Interesting Facts

• Manasseh was one of the two sons born to Joseph by Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah priest of Heliopolis, before Jacob came into Egypt.
• When Joseph brought Manasseh and Ephraim to the ailing Jacob for a blessing, Jacob intentionally crossed his hands, placing his right hand (the greater blessing) on Ephraim, the younger, which displeased Joseph.
• Manasseh is described as being with Joseph when the brothers returned for Benjamin, and he witnessed Joseph’s interactions with them.
• Manasseh, son of Joseph, smote Simeon a heavy blow to subdue him when Simeon resisted being bound, an act that astonished Jacob’s sons.
• During the tense confrontation between Joseph and Judah, Joseph commanded Manasseh to mimic Judah’s display of strength by lifting and crushing a large stone, indicating Manasseh possessed considerable strength.

Genealogy

• Manasseh was the son of Joseph.
• His mother was Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah priest of Heliopolis.
• He had a younger brother, Ephraim.
• He was a grandson of Jacob (Israel).
• His lineage connects him to the tribe of Joseph, which received a double portion in Israel.

Historical Context

Manasseh was born and raised in Egypt during a time when his father, Joseph, held a position of immense power and influence, eventually becoming second only to Pharaoh. He would have been exposed to Egyptian culture and customs, growing up in a magnificent house built by Joseph. The arrival of his grandfather Jacob and his uncles would have introduced him to his Hebrew heritage, though he was likely more integrated into Egyptian society than his relatives who resided in Goshen. The famine that struck the land played a significant role in the interactions between his father and his Hebrew family. Manasseh’s upbringing would have been shaped by Joseph’s elevated status and the unique dynamic between the Egyptian world he inhabited and his family’s origins in Canaan. He witnessed his father’s authority and the respect he commanded in Egypt.

Narrative

Manasseh’s role in the narrative primarily unfolds during the visits of his uncles to Egypt. He is present when Joseph first accuses them of being spies and detains them. Notably, when Simeon resists being bound, it is Manasseh who steps forward and subdues him with a powerful blow, showcasing his physical strength and loyalty to his father. This action highlights a contrast between the Egyptianized strength of Joseph’s sons and the raw power of Jacob’s older sons. Later, during the intense confrontation between Judah and Joseph over Benjamin, Joseph calls upon Manasseh to mirror Judah’s demonstration of strength by lifting and crushing a large stone. This act serves to both intimidate Judah and to suggest a parity of strength between the Egyptianized Hebrews and those who remained in Canaan, as Judah interprets Manasseh’s feat as an act of his father’s house. Manasseh remains a figure who operates under his father’s commands, and his actions underscore Joseph’s power and integration within Egyptian society. While he doesn’t have extensive dialogue, his physical interventions at crucial moments reveal his character as a strong and obedient son of Joseph, playing a part in Joseph’s intricate plan leading up to his eventual revelation to his brothers. When Joseph finally reveals his identity, Manasseh is present, witnessing the emotional reunion. Overall, Manasseh’s narrative function is to demonstrate the strength and authority of Joseph’s Egyptian household and to act as an agent in Joseph’s interactions with his brothers, particularly during the more confrontational stages of their reunion.