Genesis 48:1-16

I.                Jacob Blesses  

The last three chapters of Genesis set the stage and launch us into the rest of the Bible.  Here the background has been fully established as to the origination of Israel, the next three chapters provide the blessings given to the sons of Israel as patriarchs of the 12 Tribes of Israel and the central characters as God’s chosen people throughout the remainder of the Old Testament.  We see Jacob and Israel used almost interchangeably in this chapter to refer to the son of Isaac, almost cryptic as to the purpose of the alternating application of the names. The twelve tribes wrestle with their purpose in a constant struggle with the temptations of worshipping false gods.  Eventually, the 12 tribes form 2 kingdoms, the Northern House of Israel and the Southern House of Judah and reject YHVH as their God King opting instead for a man king.  The action, suspense and drama is riveting throughout culminating with the birth of Messiah. 

a.      Genesis 48:1 – And it came to pass after these things, that [one] told Joseph, Behold, thy father [is] sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

§        Joseph was 56 years old when Jacob died, this appears to be just before Jacob’s death.  Joseph was 30 years old when he became governor of Egypt and had both Ephraim and Manasseh before he was 37 years old.

o       Genesis 41:50 – And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of the famine came…

§        If Jacob is in his last year (age 147) then Manasseh and Ephraim are between 19 and 25 years old.

b.      Genesis 48:2 - And [one] told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

§        One told Jacob

§        Israel strengthened himself

o       Prepared himself to be worthy of the name Israel

c.      Genesis 48:3 - And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

§        Jacob said…relaying the story of how God blessed him, He is still Jacob in at this point in the story

d.      Genesis 48:4 - And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee [for] an everlasting possession.

§        The birthright of fruitfulness and the scepter of dominion is passed down from Adam to Noah to Abraham to Isaac to Jacob, Isaac had previously given it to Jacob, but here God honors it and officially declares it.

o       Genesis 1:28 - And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

o       Genesis 9:1 - And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

o       Genesis 17:5-6 - Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

o       Genesis 26:24 - And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I [am] the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I [am] with thee (Isaac), and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.

o       Genesis 28:1-3 - And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.  Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.  And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;

o       Genesis 35:10-11 - And God said unto him, Thy name [is] Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.  And God said unto him, I [am] God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

§        Up until this point the birthright and the scepter have always transitioned to one person (not necessarily at the same time though).

e.      Genesis 48:5 - And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, [are] mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

§        Jacob adopts Manasseh and Ephraim as his own sons

o       Reuben and Simeon the 1^st and 2^nd sons of Jacob who lost favor with Jacob, that definitely cost Reuben and likely cost Simeon the birthright

§        This is how Joseph was given the double portion of the birthright

o       1 Chronicles 5:1-2 - Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he [was] the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.  For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him [came] the chief ruler; but the birthright [was] Joseph's:)

f.       Genesis 48:6 - And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, [and] shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.

§        Any future children of Joseph will be Joseph’s and will be reckoned to these two sons of Joseph for their inheritance

§        Unknown if Joseph had any other children besides these two, no others mentioned

g.      Genesis 48:7 - And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet [there was] but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same [is] Bethlehem.

§        Rachel buried in Bethlehem

§        Matthew 2:18 - In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

o       Rama - "a hill"

o       Because Rachel was buried near Bethlehem?

h.      Genesis 48:8 - And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who [are] these?

§        Israel beheld…, readies himself as an agent of the Almighty passing his blessing to his grandsons/sons

i.       Genesis 48:9 - And Joseph said unto his father, They [are] my sons, whom God hath given me in this [place]. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

j.       Genesis 48:10 - Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, [so that] he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

§        Proverbs 17:6 - Children's children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers.

§        Israel’s eyes were dim, just like Isaac’s, blind servants

o       Isaiah 42:19 - Who [is] blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger [that] I sent? who [is] blind as [he that is] perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?

o       1 Corinthians 13:12 - For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

o       2 Corinthians 5:7 - (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

·        When the eyes of the body are compromised, the eyes of faith may be very clear

k.      Genesis 48:11 - And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.

§        How often God, in his merciful providences, outdoes our expectations, and thus greatly magnifies his favours. He not only prevents our fears, but exceeds our hopes.  ~Matthew Henry Commentary on Genesis

l.       Genesis 48:12 - And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

§        Seems odd that Joseph would have 19-25 year old sons that are “between his knees”

§        Moffet Translation: “…then, removing them from his father’s knees, Joseph bowed to the ground.”

§        Could they have perhaps in v. 10 that the boys had been kneeling with their hands and heads upon Jacob’s knees?

m.    Genesis 48:13 - And 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 unto him.

n.      Genesis 48:14 - And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid [it] upon Ephraim's head, who [was] the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh [was] the firstborn.

§        Israel knowingly blessed the younger ahead of the elder

§        Isaiah 55:9 - For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

§        Continuing the pattern of elevating a younger sibling above the firstborn, we see this also in:

o       Abel above Cain

o       Shem above Japheth

o       Abraham above Nahor

o       Isaac above Ishmael

o       Jacob above Esau

o       David above all his older brothers

o       Solomon above his older brothers

§        1 Samual 16:7 - the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

o.      Genesis 48:15 - And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

§        2 Timothy 4:18 - And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.

§        Jacob acknowledges that it was God who provided for him all his life, passing on this legacy of faith to his children

p.      Genesis 48:16 - The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

§        Hebrews 11:21 - By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff.

o       Why is the blessing that Jacob passed to Joseph’s sons mentioned here in Hebrews and not the blessings given to the other sons of Jacob? 

o       Because this is the fruitfulness birthright, the promise of the Kingdom.  Jacob believed this promise and in faith passed it to Joseph’s sons.

§        Referring to the “angel” that he had wrestled and had given him the name Israel

§        Let my name be named on them…the name of Israel officially passed to Ephraim and Manasseh the birthright of the kingdom, the right to the name Israel is given specifically to them

o       “Grow into a multitude”…fruitfulness mandate

o       The calling to bring forth the manifested sons of God

·        Romans 8:19 – For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

·         1 Chronicles 5:1-2 - Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he [was] the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.  For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him [came] the chief ruler; but the birthright [was] Joseph’s :)

o       The other brothers were not given this entitlement; other tribes can only use the name Israel when associated with Ephraim or Manasseh.  If those tribes would break off on their own their tribal name would be used.

§        This birthright gave to Joseph and his descendents through Manasseh and Ephraim primary importance, and leaders of the nation of Israel.

§        These are the final two tribes of Israel; Joseph was not a tribe and Levi was not included among the 12 tribes that inherited land for their inheritance was God

o       Joshua 13:33 - But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not [any] inheritance: the LORD God of Israel [was] their inheritance, as he said unto them.

Genesis 47:14-31

d.      Genesis 47:14 – And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

§        Joseph would likely have preferred to remain in Goshen with his family, but duty and calling prevented it.

§        Money from both Egypt and Canaan, Canaan becoming subject to Egyptian dominion

§        Romans 11:29 - For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.

o       God has no regrets for the gifts He gives or who He calls. 

e.      Genesis 47:15 – And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.

§        Money failed

§        No mention of Israel coming to Joseph, because they were provided for in v. 12

§        Throughout history and even recently we see revolts and revolutions due to food shortages most notably the French Revolution, not here…why?

o       It seems that the people trusted in the wisdom and direction of Joseph

o       Joseph has proved himself to be a capable and wise leader

o       Egyptians throw themselves completely at the mercy of Joseph

f.      Genesis 47:16 – And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.

§        When money fails, hard assets and bartering become the accepted currency

§        More of a type of a relief to the people in that they no longer bare the responsibility of caring for the animals

g.      Genesis 47:17 – And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread [in exchange] for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.

§        Everything is secondary to life

§        Since they were unable to feed the flocks, it was of little consequence to trade them while still alive and of value.

§        Fulfillment of Pharaoh’s dream of lean cattle

h.      Genesis 47:18 – When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide [it] from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:

§        The next year, not second year of the famine

§        Naturally Joseph would not have approached the people about the grain in need of making it stretch as long as possible, sso reason plays out in that the people approached Joseph.

§        Joseph gave the warning from God to Egypt, if all the Egyptians would have prepared during the seven plenteous years as Joseph did, they would have been as prepared as Joseph was for the present famine; but they didn’t listen to the warning.

§        How are we ignoring the warning signs and not preparing ourselves for the coming “famine”?

§        Revelation 11:15 - And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

o       Just as Joseph claimed all of the land for Pharaoh, Jesus, at the seventh trump, will reclaim all the kingdoms of this world.

o       Seventh trump, seven years of famine, seven items traded for food

·        Money

·        Horses

·        Flocks

·        Cattle

·        Asses

·        Lives

·        Lands

i.       Genesis 47:19 – Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give [us] seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.

§        Bought for a price by their own asking, not a plan of Joseph to bring them into bondage

§        It should be considered reasonable that to save their lives the price was to pay with their lives.  The people recognized that without the help of Joseph, they would surely die.

§        1 Corinthians 6:20 - For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

j.      Genesis 47:20 – And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's.

§        So here we have Joseph finding favor both with the people and with Pharaoh

k.      Genesis 47:21 – And as for the people, he removed them to cities from [one] end of the borders of Egypt even to the [other] end thereof.

§        While the famine still prevailed the people were brought into the cities where the logistics of food distribution could be more efficiently accomplished.

§        With no livestock and no fields, there was no reason for the people to remain on the land that now came under the possession of Pharaoh.

l.       Genesis 47:22 – Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion [assigned them] of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands.

§        What kind of priests?

m.       Genesis 47:23 – Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, [here is] seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.

§        Again, he takes himself out of the transaction, what has happened is between the people and Pharaoh, he gained nothing for himself.

§        Knowing that the famine is coming to its end, he distributes seed for sowing in the land (that is now owned by Pharaoh)

n.      Genesis 47:24 – And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth [part] unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.

§        Another reference to the number 5, another reference to grace

§        20% flat tax implemented, inherently fair in that everyone gives the same proportion whether it is a lean year or a bumper crop its all relative.

§        Seems excessive, but this is actually a business transaction (and quite fair) Joseph, in his wisdom, understands that the land is of no value without people to cultivate it and a nation is defenseless without its population to draw on for enlistment into its armies.

o       Joseph could have let them all die and their property would have transferred to Pharaoh, Joseph’s actions were honorable and merciful toward the Egyptians.

o       By providing productive work for the citizenry he is providing a secure economy and sound national security for Egypt. 

§        We see Joseph acts faithfully toward his master, Pharaoh, and does not take advantage of the situation to enrich himself.

o       Contrast this with politicians today who seek to enrich themselves and defile their public office and the trust placed in them through bribes and kickbacks. 

o       Joseph was smart enough he could have enriched himself to the point of being emperor over the entire region, but his motivation was not power but to fulfill the calling God placed upon him.

§        This arrangement was perpetual

o       How similarly this encapsulates what happened in the garden, Adam and Eve did not heed God’s command and as a result were under perpetual bondage:

·        Genesis 3:19 - In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground…

·        Yet we live only by the grace of God

o.       Genesis 47:25 – And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.

§        Here the people ask for grace and show their appreciation for Joseph

§        Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

o       The people neglected to heed the warning, and fell at the mercy of Joseph

o       Our ancestors did not obey the command of God and fell into the need for a savior.

p.    Genesis 47:26 – And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, [that] Pharaoh should have the fifth [part]; except the land of the priests only, [which] became not Pharaoh's.

§        The law of grace

§        Romans 4:16 - Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all

§        Does not appear to be an exception made for Israel, but the priests only 

II.             Jacob Instructs Joseph of his Final Wishes (Genesis 47:27-31)

a.      Genesis 47:27 – And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

§        Grew and multiplied exceedingly

b.      Genesis 47:28 – And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.

§        Jacob, 147 years; Joseph, 56; ~599 years after flood, ~1749 BC, ~2255 AM

§        Isaac, 180 years; Jacob, 120; Joseph, 29; ~572 years after flood, ~1775 BC, ~2228 AM

§        Abraham, 175 years; Isaac, 75; Jacob, 15; ~467 years after flood, ~1880 BC, ~2123 AM

§        Flood occurred ~2348 B.C.

§        Adam created ~4004 BC, so flood occurred 1656 AM

c.      Genesis 47:29 – And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

§        Again, “If I have found grace…”

§        Even in death Jacob held on to the promise

d.      Genesis 47:30 – But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.

§        Correctly translated to “lie with my fathers…” to “sleep” with one’s fathers does not refer to burial, but falling asleep.

e.      Genesis 47:31 – And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.

§        The whole setting indicates that an important need of faith had been met. That would most naturally suggest that Jacob "bowed down in prayer," thanking God that He had granted him this deep satisfaction. The added phrase, "upon the head of the bed," conveys the sense that the head end (ro’sh), being a bit elevated, would offer a natural point upon which more comfortably to bow his head in prayer. Commentary on Genesis, H.C. Leupold

A point occasioning some confusion in this connection is the fact that the words "head of the bed" are rendered "top of his staff" (Heb 11:21), this translation being based upon the Greek version which says: epi to acron thv rabdou. The Masoretic Hebrew text has mittah, "bed." The Greek translators pointed the text matteh, "staff." This is manifestly a wrong translation, but the author of the letter to the Hebrews used the Greek version because no vital point was involved. Commentary on Genesis, H.C. Leupold