1Some time after this, Joseph was told, “Your father is weaker.” So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

2When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed.

3Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty Gn 17:1 appeared to me at Luz Gn 28:13,19; 35:6,9 in the land of Canaan and blessed me.

4He said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful and numerous; I will make many nations come from you, and I will give this land as an eternal possession Gn 17:8 to your future descendants.’ Gn 35:9-12

5Your two sons Gn 41:50-52; 46:20 born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt are now mine. Jos 13:7; 14:4; 17:17 Ephraim and Manasseh belong to me just as Reuben and Simeon do.

6Children born to you after them will be yours and will be recorded under the names of their brothers with regard to their inheritance.

7When I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way, Gn 35:9-19 some distance from Ephrath in the land of Canaan. I buried her there along the way to Ephrath,” (that is, Bethlehem).

8When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these? ”

9And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons God has given me here.”

10Now his eyesight was poor because of old age; he could hardly Lit he was not able to see. Gn 27:1 Joseph brought them to him, and he kissed and embraced them. Gn 27:27

11Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, but now God has even let me see your offspring.”

12Then Joseph took them from his father’s knees and bowed with his face to the ground. Gn 18:2; 24:52; 33:3; 42:6; 43:26; Ex 34:8

13Then Joseph took them both — with his right hand Ephraim toward Israel’s left, and with his left hand Manasseh toward Israel’s right — and brought them to Israel.

14But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger, and crossing his hands, put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn. Gn 25:23; 27:18-30

15Then he blessed Joseph and said:

17When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he thought it was a mistake Or he was displeased ; lit head, it was bad in his eyes and took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s.

18Joseph said to his father, “Not that way, my father! This one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

19But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know! He too will become a tribe, Lit people and he too will be great; nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring will become a populous nation.” Or a multitude of nations; lit a fullness of nations

20So he blessed them that day with these words:

21Then Israel said to Joseph, “Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers. Gn 46:4; 50:24

22Over and above what I am giving your brothers, I am giving you the one mountain slope Or Shechem, Joseph’s burial place; lit one shoulder that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and bow.” Gn 34:25-29; Jos 24:32; Jn 4:5