Ephraim and Manasseh


By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Hebrews 11:21

Joseph went through a great deal of trouble because of his brothers. In the end, though, Jacob got to see Joseph and his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. It's interesting to note that he blessed Joseph (the youngest) before he blessed Joseph's brothers. When Jacob himself was being blessed by Isaac, he fooled his father. Now he put his hands on Manasseh's and Ephraim's to bless them even though Joseph tried to switch his hands. Jacob corrected Joseph and told him he knew what he was doing. Ephraim, the younger brother, got the right hand blessing, "his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations." Once again, the younger child got the greater blessing.

According to Rabbi Parashat Vayehi, "I suggest to you that when Jacob is blessing his grandchildren he is also blessing every Jew in every generation. Jacob's blessings on his sons were specific to them. But the blessings to his grandchildren speak to every one of us. This is why the blessing of Jacob to his grandsons was chosen as the blessing we bless our sons with every Friday night. To our daughters we bless them to be like Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, and Leah our matriarchs. But our boys we bless them to be like Menashe and Ephraim, because their blessing was an eternal one to every future Jewish child."

"May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh." Jacob had faith that those two grandchildren would do great things. Do you have great faith that your children and grandchildren will do great things? Do you bless them to be great?


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