January 1, 2021 Genesis 48:20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!’ ” And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh. On Erev Shabbat (Friday night), it is customary for Jewish families to gather around the dinner table and celebrate the Almighty’s […]
DECEMBER 31, 2020 Genesis 48:17-19 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put […]
DECEMBER 30, 2020 Genesis 48:15-16 And he blessed Joseph, and said: “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham […]
DECEMBER 29, 2020 Genesis 48:15-16 And he blessed Joseph, and said: “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham […]
DECEMBER 28, 2020 Genesis 47:28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. As this chapter in Genesis comes to a close, we see that Jacob lived 17 years in Egypt which is to say, in exile. We also know that, […]
DECEMBER 27, 2020 Genesis 48:13-14 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand and brought them near him. Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. […]
DECEMBER 26, 2020 Genesis 48:5 “And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.” Like so much of this story involving Joseph and the reconciliation that occurred between him and his family, […]
DECEMBER 25, 2020 Genesis 48:4 “And said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’” In a follow up to yesterday’s devotion, I want to discuss another Hebrew word translated as “congregation” — […]
DECEMBER 24, 2020 Genesis 48:1-2 Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, “Indeed your father is sick”; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed. Apparently after Joseph returned […]
