Drash
Genesis 48:13-16

Blaine Robison, M.A.

Delivered 7 January 2023

Home

Bear the Name

"13 And Joseph took the two of them—Ephraim with his right hand toward the left hand of Israel, and Manasseh with his left hand toward the right hand of Israel, and brought them near him. 14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, and he was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, and crossing his hands, though Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has shepherded me all my life to this day, 16 the Angel who has rescued me from all evils, bless the youths; and let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the land." (Gen 48:13-16 BR)

Today's parashah, which covers Genesis 47:28 to the end of the book, tells of Jacob's last days in Goshen, his request for burial in Canaan, his blessing of Joseph's sons, his prophetic blessing of all twelve of his sons, his death and burial, and finally Joseph's death.

After being elevated to power over Egypt the Pharaoh arranged Joseph's marriage to Asenath the daughter of an Egyptian pagan priest. During the seven years of plenty Asenath gave birth to two sons. Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh (meaning "making to forget") and the second-born Ephraim (meaning "fruitfulness").

The occasion of the blessing is that Jacob became sick and he thought he was near death. There was some unfinished business he had to attend to. The reason for Jacob's blessing on his grandsons is that he was transferring the birthright of the firstborn from Reuben to Joseph because of Reuben "defiling his father's bed" [Gen 49:4; 1Chr 5:1-2].

Jacob summoned his strength and managed to sit up on the side of the bed. He engaged in no small talk. He reminded Joseph how El Shaddai had appeared to him, changed his name, reaffirmed the Abrahamic covenant with him and promised to make him a company of nations and to give the title deed of the land of Canaan to his descendants as an everlasting possession. He also reviewed some family history, including the death of Joseph's mother Rachel, and affirmed that the two sons of Joseph belonged to their grandfather in whom they would have the standing of sons and thus deserve to receive blessing. Just as Isaac had pronounced prophetic blessing on Jacob, so Jacob would do the same for Joseph's sons.

To bless Joseph's sons Jacob placed his right hand on the head of Ephraim and his left hand on the head of Manasseh. This is the first mention in Scripture of blessing with the right hand. In the circumstance use of the right hand signified honor and precedence. Jacob then pronounced a blessing on Joseph himself and you'll notice that the text of the blessing contains a powerful testimony of Jacob's personal relationship with God. He affirmed that the same God who revealed Himself to Abraham and Isaac guided him through life and provided his needs. Moreover, the Angel of ADONAI, who changed his name, protected and rescued him from evils.

Jacob then exhorted Joseph that the name "Israel" given to him by the Angel, as well as the name of Abraham and Isaac, be taken by Ephraim and Manasseh. In other words Joseph had the responsibility to make sure that his sons embraced their covenantal identity and followed the example of their forefathers in obedience to God's expectations. They must put their paternal heritage before their maternal heritage [cf. Gen 48:5]. Eventually the Israelites would leave Egypt and Jacob did not want his descendants taking Egyptian influence and values with them [cf. Lev 18:3].

Joseph was distracted by and objected to the placement of Jacob's hands on the heads of his sons and tried to redirect his father's hands. Jacob explained that his action was purposeful and represented the future status of the two tribes that would descend from them. Ephraim would be greater than Manasseh, both in descendants and power. Jacob's kindly rebuke is a reminder that human desires must yield to God's will.

It is a peculiar circumstance in biblical history that from the beginning God exercised His sovereignty to choose a younger son for favor over the firstborn, as Abel and Seth before Cain; Shem before Japheth; Isaac before Ishmael; Jacob before Esau; Moses before Aaron; and David before his brothers. God never explains His rationale for His sovereign choice, but all the favored sons had a role in the great plan of bringing a redeemer to Israel.

Jacob was telling Joseph that the position his sons held in the family was not as important as the name the sons bore. Would Ephraim and Manasseh be sons of Pharaoh or sons of ADONAI? Now fast forward to the time of Isaiah who used the same grammar as found in Genesis 48:16 and prophesied that Israel would be named by a new name [Isa 62:2]. What name is that?

We only need to consider Yeshua's word to Ananias about Sha'ul in the book of Acts: "This one is a chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and Israel" [Acts 9:15]. It is a blessing and privilege to bear the name Israel, but more blessed is to bear the name of Yeshua. Being publicly identified with Yeshua carries with it a great responsibility. May we bring honor to that name by our lives.

Barukh Hashem.

Copyright © 2023 by Blaine Robison. All rights reserved.