Genesis:48

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Verse 1-7 - The death-beds of believers , with the prayers and counsels of dying persons , are suited to make serious impressions upon the young , the gay , and the prosperous : we shall do well to take children on such occasions , when it can be done properly . If the Lord please , it is very desirable to bear our dying testimony to his truth , to his faithfulness , and the pleasantness of his ways . And one would wish so to live , as to give energy and weight to our dying exhortations . All true believers are blessed at their death , but all do not depart equally full of spiritual consolations . Jacob adopted Joseph 's two sons . Let them not succeed their father , in his power and grandeur in Egypt ; but let them succeed in the inheritance of the promise made to Abraham . Thus the aged dying patriarch teaches these young persons to take their lot with the people of God . He appoints each of them to be the head of a tribe . Those are worthy of double honour , who , through God 's grace , break through the temptations of worldly wealth and preferment , to embrace religion in disgrace and poverty . Jacob will have Ephraim and Manasseh to know , that it is better to be low , and in the church , than high , and out of it . * Verse 8-22 - The two good men own God in their comforts . Joseph says , They are my 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 's hand . He not only prevents our fears , but exceeds our hopes . Jacob 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 him from the evil of his troubles . Now he was dying , he looked upon himself 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 , and 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 bestowing blessings upon his people , gives more to some than to others , more 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 weak things of the world ; he raises the poor out of the dust . Grace observes not the order of nature , nor does God prefer those whom we think fittest to be preferred , but as it pleases him . How poor are they who 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 dreadful apprehensions of evil , and nothing but evil for ever ! **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

---