So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
Jacob's last blessing on Joseph's sons was not a private wish. It became a public formula. From that day on, Israel would bless its own children by naming these two boys. The verse also settles the drama of the crossed hands: Jacob put the younger boy first.
Faith Speaking at the End of a Life
Jacob's eyesight is failing, but his spiritual sight is not. He holds his course even when his beloved son objects.
Hamilton SmithHe acts no longer as nature would dictate, but as God would direct. He crosses his hands "intelligently," placing the right hand on the younger and the left hand on the elder... Joseph lets his natural thoughts rule him. He does not see the sovereignty of God, who blesses according to His own purpose. So he objects when Jacob gives first place to the younger son. Jacob, however, will not give way to Joseph's natural wishes. He knows exactly what he is doing. He can say, "I know, my son, I know." His spiritual vision was never brighter than at the moment when his natural vision had become dim with age.
Grace Choosing, Faith Agreeing
Everything here is given, not earned. The boys had no claim by birth. Jacob's part is to agree with what God has decided.
J. G. BellettAll is grace on God's part, and all is faith in the heart of Jacob. The proper work and duty of faith is to accept the decisions of grace. That is just what grace is doing here. Grace adopts the sons of Joseph, who had no title in the flesh, and takes them into the family of Abraham. Grace gives them the firstborn's place and portion — the double portion — as if they were Reuben and Simeon. Grace sets the younger of them above the elder... Nature may resent this; but Jacob is true to the word of grace committed to him.
What the Two Names Carry
The order makes sense once you read the names.
F. B. HoleThe name Manasseh means Forgetting, which is negative. Ephraim means Fruitful, which is clearly positive. The first man and his race are negative toward God. They are the complete denial of all His thoughts. In Christ, the Second Man, is the Yes and Amen to all God's thoughts, and all fruitfulness is found in Him. He is indeed the Man of God's right hand.
Another writer links the same two names to Paul's words about the past.
F. W. GrantWe find the law of spiritual increase in him, shown by the name of his son "Ephraim" — "fruitfulness." But the way to fruitfulness runs through "Manasseh" — "forgetfulness." It was the same with the apostle: "forgetting what lies behind ... I press on." Manasseh is in fact the first-born. But the end is greater than the means, so Ephraim is greater than Manasseh in the mind of God. Nature often resists such a simple conclusion in us, as it did in Joseph here.
The Old Man and His Own Stolen Blessing
Jacob had once obtained a father's blessing by trickery, taking advantage of a blind old man. Now he is the blind father himself, and this time there is no trick.
William KellyJacob saw clearly, where Isaac had been dim. Jacob saw more clearly than Joseph, who until then had been given sharper insight into divine things than other men of God. What deep self-judgment must have gone through Israel's spirit, as he looked back on the blessing he had once stolen by his own trickery! Could the Lord not have crossed Isaac's hands Himself, to His own glory and without shaming His servant, and so kept His word of promise to Jacob? How sad that Jacob did not trust Him!
Two Boys, Two Tribes
The words spoken over these grandsons had a national outcome.
Truth & TestimonyThe wealth that went with the birthright went to Joseph, the first son of Rachel, the loved wife. The first-born had a right to a double portion of the inheritance. Or rather, that wealth went to Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph's sons. Jacob had already blessed them and more or less adopted them as his own sons. So Ephraim and Manasseh gained a place of their own among the tribes of Israel.
Summary
- Faith sees. Jacob's eyes were dim, but he crossed his hands on purpose. His spiritual sight was sharpest when his eyesight was gone.
- Grace chooses. The boys had no natural claim. Their adoption, their double portion, and the younger set above the elder are all decisions of grace.
- Faith agrees. Joseph pushed back out of natural affection. Jacob's answer, "I know, my son, I know," is faith accepting what grace has decided.
- The names teach. Manasseh means "forgetting," Ephraim means "fruitful." Forgetting is the means, fruitfulness is the end — and God puts the end first.
- Israel repeats it. One old man's words over two grandsons became the nation's own form of blessing. They also gave Ephraim and Manasseh a tribal place of their own.