Genesis 48

1It came about after these things, that one said to Joseph, “Look, your father is sick.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2When Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph has arrived to see you,” Israel gathered strength and sat up in bed. 3Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan. He blessed me 4and said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you. I will make of you an assembly of nations. I will give this land to your descendants as an everlasting possession.' 5Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, they are mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. 6The children you have after them will be yours; they will be listed under the names of their brothers in their inheritance. 7But as for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan 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). 8When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Whose are these?” 9Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” Israel said, “Bring them to me, that I may bless them.” 10Now Israel's eyes were failing because of his age, so he could not see. So Joseph brought them near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, but God has even allowed me to see your children.” 12Joseph brought them out from between Israel's knees, and then he bowed with his face to the earth. 13Joseph 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 close to him. 14Israel reached out with his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head. He crossed his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15Israel blessed Joseph, saying, 16the angel who has protected me from all harm, may he bless these boys. 17When Joseph saw his father place his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father; for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand upon his head.” 19His father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. Yet his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations.” 20Israel blessed them that day with these words, 21Israel said to Joseph, “See, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and will bring you back to the land of your fathers.