Genesis 48:1-10 ▼

1 Some time later, somebody informed Joseph, |Your father is ill!| So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him to visit Jacob.

2 As soon as Jacob was informed, |Look! Your son Joseph has come to visit you,| Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed.

3 Jacob reminded Joseph, |God Almighty revealed himself to me at Luz in Canaan and blessed me.

4 He told me, 'Pay attention! I'm going to make you fruitful and numerous. I'm going to build you into a vast nation of people and then I'll give this land to your descendants for an eternal possession.'

5 You have two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came to be with you, whom I now take as my own. Ephraim and Manasseh are mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are.

6 Your descendants are to be reckoned as yours, but are to be referred to among the names of their brothers in their respective inheritances.

7 |Now as for me, Rachel died after I arrived in Canaan from Paddan, much to my sorrow. While I was on my journey to Ephrathah (also known as Bethlehem), I buried her there.|

8 Just then, Israel saw Joseph's sons and asked, |Who are these?|

9 |These are my sons,| Joseph replied. |God gave them to me here in Egypt.| |Please bring them close to me,| Jacob said, |so I can bless them.|

10 Now Israel's eyesight had become poor from age. Because he couldn't see well, Joseph brought them close to him, and Israel kissed them both and embraced them.