Genesis 48:1

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 48:1-2

EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH ELEVATED"And it came to pass after these things, that one said to Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.""After these things ..." does not specify the chronology of this event, but the relation of it in this context indicates that the time was shortly before the death of Jacob, in which case,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 48:1

1. one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick—Joseph was hastily sent for, and on this occasion he took with him his two sons. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 48:1-11

Jacob’s adoption of Joseph’s sons 48:1-11The events recorded in the last three chapters of Genesis deal with the last days of Jacob and Joseph. In these last chapters there are many other references to earlier episodes in the book."This constant harking back to earlier episodes and promises is totally in place in a book whose theme is the fulfillment of promises, a book that regularly uses analogy between episodes as a narrative technique. And at the close of a book it is particuarly [sic]... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 48:1-22

Jacob Blesses Manasseh and Ephraim, the Sons of JosephHe adopts them as his own sons with privileges equal to the others, thus making them heads of distinct tribes. By so doing he gives to Joseph, the eldest son of Rachel, whom he probably regarded as his true wife, the position of firstborn with a double portion of his inheritance. From the time of Moses we find Ephraim and Manasseh giving their names to tribes (Numbers 1), which received territory on the conquest of Canaan.3. Luz] or Bethel:... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 48:1

XLVIII.THE BLESSING OF MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM, AND THE RECOGNITION OF THEM BY JACOB AS HEADS OF TRIBES.(1) His two sons.—We have already seen that the purpose of the genealogy given in Genesis 46:0 was not the enumeration of Jacob’s children and grandchildren, but the recognition of those of his descendants who were to hold the high position of heads of “families.” In this chapter a still more important matter is settled; for Jacob, exercising to the full his rights as the father and head of the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 48:1-22

THE BLESSINGS OF THE TRIBESGenesis 48:1-22; Genesis 49:1-33JACOB’S blessing of his sons marks the close of the patriarchal dispensation. Henceforth the channel of God’s blessing to man does not consist of one person only, but of a people or nation. It is still one seed, as Paul reminds us, a unit that God will bless, but this unit is now no longer a single person-as Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob-but one people, composed of several parts, and yet one whole: equally representative of Christ, as the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 48:1-22

CHAPTER 48 Jacob adopts Ephraim and Manasseh 1. The sons of Joseph brought to Jacob (Gen. 48-12) 2. The words of Jacob (Genesis 48:3-7 ) 3. Ephraim and Manasseh presented (Genesis 48:8-14 ) 4. Jacob’s blessing (Genesis 48:13-16 ) 5. Joseph’s interference (Genesis 48:17-20 ) 6. Jacob’s last words to Joseph (Genesis 48:21-22 ) The adoption of Joseph’s sons is interesting and instructive. As the offspring of the Gentile wife Asenath they were in danger of becoming gentilized and thus... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Genesis 48:1

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. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 48:1-22

ISRAEL'S BLESSING FOR JOSEPH AND HIS SONS A little later Joseph was told that his father was sick, so he brought his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim to visit him. Jacob strengthened himself to sit on the bed. Then Jacob speaks to Joseph of God's first recorded appearance to him (Genesis 28:11-15) at Luz (or Bethel) in Canaan, giving him His special blessing, promising to multiply him into a multitude of people and to give that land to his descendants for an everlasting possession (vs.3-4).... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 48:1-22

CLOSE OF THE PATRIARCHAL AGE With the history of Joseph, Genesis concludes what is called the patriarchal age. Yet there are two or three facts for consideration before passing to the next book. THE LIFE OF JUDAH For example, Joseph’s history was interrupted almost at the beginning by that of his brother Judah (chap. 38). Judah’s history is shameful, but recorded because it bears upon the genealogy of Jesus, since Tamar, prostitute though she were, became an ancestress of our blessed Lord... read more