Genesis 48:5-6 - Exposition

And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt ( vide Genesis 41:50-52 ) before I came unto thee into Egypt, —this would almost seem to imply that Jacob knew of Joseph's having had sons born to him since his (Jacob's) arrival at Goshen—are mine (i.e. I shall reckon them as my own sons, giving them an equal place with the other members of my family); as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine —literally, Ephraim and Manasseh, as Reuben and Simeon, shall be mine . The double portion thus conferred upon Joseph in the persons of his son? was a practical investiture of him with the birthright of which Reuben had been deprived ( 1 Chronicles 5:1 ), in respect at least of the inheritance; in respect of the honor of being the next connecting link in the chain of redemption, leading on and down to the coming of the Savior, the birthright appears to have been transferred to Judah ( Genesis 49:8-10 ). And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine (i.e. shall be reckoned in thine own family), and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. They should not form heads of separate tribes, but be ranked under the banners of Ephraim and Manasseh. It is uncertain whether Joseph had more sons than two ( vide supra ); if he had, they were included in the families of their brethren, as here directed (cf. Numbers 26:28-37 ; 1 Chronicles 7:14-29 ).