MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM

Israel (Jacob) could not see because of his old age and he asked Joseph, Who is with you? And Joseph answered, They are my sons. Israel told Joseph to bring them near so that he could bless them. He hugged and kissed them and said to Joseph, I thought I'd never see your face again, and look, God has shown me your children too. Joseph bowed down in front of Israel, then took his sons and set Manasseh near Israel's right hand and Ephraim near his left hand.

But, Israel reached over and purposely put his right hand on the younger son Ephraim's head, and his left hand on the firstborn Manasseh's head. And he blessed Joseph, and said God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

When Joseph noticed that Israel's right hand was on Ephraim's head, it upset him and he held up Israel's hand to move it to Manasseh's head. Joseph said, Not so, my father, this is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head. But, Israel refused and said, I know it, my son, I know it. He will also become a people and he'll be great, but truly, his younger brother will be greater than him and his descendants will become a multitude of nations.

Then Israel set Ephraim in front of Manasseh and said to Joseph, God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh. He was telling him that even though he was younger that, he would be before.