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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 48:8-22

Here is, I. The blessing with which Jacob blessed the two sons of Joseph, which is the more remarkable because the apostle makes such particular mention of it (Heb. 11:21), while he says nothing of the blessing which Jacob pronounced on the rest of his sons, though that also was done in faith. Observe here, 1. Jacob was blind for age, Gen. 48:10. It is one of the common infirmities of old age. Those that look out at the windows are darkened, Eccl. 12:3. It is folly to walk in the sight of our... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 48:8

And Israel beheld Joseph's sons ,.... Ephraim and Manasseh, of whom he had been speaking as if they were absent, and he might not know until now that they were present, for his eyes were dim that he could not see clearly, Genesis 49:10 ; he saw two young men standing by Joseph, but knew not who they were, and therefore asked the following question: and said, who are these ? whose sons are they? the Targum of Jonathan is,"of whom were these born to thee?'as if he knew them to be his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 48:9

And Joseph said unto his father, they are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place ,.... In the land of Egypt; he accounts his sons as the gifts of God, as children are, Psalm 127:3 ; and it was not only a sentiment of the Jews, that children are the gift of God; hence the names of Mattaniah, Nathaniel, &c.; but of Heathens, as the Greeks and Romans, among whom are frequent the names of men which show it, as Theodorus, Deodatus, Apollodorus, Artemidorus, &c.; and he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 48:10

Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age ,.... Or "heavy" F16 כבדו "graves erant", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, &c.; , that he could not lift them up easily and see clearly; his eyebrows hung over, his eyes were sunk in his head, and the humours pressed them through old age, that it was with difficulty he could perceive an object, at least not distinctly: so that he could not see ; very plainly, otherwise he did see the sons of Joseph, though he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 48:11

And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face ,.... Some years ago he never expected to have seen him any more; he had given him up for lost, as a dead man, when his sons brought him his coat dipped in blood; and by reason of the long course of years which passed before ever he heard anything of him: and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed ; it was an additional favour to see his offspring; it can hardly be thought, that in a course of seventeen years he had been in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 48:12

And Joseph brought them out from between his knees ,.... Either from between his own, where they were kneeling, as he was sitting, in order that they might be nearer his father, to receive his blessing by the putting on of his hands; or rather from between his father's knees, he, as Aben Ezra observes, sitting on the bed, having kissed and embraced them, they were still between his knees; and that they might not be burdensome to his aged father, leaning on his breast, and especially, in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 48:13

And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand ,.... He took Ephraim his youngest son in his right hand, and led him up to his father, by which means he would stand in a right position to have his grandfather's left hand put upon him: and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand ; Manasseh his eldest son he took in his left hand, and brought him to his father, and so was in a proper position to have his right hand laid upon him, as seniority of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 48:14

And Israel stretched out his right hand ,.... Not directly forward, but across, or otherwise it would have been laid on Manasseh, as Joseph designed it should by the position he placed him in: and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger , the right hand being the strongest and most in use, as it was reckoned most honourable to sit at it, so to have it imposed, as being significative of the greater blessing: and his left hand upon Manasseh's head ; who was the older: ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 48:8

Who are these? - At Genesis 48:10 ; it is said, that Jacob's eyes were dim for age, that he could not see - could not discern any object unless it were near him; therefore, though he saw Ephraim and Manasseh, yet he could not distinguish them till they were brought nigh unto him. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 48:11

I had not thought to see thy face - There is much delicacy and much tenderness in these expressions. He feels himself now amply recompensed for his long grief and trouble on account of the supposed death of Joseph, in seeing not only himself but his two sons, whom God, by an especial act of favor, is about to add to the number of his own. Thus we find that as Reuben and Simeon were heads of two distinct tribes in Israel, so were Ephraim and Manasseh; because Jacob, in a sort of sacramental... read more

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