Genesis 48

1 And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph (Yosef), “Behold, your father is sick; and he took with him his two sons, Menashsheh and Efrayim.

2 And one told Jacob (Yaaqov), and said, “Behold, your son Joseph (Yosef) cometh unto you”; and Yisrael strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

3 And Jacob (Yaaqov) said unto Joseph (Yosef), “Almighty God (El Shaddai) appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

4 And said unto me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people; and will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.’

5 And now your two sons, Efrayim and Menashsheh, who were born unto you in the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim) before I came unto you into Egypt (Mitsrayim), are mine; as Reuven and Shimon, they shall be mine.

6 And your issue, whom you begettest after them, shall be yours, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.

7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem (Beit-Lechem).”

8 And Yisrael beheld Joseph (Yosef)’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”

9 And Joseph (Yosef) said unto his father, “They are my sons, whom God (Elohim) hath given me in this place.” And he said, “Please bring them unto me, and I will bless them.”

10 Now the eyes of Yisrael were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

11 And Yisrael said unto Joseph (Yosef), “I had not thought to see your face; and, behold, God (Elohim) hath shewed me also your seed!”

12 And Joseph (Yosef) brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

13 And Joseph (Yosef) took them both, Efrayim in his right hand toward Yisrael’s left hand, and Menashsheh in his left hand toward Yisrael’s right hand, and brought them near unto him.

14 And Yisrael stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Efrayim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Menashsheh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Menashsheh was the firstborn.

15 And he blessed Joseph (Yosef), and said, “God (Elohim), before whom my fathers Avraham and Isaac (Yitschaq) did walk, the God (Elohim) who fed me all my life long unto this day,

16 The Angel who redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Avraham and Isaac (Yitschaq); and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

17 And when Joseph (Yosef) saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Efrayim, it displeased him; and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Efrayim’s head unto Menashsheh’s head.

18 And Joseph (Yosef) said unto his father, “Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn; put your right hand upon his head.”

19 And his father refused, and said, “I know it, my son, I know it; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.”

20 And he blessed them that day, saying, “In you shall Yisrael bless, saying, ‘God (Elohim) make you as Efrayim and as Menashsheh!’” And he set Efrayim before Menashsheh.

21 And Yisrael said unto Joseph (Yosef), “Behold, I die; but God (Elohim) shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”