Once upon a time, after many trials and tribulations, the word came to Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob and overseer of Egypt, that his father was ill. Moved by the news, Joseph left the temperate climes of Egypt, taking his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim with him to Canaan, the land of his ancestors.
A messenger rushed ahead to inform Jacob of his son’s arrival. Hearing the news, Jacob, also known as Israel, gathered his strength and sat upright on his bed, a symbol of respect for his beloved son.
Coming before him, Jacob shared a divine revelation with Joseph. God Almighty had appeared to Jacob in Luz and pronounced a powerful benediction upon him. He would be made fruitful, his descendants numerous and would inherit the land of Canaan eternally.
Then Jacob cast his eyes upon Joseph’s two sons, born on Egyptian soil. He declared them to be his own, and they would be known as Ephraim and Manasseh, seen as equal to Jacob’s firstborn sons, Reuben and Simeon. Their future issues would bear the respected families’ names, preserving their inheritance.
Jacob then recalled a sorrowful memory of losing Rachel, his beloved wife and Joseph’s mother, en route to Ephrath. This tragic event which took place near Bethlehem, a place that later would hold much significance.
Adjusting his sights upon the two young boys, Jacob asked of their identity. Joseph, humbly responded, “They are my sons, whom God hath given me here”.
Jacob, his vision dimmed by age, beckoned for his grandsons. He kissed them, embraced them, and expressed his joy at not only being able to see his son, Joseph, but also his grandsons.
Joseph then ushered his sons to Jacob. Placing Ephraim on his right and Manasseh on his left, Jacob reached out, laying his right hand on Ephraim, the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh, the firstborn. He invoked a blessing upon them, wishing them to flourish greatly on earth, carrying forth the legacy of Abraham and Isaac.
Taken aback, Joseph tried to correct his father’s hands, explaining that Manasseh was the firstborn. But Jacob was unmoved. He told Joseph he knew what he was doing – acknowledging that while Manasseh’s descendants would also be great, Ephraim’s would be even greater, forming a multitude of nations.
That day, a new blessing was established: May God make you as Ephraim and Manasseh. The order was clear knowledge, Ephraim would come before Manasseh.
As the day drew to a close, Jacob reminded Joseph of his imminent death and the divine promise that will guide him – God will be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. As a token of his love, he granted Joseph one portion above his brothers, that which he had fought, with his sword and bow, to take from the Amorite.
And thus, the saga of Joseph, his sons and their blessed heritage continues, echoing across generations, shaping the course of history in the pages of the Bible.
