“And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.”
Joseph more esteemeth that his children should be received into Jacob’s family, which was the Church of God, than to enjoy all the treasures of Egypt.
“And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,”
Cross references: : Gen. 28:13 Or, all sufficient.
“And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.”
Which is true in the carnal Israel unto the coming of Christ, and in the spiritual forever.
“And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.”
The faithful acknowledge all benefits come of God’s free mercies.
“And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.”
Hebrew, his face to the ground .
“And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.”
God’s judgments is oft times contrary to man’s, and he preferreth that, which man despiseth.
“The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. grow: Heb. as fishes do increase”
This Angel must be understood of Christ, as Gen. 31:13 and 32:1. Let them be taken as my children.
“And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. displeased: was evil in his eyes”
Joseph faileth in binding God’s grace to the order of nature.
“And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.”
In whom God’s graces should manifestly appear.
“And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.”
Which they had by faith in the promise.
“Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”
By my children whom God spared for my sake. Gen. 34:25