Even after saying “Behold, I die” at the end of this chapter this is still not the end of Jacob. Most of chapter 49 will be blessings and prophecies as he recognizes each son by name. And I don’t know what it means – probably nothing at all – but we will finish the book of Genesis on Easter morning. We’re planning Good Friday worship services and thinking about the resurrection and at The Master’s Table I’m talking about Jacob’s sons and the 12 tribes of Israel. Not totally unrelated… this is the family through whom all the world will be blessed, after all.

Genesis 48

After this someone told Joseph “Your father is sick.” And he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

2 When Jacob was told “Behold, your son Joseph has come to see you” Israel strengthened himself, and sat up on the bed.

3 Jacob said to Joseph “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

4 And said to me “Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people; and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.

5 And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

6 Children you have after them will be yours, and shall be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance.

7 And as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still a little way to come to Ephrath: and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.”

8 Israel looked at Joseph’s sons, and said “Who are these?”

9 And Joseph said to his father “They are my sons that God has given me in this place.” And he said “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.”

10 Now Israel’s eyes were weak with age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

11 Israel said to Joseph “I never expected to see your face again, and God has shown me your children also.”

12 Then Joseph took them from his father’s knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

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 him.

14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.

15 He blessed Joseph and said “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long until this day,

16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless these boys; 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.”

17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head and place it on Manasseh’s head.

18 And Joseph said unto his father “Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused, and said “I know, my son, I know. He will also become a people, and he will also be great; but truly his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.

20 And he blessed them that day, saying “In you shall Israel bless, saying ‘God make you as Ephraim and Manasseh.’” And he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

21 Israel said to Joseph “Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again into the land of your fathers.

22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”