481 Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told , "Behold , your father is sick ." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. 2 When it was told to Jacob , "Behold , your son Joseph has come to you," Israel collected his strength and sat up in the bed . 3 Then Jacob said to Joseph , " God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and He said to me, 'Behold , I will make you fruitful and numerous , and I will make you a company of peoples , and will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession .' 5 "Now your two sons , who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt , are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 "But your offspring that have been born after them shall be yours; they shall be called by the names of their brothers in their inheritance . 7 "Now as for me, when I came from Paddan , Rachel died , to my sorrow , in the land of Canaan on the journey , when there was still some distance e to go to Ephrath ; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem )."
8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons , he said , "Who are these ?" 9 Joseph said to his father , " They are my sons , whom God has given me here ." So he said , "Bring them to me, please , that I may bless them." 10 Now the eyes of Israel were so dim from age that he could not see . Then Joseph brought them close to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 Israel said to Joseph , "I never expected to see your face , and behold , God has let me see your children as well ." 12 Then Joseph took them from his knees , and bowed with his face to the ground . 13 Joseph took them both , Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left , and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right , and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim , who was the younger , and his left hand on Manasseh's head , crossing his hands , although Manasseh was the firstborn . 15 He blessed Joseph , and said , " The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked , The God who has been my shepherd all e my life to this day , 16 The angel who has redeemed me from all evil , Bless the lads ; And may my name live on in them, And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac ; And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth ." 17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim's head , it displeased him; and he grasped his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head . 18 Joseph said to his father , "Not so , my father , for this one is the firstborn . Place your right hand on his head ." 19 But his father refused and said , "I know , my son , I know ; he also will become a people and he also will be great . However , his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations ." 20 He blessed them that day , saying , "By you Israel will pronounce blessing , saying , 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh !' " Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh . 21 Then Israel said to Joseph , "Behold , I am about to die , but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers . 22 "I give you one portion more than your brothers , which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow ."
