Joseph visiteth his father in his sickness, who adopteth his two sons
Manasses and Ephraim, and blesseth them, preferring the younger before
the elder.
48:1. After these things, it was told Joseph that his father was sick;
and he set out to go to him, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim.
48:2. And it was told the old man: Behold thy son Joseph cometh to
thee. And being strengthened, he sat on his bed.
48:3. And when Joseph was come in to him, he said: God almighty
appeared to me at Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, and he blessed
me,
48:4. And said: I will cause thee to increase and multiply, and I will
make of thee a multitude of people: and I will give this land to thee,
and to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.
48:5. So thy two sons, who were born to thee in the land of Egypt
before I came hither to thee, shall be mine: Ephraim and Manasses shall
be reputed to me as Ruben and Simeon.
48:6. But the rest whom thou shalt have after them, shall be thine, and
shall be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions.
48:7. For, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died from me in the
land of Chanaan in the very journey, and it was spring time: and I was
going to Ephrata, and I buried her near the way of Ephrata, which by
another name is called Bethlehem.
48:8. Then seeing his sons, he said to him: Who are these?
48:9. He answered: They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this
place. And he said: Bring them to me, that I may bless them.
48:10. For Israel’s eyes were dim by reason of his great age, and he
could not see clearly. And when they were brought to him, he kissed and
embraced them,
48:11. And said to his son: I am not deprived of seeing thee; moreover
God hath shewn me thy seed.
48:12. And when Joseph had taken them from his father’s lap, he bowed
down with his face to the ground.
48:13. And he set Ephraim on his right hand, that is, towards the left
hand of Israel; but Manasses on his left hand, to wit, towards his
father’s right hand, and brought them near to him.
48:14. But he, stretching forth his right hand, put it upon the head of
Ephraim, the younger brother; and the left upon the head of Manasses,
who was the elder, changing his hands.
48:15. And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and said: God, in whose
sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, God that feedeth me from my
youth until this day:
48:16. The angel that delivereth me from all evils, bless these boys:
and let my name be called upon them, and the names of my fathers
Abraham and Isaac; and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.
48:17. And Joseph seeing that his father had put his right hand upon
the head of Ephraim, was much displeased: and taking his father’s hand,
he tried to lift it from Ephraim’s head, and to remove it to the head
of Manasses.
48:18. And he said to his father: It should not be so, my father; for
this is the firstborn, put thy right hand upon his head.
48:19. But he refusing, said: I know, my son, I know: and this also
shall become a people, and shall be multiplied; but his younger brother
shall be greater than he; and his seed shall grow into nations.
48:20. And he blessed them at that time, saying: In thee shall Israel
be blessed, and it shall be said: God do to thee as to Ephraim, and as
to Manasses. And he set Ephraim before Manasses.
48:21. And he said to Joseph, his son: Behold I die, and God will be
with you, and will bring you back into the land of your fathers.
48:22. I give thee a portion above thy brethren, which I took out of
the hand of the Amorrhite with my sword and bow.