When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to you," Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed. When Jacob was toldThe name "Jacob" here is significant as it reflects his identity before God renamed him Israel. The Hebrew root for Jacob, "Ya'akov," means "heel" or "supplanter," which is a reminder of his early life and struggles. This phrase sets the stage for a moment of transition and blessing, as Jacob, the patriarch, is about to pass on his legacy. The act of being "told" signifies the importance of communication and the transmission of vital family and spiritual information. Your son Joseph has come to you
Joseph, whose name in Hebrew is "Yosef," meaning "He will add," is a central figure in the narrative of Genesis. His coming to Jacob signifies a reunion and the continuation of God's promise through the family line. Joseph's presence is a fulfillment of God's providence, as he was instrumental in preserving the family during famine. This phrase highlights the importance of family unity and the fulfillment of divine promises through generations. Israel rallied his strength
The use of "Israel" instead of "Jacob" here is intentional, reflecting his God-given identity and the spiritual authority he holds. The Hebrew root for Israel, "Yisra'el," means "God prevails" or "he struggles with God," indicating a life transformed by divine encounters. "Rallied his strength" suggests a supernatural empowerment, as Israel, despite his frailty, gathers his strength for a significant spiritual act. This moment underscores the theme of divine strength in human weakness, a recurring biblical motif. and sat up in bed
The act of sitting up in bed, especially for an elderly and frail patriarch, symbolizes readiness and alertness for a significant event. In the cultural and historical context, this posture indicates respect and the seriousness of the moment. It is a physical preparation for the blessing that is to follow, emphasizing the importance of posture and readiness in spiritual matters. This phrase invites reflection on the need for spiritual vigilance and preparedness in our own lives. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jacob/IsraelThe patriarch of the Israelites, Jacob is also known as Israel. In this passage, he is nearing the end of his life and is preparing to bless his descendants. 2. JosephJacob's beloved son, who was sold into slavery by his brothers but rose to become a powerful leader in Egypt. He visits his father Jacob in this passage. 3. EgyptThe land where Joseph has risen to power and where Jacob and his family have settled during a time of famine. 4. Blessing of the SonsThis event is part of the larger account where Jacob blesses Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which has significant implications for the tribes of Israel. Teaching Points The Importance of LegacyJacob's act of sitting up to bless his sons underscores the importance of passing on a spiritual legacy. As believers, we are called to invest in the next generation, imparting wisdom and faith. Strength in WeaknessDespite his frailty, Jacob rallies his strength to fulfill his duty. This teaches us that God can use us in our weakness to accomplish His purposes. Faith in God's PromisesJacob's actions are rooted in his faith in God's promises to his forefathers. We are encouraged to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem uncertain. The Role of FamilyThe family unit is central to God's plan, as seen in Jacob's blessing of his grandsons. We should prioritize family relationships and seek to nurture them in faith. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Jacob's action of sitting up in bed to bless his sons reflect his priorities at the end of his life? How can we apply this to our own lives? 2. In what ways does the renaming of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35:10) influence the significance of this passage? How does this transformation relate to our identity in Christ? 3. How does the blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh connect to the broader account of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? What does this teach us about God's faithfulness? 4. Reflect on a time when you felt weak but were able to accomplish something significant. How can Jacob's example encourage you in future challenges? 5. How can we ensure that we are leaving a spiritual legacy for the next generation? What practical steps can we take to invest in the faith of our family members? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 35:10This verse recounts God renaming Jacob as Israel, which is significant as it highlights the transformation and covenant relationship between God and Jacob. Hebrews 11:21This New Testament verse references Jacob's faith as he blesses Joseph's sons, emphasizing the importance of faith in God's promises. Genesis 27The blessing of Jacob by Isaac, which parallels the blessing Jacob is about to give, showing the continuity of God's covenant through generations. People Amorites, Ephrath, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Manasseh, Rachel, Reuben, SimeonPlaces Bethlehem, Canaan, Ephrath, Luz, Paddan, RamesesTopics Bed, Behold, Collected, Declareth, Getting, Jacob, Joseph, Lifted, Rallied, Sat, Sit, Someone, Strength, Strengthen, Strengthened, SummonedDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 48:2 5229 bed Genesis 48:1-20 1651 numbers, 1-2
7266 tribes of Israel Library Two Retrospects of one Life
'And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been.'--GENESIS xlvii. 9. 'The God which fed me all my life long unto this day; the Angel which redeemed me from all evil.' --GENESIS xlviii. 15,16. These are two strangely different estimates of the same life to be taken by the same man. In the latter Jacob categorically contradicts everything that he had said in the former. 'Few and evil,' he said before Pharaoh. 'All my life long,' 'the Angel which redeemed me from …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureA Calm Evening, Promising a Bright Morning
'And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Wonderful.
Isaiah ix:6. HIS name shall be called "Wonderful" (Isaiah ix:6). And long before Isaiah had uttered this divine prediction the angel of the Lord had announced his name to be Wonderful. As such He appeared to Manoah. And Manoah said unto the angel of Jehovah, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor. And the angel of Jehovah said unto Him "why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is Wonderful" (margin, Judges xiii:17-18). This angel of Jehovah, the Person who …
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory Blessing Children. Concerning Childlikeness.
(in Peræa.) ^A Matt. XIX. 13-15; ^B Mark X. 13-16; ^C Luke XVIII. 15-17. ^a 13 Then were there brought ^b 13 And they were bringing ^a unto him little children, { ^c also their babes,} that he should touch them: ^a that he should lay his hands on them, and pray [According to Buxtorf, children were often brought to the presidents of the synagogue in order that they might pray over them. The prayers of a good man in our behalf have always been regarded as a blessing; no wonder, then, that the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Gen. xxxi. 11
Of no less importance and significance is the passage Gen. xxxi. 11 seq. According to ver. 11, the Angel of God, [Hebrew: mlaK halhiM] appears toJacob in a dream. In ver. 13, the same person calls himself the God of Bethel, with reference to the event recorded in chap. xxviii. 11-22. It cannot be supposed that in chap xxviii. the mediation of a common angel took place, who, however, had not been expressly mentioned; for Jehovah is there contrasted with the angels. In ver. 12, we read: "And behold …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision B. At Jacob's Well, and at Sychar. ^D John IV. 5-42. ^d 5 So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 and Jacob's well was there. [Commentators long made the mistake of supposing that Shechem, now called Nablous, was the town here called Sychar. Sheckem lies a mile and a half west of Jacob's well, while the real Sychar, now called 'Askar, lies scarcely half a mile north of the well. It was a small town, loosely called …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 48:2 NIVGenesis 48:2 NLTGenesis 48:2 ESVGenesis 48:2 NASBGenesis 48:2 KJV
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