Genesis 48:8-19
When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, "Who are these?" Joseph said to
his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." And he said,
"Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them." Now the eyes of Israel
were dim with age, and he could not see well. So Joseph brought them near
him; and he kissed them and embraced them. Israel said to Joseph, "I did
not expect to see your face; and here God has let me see your children
also." Then Joseph removed them from his father's knees, and he bowed
himself with his face to the earth. Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his
right hand toward Israel's left, and Manasseh in his left hand toward
Israel's right, and brought them near him. But Israel stretched out his
right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and
his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands, for Manasseh
was the firstborn. He blessed Joseph, and said,
"The God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,
the angel who has redeemed me from all harm, bless the boys;
and in them let my name be perpetuated, and the name of my ancestors
Abraham and Isaac;
and let them grow into a multitude on the earth."
When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of
Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took his father's hand, to remove it
from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. Joseph said to his father, "Not
so, my father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on
his head." But his father refused, and said, "I know, my son, I know; he
also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless his
younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a
multitude of nations."
