Joseph visiteth his father being sick. 5. Who adopteth his two sons Manasses and Ephraim, 12. and blesseth them, preferring the younger before the elder, contrary to Joseph's mind. 22. And giveth a portion of land to Joseph, above his brethren.Ioseph visiteth his father being sick. 5. Who adopteth his two sonnes Manasses and Ephraim, 12. and blesseth them, preferring the younger before the elder, contrarie to Iosephs mind. 22. And geueth a portion of land to Ioseph, aboue his brethren.
These things being so done, it was told Joseph that his father was sick: who, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim, went forward.THese things being so done, it was told Ioseph that his father was sicke: who, taking his two sonnes Manasses and Ephraim, went forward.His ita transactis, nuntiatum est Joseph quod ægrotaret pater suus : qui, assumptis duobus filiis Manasse et Ephraim, ire perrexit.
2And it was told the old man: Behold thy son Joseph cometh to thee. Who being strengthened sat on his bed:And it was told the old man: Behold thy sonne Ioseph cometh to thee. Who being strengthned sate on his bed:Dictumque est seni : Ecce filius tuus Joseph venit ad te. Qui confortatus sedit in lectulo.
3And Joseph being entered in to him, he said: God almighty appeared to me in Luza, which is in the Land of Chanaan: and He blessed me,And Ioseph being entred in to him, he said: God almightie appeared to me in Luza, which is in the Land of Chanaan: and He blessed me,Et ingresso ad se ait : Deus omnipotens apparuit mihi in Luza, quæ est in terra Chanaan : benedixitque mihi,
4and said: I will increase, and multiply thee, and make thee into multitudes of peoples: and I will give thee this land, and to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.and sayd: I wil increase, and multiplie thee, and make thee into multitudes of peoples: and I wil geue thee this land, and to thy sede after thee for an euerlasting possession.et ait : Ego te augebo et multiplicabo, et faciam te in turbas populorum : daboque tibi terram hanc, et semini tuo post te in possessionem sempiternam.
5Thy two sons therefore, which were born to thee in the Land of Egypt before I came hither to thee, shall be mine: Ephraim and Manasses, as Ruben and Simeon shall be reckoned, counted · Vulgate: reputabuntur to me.Thy two sonnes therfore, which were borne to thee in the Land of Ægypt before I came hither to thee, shalbe myne: Ephraim and Manasses, as Ruben and Simeon shalbe reputed to me.Duo ergo filii tui, qui nati sunt tibi in terra Ægypti antequam huc venirem ad te, mei erunt : Ephraim et Manasses, sicut Ruben et Simeon reputabuntur mihi.
6But the rest begotten of thee after them, shall be thine, and shall be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions.But the rest begotten of thee after them, shalbe thyne, and shal be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions.Reliquos autem quos genueris post eos, tui erunt, et nomine fratrum suorum vocabuntur in possessionibus suis.
7For unto me, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died in the land of Chanaan in the very journey, and it was spring time: and I entered into Ephrata, and buried her by the way side to Ephrata, which by another name is called Bethleem.For vnto me, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel dyed in the land of Chanaan in the very iourney, and it was spring time: and I entered into Ephrata, and buried her by the way side to Ephrata, which by an other name is called Bethleem.Mihi enim, quando veniebam de Mesopotamia, mortua est Rachel in terra Chanaan in ipso itinere, eratque vernum tempus : et ingrediebar Ephratam, et sepelivi eam juxta viam Ephratæ, quæ alio nomine appellatur Bethlehem.
8And seeing his sons he said to him: Who are these?And seeing his sonnes he said to him: Who are these?Videns autem filios ejus dixit ad eum : Qui sunt isti ?
9He answered: They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. Bring them, said · Vulgate: inquit he, to me, that I may bless them.He answered: They are my sonnes, whom God hath geuen me in this place. Bring them, quoth he, to me, that I may blesse them.Respondit : Filii mei sunt, quos donavit mihi Deus in hoc loco. Adduc, inquit, eos ad me, ut benedicam illis.
10For Israel's eyes were dim by reason of very great age, and he could not see clearly. And when they were set beside him, kissing and embracing them,For Israels eyes were dymme by reason of very great age, and he could not see clearly. And when they were set beside him, kissing and embracing them,Oculi enim Israël caligabant præ nimia senectute, et clare videre non poterat. Applicitosque ad se, deosculatus et circumplexus eos,
11he said to his son: I am not deprived, cheated of · Vulgate: fraudatus of thy sight: moreover God hath shewed me thy seed.he said to his sonne: I am not defrauded of thy sight: moreouer God hath shewed me thy sede.dixit ad filium suum : Non sum fraudatus aspectu tuo : insuper ostendit mihi Deus semen tuum.
12And when Joseph had taken them from his father's lap, he bowed down, did reverence (prostrate) · Vulgate: adoravit prostrate unto the ground.And when Ioseph had taken them from his fathers lappe, he adored prostrate vnto the ground.Cumque tulisset eos Joseph de gremio patris, adoravit pronus in terram.
13And he set Ephraim on his right hand, that is, on the left hand of Israel: but Manasses on his own left hand, to namely · Vulgate: scilicet, on his father's right hand, and put them near to him.And he set Ephraim on his right hand, that is, on the left hand of Israel: but Manasses on his owne left hand, to wit, on his fathers right hand, and put them nere to him.Et posuit Ephraim ad dexteram suam, id est, ad sinistram Israël : Manassen vero in sinistra sua, ad dexteram scilicet patris, applicuitque ambos ad eum.
14Who stretching forth his right hand, put it upon the head of Ephraim the younger brother: and the left upon the head of Manasses, that was the elder, changing crossing his arms one over the other: see the annotation · Vulgate: commutans manus.Who stretching forth his right hand, put it vpon the head of Ephraim the younger brother: and the left vpon the head of Manasses, that was the elder, changing handes.Qui extendens manum dexteram, posuit super caput Ephraim minoris fratris : sinistram autem super caput Manasse qui major natu erat, commutans manus.
15And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and said: God, in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac have walked, God that feedeth me from my youth until this present day:And Iacob blessed the sonnes of Ioseph, and said: God, in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac haue walked, God that feedeth me from my youth vntil this present day:Benedixitque Jacob filiis Joseph, et ait : Deus, in cujus conspectu ambulaverunt patres mei Abraham, et Isaac ; Deus qui pascit me ab adolescentia mea usque in præsentem diem :
16The Angel that delivereth me from all evils, bless these children: and be my name called upon them, the names also of my fathers Abraham, and Isaac, and grow they into a multitude upon the earth.The Angel that deliuereth me from al euils, blesse these children: and be my name called vpon them, the names also of my fathers Abraham, and Isaac, and grow they into a multitude vpon the earth.angelus, qui eruit me de cunctis malis, benedicat pueris istis : et invocetur super eos nomen meum, nomina quoque patrum meorum Abraham et Isaac, et crescant in multitudinem super terram.
17And Joseph seeing that his father had put his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, took it heavily: and taking his father's hand he went about to lift it from Ephraim's head, and to remove it upon the head of Manasses.And Ioseph seeing that his father had put his right hand vpon the head of Ephraim, tooke it heauily: and taking his fathers hand he went about to lift it from Ephraims head, and to remoue it vpon the head of Manasses.Videns autem Joseph quod posuisset pater suus dexteram manum super caput Ephraim, graviter accepit : et apprehensam manum patris levare conatus est de capite Ephraim, et transferre super caput Manasse.
18And he said to his father: It is not fitting, proper, not "handy" · Vulgate: convenit father so to be: because this is the first-begotten, put thy right hand upon his head.And he said to his father: It is not conuenient father so to be: because this is the first-begotten, put thy right hand vpon his head.Dixitque ad patrem : Non ita convenit, pater : quia hic est primogenitus, pone dexteram tuam super caput ejus.
19Who refusing, said: I know my son, I know: and this same indeed shall be into peoples, and shall be multiplied: but his younger brother shall be greater than he: and his seed shall grow into nations.Who refusing, said: I know my sonne, I know: and this same in dede shal be into peoples, and shal be multiplied: but his younger brother shal be greater then he: and his sede shal growe into nations.Qui renuens, ait : Scio, fili mi, scio : et iste quidem erit in populos, et multiplicabitur : sed frater ejus minor, major erit illo : et semen illius crescet in gentes.
20And he blessed them at that time, saying: In thee shall Israel be blessed, and it shall be said: God do unto thee as unto Ephraim, and as unto Manasses. And he set Ephraim before Manasses.And he blessed them at that time, saying: In thee shal Israel be blessed, and it shalbe said: God do vnto thee as vnto Ephraim, and as vnto Manasses. And he sette Ephraim before Manasses.Benedixitque eis in tempore illo, dicens : In te benedicetur Israël, atque dicetur : Faciat tibi Deus sicut Ephraim, et sicut Manasse. Constituitque Ephraim ante Manassen.
21And he said to Joseph his son: Behold I die, and God will be with you, and will bring you back into the land of your fathers.And he said to Ioseph his sonne: Behold I dye, and God wil be with you, and wil bring you backe into the land of your fathers.Et ait ad Joseph filium suum : En ego morior, et erit Deus vobiscum, reducetque vos ad terram patrum vestrorum.
22I do give thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorrhean with my sword and bow.I doe geue thee one portion aboue thy brethren, which I tooke out of the hand of the Amorrhean with my sword and bowe.Do tibi partem unam extra fratres tuos, quam tuli de manu Amorrhæi in gladio et arcu meo.
Annotations
48:14Stretching forth his right hand. As nature hath made the right hand readier to move, stronger to work and resist, and apter to frame and fashion any thing, so generally we use it more than the left. And when we use both at once, we ordinarily apply the right hand to the greater, and principal in execution effect, both in spiritual and corporal things. As in confirmation of fidelity or friendship, in blessing, writing, fighting, playing, and in most other things, we use the right hand, either only or chiefly. So the Patriarch Jacob laid his right hand upon Ephraim, knowing by prophetical spirit that he should be preferred, before his elder brother Manasses. Literally fulfilled in Josue, Jeroboam, and other chief Princes of Ephraim's issue. And mystically in the Gentiles, being later called of God, and yet preferred before the Jews. St. Cyprian li. 1 c. 11 adv. Judæos; St. Ambrose li. de benedict. Patriarch. c. 2; St. Augustine li. 16 c. 42 de civitate Dei, &c.
48:14Changing hands. The mystery, of the Gentiles excelling the Jews in time of grace, often prefigured by preferring the younger brother before the elder (Abel before Cain; Abraham before Nachor; Isaac before Ismael; Jacob himself before Esau: and now Ephraim before Manasses) is here further represented by Jacob's forming of a cross, with his arms laid one over the other, when he blessed his two nephews: who otherwise might have laid his right hand first upon one, and then upon the other, or have caused them to change places; but he wittingly crossed his arms, and changed his hands; or according to the Hebrew, made his hands understand, that is, by his crossing them, made it to be understood, not only that the younger should be in place of the elder, Ephraim before Manasses, and much more the Gentiles before the Jews, but also that this greater Mystery should be effected by Christ dying on a Cross. For what else could the very crossing of his arms, so wittingly and purposely done, signify, but the form and figure of Christ's Cross? As elsewhere the wood, which young Isaac carried on his back unto the mountain prefigured the matter or substance of the same Cross. All accomplished when Christ was crucified: whereby the Jews were scandalized, and the Gentiles called and saved. Our Saviour himself foretelling, that being exalted (to wit upon the Cross) would draw all unto himself. And St. Paul teaching that Christ fastened the handwriting, that was against us, upon the Cross.
48:16The Angel that delivereth me. It is evident by this plain text, that Jacob was delivered from evils by an Angel, and that he invocated the same Angel to bless his nephews. St. Basil (ser. 3 cont. Eunom. in initio) sheweth by this place amongst others, that an Angel is present with every one, as a pedagogue, and pastor, directing his life. St. Chrysostom also (ho. 7 in laud. S. Pauli) citeth this place in testimony, that proper Angels are deputed to protect men. Yet Protestants say, that this Angel must be understood of Christ: retracting their gloss to Genesis 31:13 and 32:1, where it cannot be proved. But the ancient Fathers teach the patronage and Invocation of Angels grounded in holy Scripture. Namely in this place, and many other places in the old Testament. Also Matt. 18; Acts 12; 1 Cor. 11; and the like. For example, St. Justin Martyr (in explic. q. necess. q. 30) affirming it for a known truth, declareth that those Angels, which receive the charge of guarding men, continue the same office either to both soul and body, or to the soul after it is parted from the body. St. Cyril of Alexandria (li. 4 cont. Julian. prope init.) shewing how God useth the ministry of holy Angels, for men's salvation, saith: His noxias nobis abigunt feras, &c. These (the Angels) drive away noisome wild beasts from us: and rescue those that are caught, from their cruelty, and reach whatsoever is laudable, to make our passage free, and not pestered, when with us they glorify one sovereign God. St. Chrysostom (ho. 60 in Matt. 18), St. Jerome upon the same place, St. Ambrose in Psalm 38, St. Augustine li. 83 q. 79 & li. Soliloq. c. 27, St. Gregory li. 4 c. 31 in Job, St. Bernard ser. 12 de Dedicat. Eccles. & ser. 11 in Psalm 90, and others, so universally teach the same, that Calvin (li. Instit. c. 14 sect. 38) doth not deny it, and yet will needs doubt of it.
48:16Be my name called upon them. This place hath two good literal senses. For first it importeth, that Ephraim and Manasses were made participant among the Tribes, of the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Secondly, that God would bless them, for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob's sake: so Moyses praying for the whole people (Exodus 32 [print: 31]) besought God to remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and God was therewith pacified.