GENESIS 48

Verse 2 See Hebrews 11:21

Verse 3 Barnhouse sees importance to Jacob beginning his speech with “life began for me at Luz...”

This is another name for Bethel where Jacob received his blessing associated with the ladder to heaven.

Verse 4 Jacob wants their last memory of him to be an incident in which the glory is given only to God.

Verse 5 Notice that Jacob lists the two sons in reverse order of age, duplicating the pattern throughout 

Genesis. Reuben has been disqualified by sleeping with Jacob's concubine and Simeon had led the 

massacre at Shechem.

Verse 6 Jacob says that other sons of Joseph will be considered part of the two brothers' tribes.

Verse 7 The comments on Rachel seem to be a non sequitor, but probably indicate that Jacob is again 

thinking of Rachel's premature death and the sons she did not live to have (replaced by Joseph's sons). 

Some treat these remarks as typical of the meandering mind of an elderly man.

Jacob unwittingly condemned Rachel by his oath, which he must have realized when she later turned in 

her idols (Genesis 35:2) Out of guilt, Jacob showed favoritism toward Joseph and Benjamin and later 

adopted Rachel's grandsons. (Gordon Tucker)

Verse 8 “Who are these?” may be a stereotyped formula beginning a blessing, or an indication that 

Jacob's memory was failing. There is a clear echo here of Isaac's confusion when he asked Jacob, "Who

are you?" and blessed him instead of Esau.

Verse 14 This confirms Jacob's choice of younger over older son. This time the choosing of younger 

son is done openly, not by trickery as in Jacob's own case. Hebrews 11:21 chooses this one incident of 

Jacob's as an act of faith, recognizing God's inscrutable plans.

One commentator has said, “How often does God reverse our order, and bless most that about which 

we had less concern, and seem to put a slight on that which has engrossed our best affection.”

Verse 15 or “who has been my shepherd?” Jacob stresses God's faithfulness rather than his own.

The Hebrew text reads “blessed Joseph,” but other early translations read “blessed them.” This verse 

shows the importance of a tradition of godliness in a family. Verses 15-16 mention God in three 

contexts.

Verse 17 Barnhouse points out the sad result when our will and God's will clash.

Verse 22 Alter explains his translation “with one accord” in place of a particular region. There may be 

a hint in this verse of Jacob's fleshly pride.