and said to me, ‘I will make you fertile and numerous, making of you a community of peoples; and I will assign this land to your offspring to come for an everlasting possession.’
Now, your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, shall be mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine no less than Reuben and Simeon.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ועתה
481
שניבניך
442
הנולדים
145
לך
50
בארץ
293
מצרים
380
עדבאי
87
אליך
61
מצרימה
385
ליהם
85
אפרים
331
ומנשה
401
כראובן
279
ושמעון
472
יהיולי
71
Genesis 48:6
Gematria: 3148
ומולדתךאשרהולדתאחריהםלךיהיועלשםאחיהםיקראובנחלתם
But progeny born to you after them shall be yours; they shall be recorded instead ” of their brothers in their inheritance.
I [do this because], when I was returning from Paddan, Rachel died, to my sorrow, while I was journeying in the land of Canaan, when still some distance short of Ephrath; and I buried her there on the road to Ephrath”—now Bethlehem.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ואני
67
בבאי
15
מפדן
174
מתה
445
עלי
110
רחל
238
בארץ
293
כנען
190
בדרך
226
בעוד
82
כברתארץ
913
לבא
33
אפרתה
686
ואקברה
314
שם
340
בדרך
226
אפרת
681
הוא
12
בית
412
לחם
78
Genesis 48:8
Gematria: 1720
ויראישראלאתבנייוסףויאמרמיאלה
Noticing Joseph’s sons, Israel asked, “Who are these?”
Joseph took the two of them, Ephraim with his right hand—to Israel’s left—and Manasseh with his left hand—to Israel’s right—and brought them close to him.
But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head—thus crossing his hands—although Manasseh was the first-born.
The Messenger who has redeemed me from all harm—Bless the lads.In them may my name be recalled,And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,And may they be teeming multitudes upon the earth.”
When Joseph saw that his father was placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he thought it wrong; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s.
Word-by-Word Analysis
וירא
217
יוסף
156
כיישית
750
אביו
19
ידימינו
130
עלראש
601
אפרים
331
וירע
286
בעיניו
148
ויתמך
476
ידאביו
33
להסיר
305
אתה
406
מעל
140
ראשאפרים
832
עלראש
601
מנשה
395
Genesis 48:18
Gematria: 1933
ויאמריוסףאלאביולאכןאביכיזההבכרשיםימינךעלראשו
“Not so, Father,” Joseph said to his father, “for the other is the first-born; place your right hand on his head.”
But his father objected, saying, “I know, my son, I know. He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great. Yet his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall be plentiful enough for nations.”
So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you shall Israel invoke blessings, saying: God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
And now, I assign to you one portion portion Meaning of Heb. shekhem uncertain; others “mountain slope.” more than to your brothers, which I wrested from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”