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 a two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
(a) Joseph valued his children being received into Jacob's
family, which was the Church of God, more than enjoying
all the treasures of Egypt.
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 b everlasting possession.
(b) Which is true in the carnal Israel until the coming of
Christ, and in the spiritual forever.
48:9 And Joseph said unto his father, They [are] my sons, whom
c God hath given me in this [place]. And he said, Bring
them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.
(c) The faithful acknowledge all benefits come from God's
free mercy.
48:14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid [it]
upon d Ephraim's head, who [was] the younger, and his
left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands
wittingly; for Manasseh [was] the firstborn.
(d) God's judgments are often contrary to man's and he
prefers what man despises.
48:16 The e Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the
lads; and let my f 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.
(e) This angel must be understood to be Christ, as in
(Ge 31:13,32:1).
(f) Let them be taken as my children.
48:17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand
upon the head of Ephraim, it g displeased him: and he
held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's
head unto Manasseh's head.
(g) Joseph fails by binding God's grace to the order of
nature.
48:20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel
bless, saying, God make thee as h Ephraim and as
Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
(h) In whom God's graces should manifestly appear.
48:21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall
be with you, and bring you again unto the land of i your
fathers.
(i) Which they had by faith in the promise.
48:22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy
brethren, which k I took out of the hand of the Amorite
with my sword and with my bow.
