Jacob Adopts Ephraim and Manasseh

At Bible Study Fellowship this week, we studied Genesis 46-48. Of particular interest to me was the story of Jacob (Israel) adopting his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

In Genesis 48:5, Jacob (who is 130 years old at the time) says to his son Joseph: “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.”

In other words, Jacob adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as his own children and creates each of them as patriarchs of distinct tribes who, along with Jacob’s other sons, will inherit equal portions of the land of Canaan.

I like what Matthew Henry’s commentary says about this:

“Let them not succeed their father, in his power and grandeur in Egypt; but let them succeed in the inheritance of the promise made to Abraham.”

Joseph receives a “double portion” from his father. Because Jacob’s eldest son, Reuben, committed incest with his father’s concubine, Jacob transferred Reuben’s portion of the birthright to his favorite son, Joseph.

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but as I understand it, Joseph receives the “rights of the firstborn” (1 Chronicles 5:1-2), which I think means that he receives not only his own inheritance, but Reuben’s birthright. So even though Ephraim and Manasseh each receive one portion, Joseph inherits the double portion by virtue of Jacob adopting the boys. Ephraim and Manasseh, rather than Joseph, end up being counted among the twelve tribes of Israel.

The other thing I found touching about this passage was that Joseph took Ephraim and Manasseh on his knees (Gen. 48:12). Placing a child on one’s knees was a custom that signified or symbolized adoption. Even though scholars estimate that Ephraim and Manasseh were somewhere between 20 and 24 years old at the time Jacob adopted them, I thought it was neat that he Jacob took him on his knees, as a father would do with his small son.

For Jacob, his sons truly are a gift from God. As Psalm 127:3 says, “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.”

A very interesting commentary by Marcus L. Burstein discusses adoption in the Torah. Burstein is the associate rabbi of Temple Rodef Shalom, Falls Church, Virginia.

He writes:

Jacob's adoption of his grandsons is not a new concept in the Torah; in fact, it is mentioned numerous times in Genesis. Eliezer is named heir to Abraham's fortune in Genesis 15:2–3, Sarah obtains a son through her maidservant Hagar (Genesis 16:2), and Rachel raises Dan and Naphtali as her own through Bilhah (Genesis 30:3–8). Jacob himself is adopted by his father-in-law, Laban, in Genesis 29–31.

What wonderful examples of adoption the Bible gives us! Jacob didn’t have any qualms about adopting his grandsons – he just did it. And he did so with great joy. We can all be encouraged by his boldness.

For more articles about adoption, please visit my Web site, www.laurachristianson.com

Comments

[Jeremiahforchrist]

Laura.This is Jerry from the forum group. God bless you for all you do.
About the genesis passage. I don't believe there is anything in the law that would have allowed Joseph to get Reubens birthright without Reuben giving it to him. I think that Jacob was adopting Ephram and Mannasah as a kind of loophole in the system. This way Joseph got a double potion just as the firstborn would have.
As for the Bible giving us great rolemodels for adopting, I think the greatest role model is our Heavenly Father. We are children of God by the blood of His Firstborn, Jesus Christ. What a privilidge it would be to follow in His steps!