The blessing is mentioned FIRST in Hebrews 11:21, so as to stand in correspondence
with Isaac's blessing (Hebrews 11:20)
As with the case of Isaac (Genesis 27:1), Israel's "eyes were dim" (Genesis 48:10), but he still gives thanks to God for being allowed to have seen both
the son of his love and his son's offspring (Genesis 48:11)
Joseph brings forth his two sons and places his eldest
son at his father's right hand and his younger son at his father's left hand (Genesis 48:12-13)
Israel was not fooled as was his father Isaac, but "guides
his hands wittingly" by crossing them and placing his right hand on the younger son and his left hand on the
eldest son (Genesis 48:14)
The Hebrew figure of speech ("Prosopopoeia",
the personification of the hands) is literally translated as "he made his hands to understand"
The first two sons born to Joseph of his Egyptian wife
were separated unto Israel as his own sons with an inheritance in the land(Genesis 48:15-16), as evidenced by the repeating of the "covenant blessing"
(Genesis 48:3-6)
Joseph protested the "crossed hands" of his
father giving the greater blessing to the younger son (Genesis 48:17-18), but Israel refused according to his faith in the Word of God, "I
know it, my son, I know it" (Genesis 48:19)
The Hebrew figure of speech ("Episeusis", the
double repetition for emphasis) is literally translated as "I know it my son, perfectly well"
Ephraim is blessed above Manasseh (Genesis 48:20)
and as such becomes representative of the kingdom of Israel as distinct from the kingdom of Judah - both in restoration
(Jeremiah 31:9 cf.Exodus 4:22; Ezekiel 37:16,19)
and in judgment (see Hosea references below):
Israel concludes the blessing by assuring them of their
return to the "land of promise" (Genesis 48:21) and that Joseph would have a "double portion" of the land
(Genesis 48:22)
The extra portion given to Joseph was the land of Shechem
(Joshua 24:32), which his older brothers unlawfully seized while he was a lad (Genesis 34:25-29)
After the conquest of the land, Joshua gathered all the
tribes of Israel to Shechem to present them before God (Joshua 24:1) and consecrate them there to the Lord their God (Joshua 24:22-27)
Israel's faith in God's promised possession of the inheritance,
"I have given" (Genesis 48:22)
By faithJacob worshipped the Lord - looking to the "land of promise" (Genesis 47:27-31)
Jacob's act of worship - "he bowed himself"
(Genesis 47:31) is in response to securing an oath from his son that he will be buried
in the "land of promise" with his fathers (Genesis 47:29-31)
As pertaining to God's honoring His "covenant promise"
concerning the multiplication of his seed in a foreign land and delivering them out of that land - his name is
Israel (Genesis 47:27 cf. Genesis 15:13-14)
As pertaining to his status as an ordinary man living
out his years in a foreign land - his name is Jacob (Genesis 47:28)
The conclusion of Jacob's blessing by faith anticipates
the return of his seed to the "land of promise" (Genesis 48:21)
The "looking" to the fulfillment of the "covenant
promise" to his seed is evidenced in the final pronouncement of his blessing by faith - "I have given"
(Genesis 48:22)
As the rightful owner it is his to give the portion of
the land to Joseph's sons, which was wrongfully seized by Joseph's brothers (Genesis 34)
Jacob's "worship" following the promise of the
return of his remains to the "land of promise" (Genesis 47:29-31) is a touchpoint with Joseph's "faith" concerning the commandment
for the return of his remains to the "land of promise" (Hebrews 11:22)
The name "Jacob" ("supplanter") describes
the man who attempts to be commanded by himself - "the one who does"
Jacob struggled with Esau in the womb and failed (Genesis 25:22-26)
Jacob arranged with the help of his mother to secure Esau's
blessing and got it (Genesis 27)
Jacob contended for Laban's daughters and cattle and succeeded
(Genesis 31)
The name "Israel" ("God commands")
describes the man who entrusts himself to be commanded by God - "the one who worships"
Jacob comes to the end of himself when he prays for deliverance
from his brother Esau (Genesis 32:3-12)
However, there is still one problem - Jacob is still in
command (Genesis 32:13-23) !!
God brings Jacob to the end of himself when he is alone
and is made to contend with Him (Genesis 32:24-32)
Jacob "had power" ("contended") with
God and man (Genesis 32:28)
He "prevailed" ("succeeded") with
man, BUT failed with God and is made "to halt upon his thigh" (Genesis 32:28,31)
Israel NEVER forgot the lesson he learned from God that
night concerning Whose strength it is that brings to pass ALL that He commands (Genesis 48:3-4 cf. Genesis 28:11-19; Genesis 35:1-6)
He remembers his weakness, his "hollow thigh"
(Genesis 47:29) and bows in worship to the Almighty (Genesis 47:31)