Of all the troubles and pains that Jacob had gone through, the most painful dispensation was the time when he had to be separated with Joseph with the thought that Joseph had died.
And same for Joseph, imprisoned unfairly after life as a slave with pounding questions – why did not his father look for him or when would this end?
This chapter provides closure for all the pains and unsettled questions.
Finally Jacob declared the goodness and the faithfulness of YHWH.
Israel said to Joseph, “I did not expect to see your face; and here God has let me see your children also.” – and then he blessed Joseph’s sons while declaring God’s faithfulness to him:
“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.”
Jacob gave double portion to Joseph, both his sons counted as one tribe each. Hence in the division of the land, Levi did not have the land, but Ephraim and Manasseh did.
Also to signify again his love over Joseph, he said: “I now give to you one portion more than to your brothers, the portion that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”
(— -> this plot of land is also important, as there is the Jacob’s well there. God himself, one day would walk there, rested there and had a chat with an outcast Samaritan woman. Over there he was declaring that the true way of worshipping God is in Spirit and truth and not about the place.)
“My sword and my bow” signifies something that is personal to him and the special gift Jacob had for Joseph.
The cross blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh is interesting. Gerrit quipped that this is one of bible humours. John Wesley denied it as humour, explaining that Ephraim became more numerous later while Manasseh’s land was divided by river, and concluded that it was the symbol of grace where the weak is upheld.
Why did Jacob do that? Did he do it as retaliation of his own experience being denied of special right by birth?
There’re not many tales about the importance of Ephraim over Manasseh, except that Joshua was born from Ephraim tribe.
I would see that Joseph’s prophecy would then be fulfilled in that Joshua’s role, signifying his role as the one who brought Israel back to the promised land.
Following Jacob’s life from his birth, I can say this moment was a happy ending closure for all his pains.
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