Read Genesis 48 here or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph:
48:1-22 {p} Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh
Scripture takes an inordinate amount of space concerning the placement of Jacob’s right and left hands on Ephraim’s and Manasseh’s heads in Gen 48. When a father gave his deathbed blessing, he placed his right hand on his firstborn’s head, and passed the responsibilities and privileges of the birthright and double portion inheritance to his firstborn son.
But just as Isaac was not the firstborn of Abraham, nor Jacob the firstborn of Isaac, nor Joseph the firstborn of Jacob, so Ephraim was not the firstborn of Joseph. If we think about it, we realize that neither was Abel or Seth the firstborn of Adam, nor Shem the firstborn of Noah. Scripture is drawing attention to the puzzle of the younger son receiving the firstborn son’s birthright and blessing by repeating it over and over again in the lives of the patriarchs. (A hint to solve the puzzle is found in Joh 1:12-13 and Mat 20:16).
Please note that the blessing on the head of Ephraim, which differs from the blessing of Manasseh, is:
But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.” Gen 48:19
We will see the Prophets confirm this when we get to them later on, that Ephraim truly was dispersed among the nations, for a purpose of God which will become clear as we progress through Scripture.
Now why does Scripture record two separate sessions of blessing, one for Joseph’s sons, and one for Jacob’s sons? Jacob made Joseph’s two sons full heirs with his sons, so that they each had their own tribe counted among the twelve tribes of Israel. In this way, Jacob gave Joseph a double portion of the inheritance among his brothers.
If there are questions, these are good resources:
The one house (formerly the two houses) – Christine Miller
Who are the children of Israel? – Christine Miller
Redeemed Israel – Batya Ruth Wootten
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