Genesis 48:2 - Exposition

And one told Jacob ( וַיַּגֵּד , also used impersonally, like וַיֹּאמֶר in Genesis 48:1 ), and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel —the significance of this change of name it is impossible to overlook (cf. Genesis 45:27 , Genesis 45:28 )— strengthened himself (for the work which, as head of the theocratic family, he now felt himself inwardly moved to perform), and sat upon the bed — i.e. he raised himself up to a sitting posture.