4. He said to me, ‘I will give you many children. I will make you the father of many peoples. And I will give your descendants this land forever.’
5. Your two sons were born here in Egypt before I came. They will be counted as my own sons. Ephraim and Manasseh will be my sons just as Reuben and Simeon are my sons.
6. But if you have other children, they will be your own. But their land will be part of the land given to Ephraim and Manasseh.
7. When I came from Northwest Mesopotamia, Rachel died in the land of Canaan. We were traveling toward Ephrath. This made me very sad. I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath.” (Today Ephrath is Bethlehem.)
8. Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons. He said, “Who are these boys?”
9. Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons. God has given them to me here in Egypt.”Israel said, “Bring your sons to me so I may bless them.”
10. At this time Israel’s eyesight was bad because he was old. So Joseph brought the boys close to him. Israel kissed the boys and put his arms around them.
11. He said to Joseph, “I thought I would never see you alive again. And now God has let me see you and also your children.”
12. Then Joseph moved his sons off Israel’s lap. Joseph bowed facedown to the ground.
13. He put Ephraim on his right side and Manasseh on his left. (So Ephraim was near Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh was near Israel’s right hand.) Joseph brought the boys close to Israel.
14. But Israel crossed his arms. He put his right hand on the head of Ephraim, who was younger. He put his left hand on the head of Manasseh. But he was the firstborn son.