Genesis 48:8-12

Context

48:8 When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he asked, “Who are these?” 48:9 Joseph said to his father, “They are the¹ sons God has given me in this place.” His father² said, “Bring them to me so I may bless them.”³ 48:10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing⁴ because of his age; he was not able to see well. So Joseph⁵ brought his sons⁶ near to him, and his father⁷ kissed them and embraced them. 48:11 Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected⁸ to see you⁹ again, but now God has allowed me to see your children¹⁰ too.”

48:12 So Joseph moved them from Israel’s knees¹¹ and bowed down with his face to the ground.

[48:9] ¹tn Heb “my.”

[48:9] ²tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Joseph’s father) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[48:9] ³tn The cohortative with prefixed vav (ו) indicates purpose after the imperative.

[48:10] ¹tn Heb “heavy.”

[48:10] ²tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[48:10] ³tn Heb “them”; the referent (Joseph’s sons) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[48:10] ⁴tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Joseph’s father) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[48:11] ¹tn On the meaning of the Hebrew verb פָּלַל (palal) here, see E. A. Speiser, “The Stem pll in Hebrew,” JBL 82 (1963): 301-6. Speiser argues that this verb means “to estimate” as in Exod 21:22.

[48:11] ²tn Heb “your face.”

[48:11] ³tn Heb “offspring.”

[48:12] ¹tn Heb “and Joseph brought them out from with his knees.” The two boys had probably been standing by Israel’s knees when being adopted and blessed. The referent of the pronoun “his” (Israel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.