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The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:1-22
We are admitted into the inner chamber of the patriarch's departing life, and we see there the presence of Jehovah with him. He is— 1. The subject of inspiration. 2. The mediator of the Divine promises. He is under the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:2
And one told Jacob ( וַיַּגֵּד, also used impersonally, like וַיֹּאמֶר in Genesis 48:1), and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel—the significance of this change of name it is impossible to overlook…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:7
And as for me (literally, and I, the pronoun being emphatic), when I came from Padan,—literally, in my coming, i.e. while on my journey, from Padam, or Padan-aram. This is the only place where the shorter designation is…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:8
And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? The failing sight of the patriarch (Genesis 48:10) probably was the reason why he did not sooner recognize his grandchildren, and the fact that he did not at fir…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:9
And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons (of whom you have just spoken), whom God hath given me in this place. It speaks highly in Joseph's favor that, after listening to Jacob's promise regarding Ephraim and M…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:10
Now (literally, and) the eyes of Israel were dim (literally, heavy) for age, so that he could not see. This explains why he did not earlier recognize his grandchildren, and why he asked them to be set close by his bed.…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:11
And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God (Elohim) hath showed me also thy seed. The first half of Israel's utterance is rendered by the LXX. "Ιδοὺ τοῦ προσώπου σου οὐκ ἐστερήθην"
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:12
And Joseph brought them out from between his knees (literally, from near his knees, i.e. the knees of his father, who while in the act of embracing had drawn them into that position), and he (viz. Joseph) bowed himself…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:13
And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him. Joseph naturally expected that Jacob's right hand…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:14
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head,—the first instance of the imposition of hands being used as a symbol of blessing. Though not necessarily connected with the form of benediction,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:17
And when (literally, and) Joseph saw that his father laid (or was laying) his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him:—literally, and it was evil in his eyes (cf. Genesis 28:8)—and (supposing his father h…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:18
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. "From Joseph's behavior we cannot certainly infer that, like Isaac, he loved the firstborn better than the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:19
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 (literally, and over against that; אוּלָם, the strongly adversative particle, signifyi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:20
And he (i.e. Jacob) blessed them that day, saying, In thee (i.e. in Joseph, who is still identified with his sons) shall Israel (the nation) bless, saying, God (Elohim, the supreme source of all blessing) make thee as E…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:21
And Israel (Jacob) said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God (Elohim) shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. "For Joseph and his children a great promise and dispensation" (Lange).
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:22
Moreover (literally, and) I have given—or, I give (Keil), I will give (Kalisch), the preterit being used prophetically as a future, or even as a present, the event being regarded, from its certainty, as already accompli…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:1
And Jacob (having closed his interview with Joseph and his two sons) called (by means of messengers) unto his sons (i.e. the others who were then absent), and said, Gather yourselves together,—the prophet's last utteran…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:1-33
Last words. Jacob's benediction on his sons was a prophetic treasure, to be kept in store by future generations, and a foundation on which much faith could afterwards be built.. It has been called "the last full bloom o…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:1-33
The patriarchal blessing, or the last words of Jacob, I. THE SONS OF LEAH. 1. The blessing on Reuben. 2. The blessings on Simeon and Levi. It is only by a species of irony that the words pronounced on the authors of the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:2
Gather yourselves together,—the repetition indicates at once the elevation of the speaker's soul, and the importance, in his mind, of the impending revelation—and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your fat…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:5-7
Simeon and Levi are brethren (not in parentage alone, but also in their deeds; e.g. their massacre of the Shechemites (Genesis 34:25), to which undoubtedly the next words allude); instruments of cruelty are in their hab…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:8-12
Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise—literally, Judah thou, will praise thee thy brethren, the word יְהוּדָה being a palpable play on יודוךָ (cf. Genesis 29:35). Leah praised Jehovah for his birth, and his…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:8-12
Judah's portion. "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise," etc. This dying vision and the utterances of the dying patriarch seem in harmony with all the surroundings in this part of the sacred record. The age…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 49:10
The coming of Shiloh. Remarkable agreement of ancient interpreters, Jewish as well as Christian, to consider this a prophecy of Messiah. The former of special value, as being before the event. The Targum of Onkelos rend…