Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Manasseh » Son of joseph and asenath » Adopted by jacob on his deathbed
Later Joseph was told that his father was ill. So he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to see Jacob.
Verse Concepts
Jacob went on to say: Joseph, your two sons Ephraim and Manasseh were born in Egypt. But I accept them as my own, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. Any children you have later will be considered yours. Their inheritance will come from Ephraim and Manasseh. Your mother Rachel died in Canaan after we left northern Syria and before we reached Bethlehem. I had to bury her along the way. read more.
Then Israel saw Joseph's sons. He asked Joseph: Who are these boys? Joseph answered: They are my sons. God has given them to me here in Egypt. Bring them to me, Jacob said. I want to give them my blessing. Joseph brought the boys to him. Israel's eyesight was failing because of old age. He could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to his father. Israel hugged them and kissed them. Israel said to Joseph: I never expected to see you again. Now God has even let me see your sons. Joseph took them off his father's lap and bowed with his face touching the ground. Then Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right, facing Israel's left, and Manasseh on his left, facing Israel's right, and brought them close to him. But Israel crossed his hands and reached out. He put his right hand on Ephraim's head, although Ephraim was the younger son. He put his left hand on Manasseh's head, although Manasseh was older. Jacob blessed Joseph. He said: May God, in whose presence my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac walked, may this God who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day, May the being who rescued me from all evil bless these boys! May they be called by my name and by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. May they have many children on the earth. Joseph saw that his father had put his right hand on Ephraim's head. Joseph did not like it. So he took his father's hand in order to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's. He said to his father: That is not right, Father! This is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head. His father refused and said: I know, Son, I know! Manasseh, too, will become a nation. He, too, will be important. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be more important than he. His descendants will become many nations. That day he blessed them. He said: Because of you, Israel will speak this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!' In this way Israel put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
Then Israel saw Joseph's sons. He asked Joseph: Who are these boys? Joseph answered: They are my sons. God has given them to me here in Egypt. Bring them to me, Jacob said. I want to give them my blessing. Joseph brought the boys to him. Israel's eyesight was failing because of old age. He could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to his father. Israel hugged them and kissed them. Israel said to Joseph: I never expected to see you again. Now God has even let me see your sons. Joseph took them off his father's lap and bowed with his face touching the ground. Then Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right, facing Israel's left, and Manasseh on his left, facing Israel's right, and brought them close to him. But Israel crossed his hands and reached out. He put his right hand on Ephraim's head, although Ephraim was the younger son. He put his left hand on Manasseh's head, although Manasseh was older. Jacob blessed Joseph. He said: May God, in whose presence my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac walked, may this God who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day, May the being who rescued me from all evil bless these boys! May they be called by my name and by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. May they have many children on the earth. Joseph saw that his father had put his right hand on Ephraim's head. Joseph did not like it. So he took his father's hand in order to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's. He said to his father: That is not right, Father! This is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head. His father refused and said: I know, Son, I know! Manasseh, too, will become a nation. He, too, will be important. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be more important than he. His descendants will become many nations. That day he blessed them. He said: Because of you, Israel will speak this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!' In this way Israel put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
Parents » Parental affection exemplified by » jacob
Jacob would not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with the other brothers. He was afraid that something would happen to him.
Verse Concepts
Jacob (Israel) loved Joseph more than all his sons because Joseph had been born in Israel's old age. So he made Joseph a special multicolored robe with long sleeves. Joseph's brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them. They hated Joseph and could not speak to him in a friendly way.
Jacob replied: My son will not go with you. His brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If any harm comes to him on the trip you are taking, the grief would drive this gray-haired old man to his grave!
Verse Concepts
they told their father that Joseph was still alive and was the ruler of Egypt. But their father was so surprised that he could not believe them. Then they told him everything Joseph said. When he saw the wagons Joseph had sent, he felt much better. He said: Now I can believe you! My son Joseph must really be alive. I will get to see him before I die.
Take your brother and return at once. May God Almighty cause the man to have pity on you, so that he will give Benjamin and your other brother back to you. As for me, if I must lose my children, I must lose them.
Israel's eyesight was failing because of old age. He could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to his father. Israel hugged them and kissed them. Israel said to Joseph: I never expected to see you again. Now God has even let me see your sons.