1
After these things, it was told Joseph that his father was sick : and he set out to go to him, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim .
2
And it was told the old man: Behold I thy son Joseph cometh to thee. And being strengthened he sat on his bed.
3
And when Joseph was come in to him, he said : God Almighty appeared to me at Lute, which is in the land of Chanaan: and he blessed me,
4
And he said : I will cause thee to increase and multiply , and I will make of thee a multitude of people: and I will give this land to thee, and to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.
5
So thy two sons who were born to thee in the land of Egypt before I came hither to thee, shall be mine: Ephraim and Manasses shall be reputed to me as Ruben and Simeon .
6
But the rest whom thou shalt have after them, shall be thine, and shall be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions .
7
For, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died from me in the land of Ohanaan in the very journey, and it was springtime: and I was going to Ephrata , and I buried her near the way of Ephrata , which by another name is called Bethlehem .
8
Then seeing his sons, he said to him: Who are these?
9
He answered: They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said : Bring them to me that I may bless them.
10
For Israel's eyes were dim by reason of his great age , and he could not see clearly. And when they were brought to him, he kissed and embraced them.
11
And said to his son: I am not deprived of seeing thee: moreover God hath shewed me thy seed .
12
And when Joseph had taken them from his father's lap, he bowed down with his face to the ground .
13
And he set Ephraim on his right bend, that is, towards the left hand of Israel ; but Manasses on his left hand , to wit, towards his father's right hand , and brought them near to him.
14
But he stretching forth his right hand , put it upon the head of Ephraim the younger brother; and the left upon the head of Manasses who was the elder, changing his hands .
15
And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph , and said : God , in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked , God that feedeth me from my youth until this day ;
16
The angel that delivereth me from all evils, bless these boys : and let my name be called upon them, and the names of my fathers Abraham , and Isaac , and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth .
17
And Joseph seeing that his father had put his right hand upon the head of Ephraim , was much displeased: and taking his father 's hand he tried to lift it from Ephraims head , and to remove it to the head of Manasses .
18
And he said to his father : It should not be so, my father : for this is the first- born, put thy right hand upon his head .
19
But he refusing, said : I know , my son , I know : and this also shall become peoples , and shall be multiplied: but this younger brother shall be greater than he: and his seed shall grow into nations .
20
And he blessed them at that time, saying: In thee shall Israel be blessed , and it shall be said : God do to thee as to Ephraim , and as to Manasses . And he set Ephraim before Manasses .
21
And he said to Joseph his son: Be- hold I die , and God will be with you, and will bring you back into the land of your fathers .
22
I give thee a portion above thy brethren , which I took out of the hand of the Amorrhite a with my sword and bow .