The Crossed Blessing

8When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?”

9And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.”

10Israel’s eyes were dim with age; he could not see. So he brought them near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them.

11And Israel said to Joseph, “I did not expect to see your face, and behold, God has let me see even your offspring.”

12Then Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed with his face to the ground.

13And Joseph took the two of them—Ephraim in his right hand, at Israel’s left, and Manasseh in his left hand, at Israel’s right—and brought them near to him.

14Then Israel stretched out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

15And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has shepherded me from my beginning to this day,”

16The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, may he bless the boys; and may my name and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac be called on them; and may they multiply greatly in the midst of the land.