SEV Biblia, Chapter 48:14
Entonces Israel extendió su diestra, y la puso sobre la cabeza de Efraín, que era el menor, y su siniestra sobre la cabeza de Manasés, haciendo entender a sus manos, aunque Manasés era el primogénito.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Genesis 48:14
Verse 14. Israel stretched out his right hand, &c.] Laying hands on the head was always used among the Jews in giving blessings, designating men to any office, and in the consecration of solemn sacrifices. This is the first time we find it mentioned; but we often read of it afterwards. See Num. xxvii. 18, 23; Deut. xxxiv. 9; Matt. xix. 13, 15; Acts vi. 6; 1 Tim. iv. 14. Jacob laid his right hand on the head of the younger, which we are told he did wittingly - well knowing what he was about, for (or although) Manasseh was the first-born, knowing by the Spirit of prophecy that Ephraim's posterity would be more powerful than that of Manasseh. It is observable how God from the beginning has preferred the younger to the elder, as Hebel before Cain; Shem before Japheth; Isaac before Ishmael; Jacob before Esau; Judah and Joseph before Reuben; Ephraim before Manasseh; Moses before Aaron; and David before his brethren. ""This is to be resolved entirely into the wise and secret counsel of God, so far as it regards temporal blessings and national privileges, as the apostle tells us, Rom. ix. 11; See on ""chap. xxv. 23"". But this preference has no concern with God's conferring a greater measure of his love and approbation on one person more than another; compare chap. iv. 7, with Heb. xi. 4, and you will see that a difference in moral character was the sole cause why God preferred Hebel to Cain.""-Dodd. The grace that converts the soul certainly comes from the mere mercy of God, without any merit on man's part; and a sufficiency of this is offered to every man, Tit. ii. 11, 12. But it is not less certain that God loves those best who are most faithful to this grace.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-22 - The two good men own God in their comforts. Joseph says, They are m sons whom God has given me. Jacob says, God hath showed me thy seed Comforts are doubly sweet to us when we see them coming from God' hand. He not only prevents our fears, but exceeds our hopes. Jaco mentions the care the Divine providence had taken of him all his days A great deal of hardship he had known in his time, but God kept his from the evil of his troubles. Now he was dying, he looked upon himsel as redeemed from all sin and sorrow for ever. Christ, the Angel of the covenant, redeems from all evil. Deliverances from misery and dangers by the Divine power, coming through the ransom of the blood of Christ in Scripture are often called redemption. In blessing Joseph's sons Jacob crossed hands. Joseph was willing to support his first-born, an would have removed his father's hands. But Jacob acted neither by mistake, nor from a partial affection to one more than the other; but from a spirit of prophecy, and by the Divine counsel. God, in bestowin blessings upon his people, gives more to some than to others, mor gifts, graces, and comforts, and more of the good things of this life He often gives most to those that are least likely. He chooses the wea things of the world; he raises the poor out of the dust. Grace observe not the order of nature, nor does God prefer those whom we thin fittest to be preferred, but as it pleases him. How poor are they wh have no riches but those of this world! How miserable is a death-bed to those who have no well-grounded hope of good, but dreadfu apprehensions of evil, and nothing but evil for ever __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
וישׁלח 7971 ישׂראל 3478 את 853 ימינו 3225 וישׁת 7896 על 5921 ראשׁ 7218 אפרים 669 והוא 1931 הצעיר 6810 ואת 853 שׂמאלו 8040 על 5921 ראשׁ 7218 מנשׁה 4519 שׂכל 7919 את 853 ידיו 3027 כי 3588 מנשׁה 4519 הבכור׃ 1060
