1020. That these things are meant becomes clear from the fact that everything put together as history from Genesis 1 down to Eber in Chapter 11 means something different from what appears in the letter, and from the consideration that the historical narratives there are purely made-up history customary among the most ancient people. When attesting the truth of some matter they would say that 'Jehovah said it'. Here however 'God' is used because the subject is the spiritual Church. And they did the same when anything true was being, or had been, put into effect.

6254. 'And I will bless them' means a foretelling regarding goodness and truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'blessing' as foretelling, as above in 6230, here a foretelling regarding goodness and truth, which are represented by 'Manasseh and Ephraim'. Being a very common word 'blessing' has various meanings. Included among them is the foretelling both of good things that are going to happen and also of bad ones, as is evident in the next chapter in which Israel foretold to his sons what was going to happen to them - bad things to some, such as Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, good ones to others, such as Judah and Joseph. That foretelling is called a blessing in Verse 28 of that chapter,

This is what their father spoke to them; and he blessed them, each according to his blessing he blessed them.

It is also clear from the words contained in the first verse of the chapter that 'blessing' means a foretelling,

Jacob called his sons, and said, Gather together, and I will tell you what will happen to you at the end of days.