9. Genesis 48 to the end.

In Chapter 48 a very interesting case of family precedence arises. Joseph hears

that his father Jacob is ill so he goes to see him, together with his two sons

Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob informs Joseph that he will consider Ephraim and

Manasseh to be his own sons; they were born in Egypt before Jacob arrived there.

Any children born to Joseph after that were to be considered as Joseph's own.

Joseph brings his two sons to Jacob and they were placed on his knees for him

to see them. Then Joseph took the two boys and placed Ephraim on Jacob's

left side and Manasseh on his grandfather's right. Then Jacob did a strange

thing. He stretched out his right hand and

placed it on Ephraim's head, although he

was the younger of the boys. He then

crossed his hands and laid his left hand on

the head of Manasseh. This made Joseph

angry and he remonstrated with his father

asking him to lay his right hand on the

elder son. Jacob refused, telling Joseph

that although Manasseh would become a

people, and great, his brother would become greater and found a nation.

In Chapter 49 Jacob summons his sons and tells them what is going to happen

to them in the future. Reuben will lose his birthright because of something

that happened in Chapter 35. Simeon's and Levi's tribes will be dispersed. It is

from the tribe of Judah that the Messiah will come in the distant future. Thus

Jacob goes down the list - a most fascinating read. And so, in verse 33, Jacob

breathes his last and Joseph is given permission by Pharaoh to return to Canaan

and bury his father in his native land. It is interesting to note how many Egyptians

accompanied Joseph to his homeland.

After Jacob had died his sons became very uneasy and in Chapter 50, verses 15

to 21, we see they half-expect Joseph to exact vengeance on them because they

had sold him into slavery. Joseph, however, reassures them, telling them that,

although they intended to harm him, God brought good out of it. Joseph told

them that he would provide for their future in Egypt.

And so our long journey through the book of Genesis ends in Chapter 50 with

the death of Joseph whose body was embalmed and laid in a coffin in Egypt. We

shall hear of this coffin later in our journey through Exodus (the going out) and

follow the progress of the Israelites as they change from slaves to a people

capable of founding a nation.

In the next issue, we begin our journey

Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh