22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine(A) Bilhah,(B) and Israel heard of it.

Jacob had twelve sons:

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15 Then he blessed(A) Joseph and said,

“May the God before whom my fathers
    Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,(B)
the God who has been my shepherd(C)
    all my life to this day,
16 the Angel(D) who has delivered me from all harm(E)
    —may he bless(F) these boys.(G)
May they be called by my name
    and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,(H)
and may they increase greatly
    on the earth.”(I)

17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand(J) on Ephraim’s head(K) he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”(L)

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great.(M) Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he,(N) and his descendants will become a group of nations.(O) 20 He blessed(P) them that day(Q) and said,

“In your[a] name will Israel(R) pronounce this blessing:(S)
    ‘May God make you like Ephraim(T) and Manasseh.(U)’”

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you[b](V) and take you[c] back to the land of your[d] fathers.(W) 22 And to you I give one more ridge of land[e](X) than to your brothers,(Y) the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword(Z) and my bow.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 48:20 The Hebrew is singular.
  2. Genesis 48:21 The Hebrew is plural.
  3. Genesis 48:21 The Hebrew is plural.
  4. Genesis 48:21 The Hebrew is plural.
  5. Genesis 48:22 The Hebrew for ridge of land is identical with the place name Shechem.

“Reuben, you are my firstborn,(A)
    my might, the first sign of my strength,(B)
    excelling in honor,(C) excelling in power.
Turbulent as the waters,(D) you will no longer excel,
    for you went up onto your father’s bed,
    onto my couch and defiled it.(E)

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