchildren were "brought up upon Joseph's knees" (Gen. 50:23; R.V., "born upon Joseph's knees") i.e., were from their birth adopted by Joseph as his own children. The tribe of Manasseh was associated with that of Ephraim and Benjamin ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ephraim, The tribe of — Took precedence over that of Manasseh by virtue of Jacob's blessing (Gen. 41:52; 48:1). The descendants of Joseph formed two of the tribes of Israel, whereas each of the other sons of Jacob was the founder of only one tribe. Thus there were in reality thirteen tribes; but the number twelve was preserved by excluding that of Levi when Ephraim and Manasseh are mentioned separately (Num. 1:32-34; Josh. 17:14, 17; 1 Chr. 7:20). Territory of. At the time of the first census in the wilderness this tribe numbered 40,500 (Num. 1:32, 33); forty years l”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 48:5: 48:5-7 Jacob, prompted by his memory of Rachel (see 35:16-20), blessed Joseph by elevating his two sons as coheirs with his other sons—the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh would have shares along with the other tribes that came from Jacob (see Josh 16–17). Jacob also gave Ephraim, Joseph’s younger son, the birthright (see 1 Chr 5:1-2). As a result of this blessing, Ephraim and Manasseh became large and powerful tribes (see Josh 17:14-18).”
- Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 48:20: And he blessed them that day,.... That Joseph visited him, and this be did "by faith"; believing that what he had said concerning them would be accomplished, as the apostle observes, Heb 11:21, saying, in thee shall Israel bless; in Joseph, as the Targum of Jonathan, that is, in his seed, in his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, when the Israelites blessed any, they should make use of their names: saying, God make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh: as great and honourable, as rich and wealthy, as fruitful and prosperous as they; and the Targum says, this custom continues wi”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 50:22: 50:22-23 Joseph lived to see his great-great-grandchildren by Ephraim, and his great-grandchildren by Manasseh—a sign of God’s blessing (see Ps 128:6; Prov 17:6; Isa 53:10).”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 48:1: 48:1-22 In blessing Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob reached out by faith for the promise to be continued, having learned that God’s ways are not always the ways of men. Out of Jacob’s long life, the writer to the Hebrews selected the blessing of Joseph’s sons as his great act of faith (Heb 11:21). As Jacob acted in light of God’s will, the primary blessing was again given to the younger instead of the older son, but without scheming and its bitter results.”
- Genesis (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Genesis 48:12: Joseph then, in order to prepare his sons for the reception of the blessing, brought them from between the knees of Israel, who was sitting with the youths between his knees and embracing them, and having prostrated himself with his face to the earth, he came up to his father again, with Ephraim the younger on his right hand, and Manasseh the elder on the left, so that Ephraim stood at Jacob's right hand, and Manasseh at his left.”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 41:50: 41:50-52 In spite of his position and authority, Joseph never abandoned his heritage; he gave Hebrew names to his two sons. • Manasseh: Joseph’s prosperity and success made him “forget” the misery of separation from his family. • Ephraim: In so naming him, Joseph proclaimed his gratitude to God for making him “fruitful” in Egypt.”