At the end of Ch 47 Joseph promises to Jacob to bury him back home and not in Egypt. How different Jacob’s words are now – v3, 4 “God has blessed me …. “ How important it is that we trust God through the lows as well as the highs.
Joseph took along his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh. A very moving ceremony takes place (v11) Jacob (Israel) said, “I never expected to see you and now God has allowed me to see your children.” And Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons, but he puts the younger ahead of the older. Reminiscent of Jacob obtaining the blessing of his father Isaac over his elder brother Esau.
Ever wondered why there is no tribe of Joseph among the twelve of Israel? Here is the answer in v5. Jacob says to Joseph, “Your two sons will be reckoned as mine, any sons born to you after them will be yours.”
The tribe of Levi did not have an inheritance as they were priests so that would leave 10 but Jacob says that Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph’s sons would each receive an inheritance, thus Joseph got a double portion. In fact, they were given the birthright because Reuben, the eldest, sinned by incest with his father’s concubine. (1 Chronicles 5:1; Genesis 35:22)
