Study Desk

And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years.

When the time of Israel's death drew near, he called his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor with you, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal loyally and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt.

And he said, "Swear to me"; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself on the head of his bed.

After this Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to you," he summoned his strength and sat up in bed.

Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." And he said, "Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them."

Then Joseph removed them from his father's knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right, and brought them near him.

But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.

Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head."

But his father refused, and said, "I know, my son, I know; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations."

Then Jacob called his sons, and said: "Gather around, that I may tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and the obedience of the peoples is his.

Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he washes his garments in wine and his robe in the blood of grapes;

his eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.

Zebulun shall settle at the shore of the sea; he shall be a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon.

he saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant; so he bowed his shoulder to the burden, and became a slave at forced labor.

Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.