Declaration

Jacob blesses Manasseh and Ephraim
Genesis 48:8-22
When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he asked, “Who are these?”

Joseph answered, “These are my sons, the ones God has given me here.”

Jacob said, “Bring them here, please, so I can bless them.”

Israel’s eyesight had grown dim with age, and he couldn’t see well. Joseph brought the boys close, and Jacob kissed and embraced them. Israel said to Joseph, “I never thought I’d see your face again—and look, God has even let me see your children.”

Joseph took the boys from between his knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. Then he took both sons—Ephraim with his right hand facing Israel’s left, and Manasseh with his left hand facing Israel’s right—and brought them close. Israel stretched out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim’s head, even though he was the younger. He put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands on purpose, because Manasseh was the firstborn.

He blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked—the God who has taken care of me all my life until this day—The Angel who has saved me from all harm, may he bless these boys. Let my name be placed on them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a great multitude throughout the earth.”

When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was upset. He took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s, and said, “Not like this, Father—this one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He will also become a people, and he will also be great. But his younger brother will be greater than he is, and his descendants will become many nations.”

He blessed them that day, saying, “Israel will bless through you, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” So he placed Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

Then Israel said to Joseph, “Look, I’m going to die. But God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. And I’m giving you 1 portion more than your brothers—the one I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.”

Jacob blesses the rest of his grandsons
Jasher 56:6
Jacob said, “Bring all your children to me.”

All the sons of Jacob’s sons came and sat before him, and Jacob blessed them. He said, “May the Lord God of your fathers bless you 1,000 times over and give you the blessing of your father Abraham.”

After he had blessed them, all the sons of Jacob’s sons left that day.

Jacob calls his sons to him
Genesis 49:1-2, Jasher 56:7
The next day, Jacob called his sons together and said, “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come. Come together and listen, sons of Jacob; pay attention to your father Israel.”

That day, Jacob blessed each of his sons before his death, giving each one a blessing appropriate to him. This is all recorded in the book of the law of the Lord concerning Israel.

Jacob prophesies over Reuben
Genesis 49:3-4
“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, and the beginning of my power—excelling in honor and in might. But you’re as unstable as water, and you won’t succeed, because you went up to your father’s bed and defiled it. You lay on my couch.”

Jacob prophesies over Simeon and Levi
Genesis 49:5-7
“Simeon and Levi are brothers—their swords are weapons of violence. My soul, don’t join in their secret; my honor, don’t be part of their assembly. In their anger they killed a man, and in their self-will they tore down a wall. May their anger be cursed, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them throughout Israel.”

Jacob prophesies over Judah
Genesis 49:8-12, Jasher 56:8-9
“Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies, and your father’s sons will bow down to you. Teach your sons the bow and all the weapons of war so they can fight the battles of their brother who will rule over his enemies. Judah is a young lion—my son, you have returned from the prey. He crouched and lay down like a lion, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him the people will gather. He ties his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine. He washes his garments in wine and his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker from wine and his teeth whiter than milk.”

Jacob prophesies over Zebulun
Genesis 49:13
“Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Zidon.”

Jacob prophesies over Issachar
Genesis 49:14-15
“Issachar is a strong donkey lying down between two burdens. He saw that rest was good and that the land was pleasant, so he bowed his shoulder to bear and became a servant forced to labor.”

Jacob prophesies over Dan
Genesis 49:16-18
“Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan will be a snake on the road, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that the rider falls backward. I have waited for your salvation, O LORD.”

Jacob prophesies over Gad
Genesis 49:19
“Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at last.”

Jacob prophesies over Asher
Genesis 49:20
“Asher’s food will be rich, and he will provide royal delicacies.”

Jacob prophesies over Naphtali
Genesis 49:21
“Naphtali is a doe set free; he speaks beautiful words.”

Jacob prophesies over Joseph
Genesis 49:22-26
“Joseph is a fruitful branch, a fruitful branch by a spring, whose branches climb over the wall. The archers attacked him fiercely, they shot at him and hated him, but his bow remained steady and his arms were made strong by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob—by the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel. By the God of your father who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings from the heavens above, blessings from the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and womb. The blessings of your father surpass the blessings of my ancestors, reaching to the heights of the eternal hills. Let these rest on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the one set apart from his brothers.”

Jacob prophesies over Benjamin
Genesis 49:27
“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he devours the prey; in the evening he divides the spoil.”

Jacob finishes blessing his sons
Genesis 49:28, Jubilees 45:14
Israel blessed his 12 sons before he died—the 12 tribes of Israel—and told them all that would happen to them in the land of Egypt. He also told them what would take place in the last days. He blessed them and gave Joseph 2 portions in the land.