Generations Forget and Remember (Vayechi, Covenant & Conversation) |
The drama of younger and older brothers which haunts the book of Bereishit from Cain and Abel onwards reaches a strange climax in the story of Joseph’s children. Jacob/Israel is nearing the end of his life. Joseph visits him, bringing with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. It is the only scene of grandfather and grandchildren in the book. Jacob asks Joseph to bring them near so that he can bless them. What follows next is described in painstaking detail:
Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right hand to Israel’s left, and Manasseh on his left hand to Israel’s right, and brought them close. Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, even though he was the younger. And, crossing his hands, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though he was the firstborn… (Gen. 48:13-14)
When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was displeased. He took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. Joseph said to his father, “Not so, father. This is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.” But his father refused: “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great, but his younger brother will become even greater, and his descendants will become an abundance of nations.” On that day, he blessed them: “By you shall Israel bless, saying: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” He put Ephraim before Manasseh. (Gen. 48:17-20)
It is not difficult to understand the care Joseph took to ensure that Jacob would bless the firstborn first. Three times his father had set the........