Genesis 48:18

And Ioseph saide vnto his father, Not so my father: for this is the first borne; put thy right hand vpon his head.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head."
- New American Standard Version (1995)

And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father; for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.
- American Standard Version (1901)

And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father, for this is the older; put your right hand on his head.
- Basic English Bible

And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn: put thy right hand on his head.
- Darby Bible

And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father; for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.
- Webster's Bible

Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father; for this is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."
- World English Bible

and Joseph saith unto his father, `Not so, my father, for this [is] the first-born; set thy right hand on his head.'
- Youngs Literal Bible

And Joseph said unto his father: 'Not so, my father, for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.'
- Jewish Publication Society Bible

Wesley's Notes for Genesis 48:18

48:16 The angel who redeemed me from all evil - A great deal of hardship he had known in his time, but God had graciously kept him from the evil of his troubles. Christ, the angel of the covenant is he that redeems us from all evil. It becomes the servants of God, when they are old and dying, to witness for our God that they have found him gracious. Joseph had placed his children so, as that Jacob's right - hand should be put on the head of Manasseh the eldest, #Ge 48:12|,13, but Jacob would put it on the head of Ephraim the youngest, #Ge 48:14|. This displeased Joseph, who was willing to support the reputation of his first - born and would therefore have removed his father's hands, #Ge 48:17|,18, but Jacob gave him to understand that he knew what he did, and that he did it neither by mistake nor in a humour, nor from a partial affection to one more than the other, but from a spirit of prophecy.

48:19 Ephraim shall he greater - When the tribes were mustered in the wilderness Ephraim was more numerous than Manasseh, and had the standard of that squadron, #Num 1:32|,33,35 - 2:18,20, and is named first, #Psa 80:2|. Joshua was of that tribe. The tribe of Manasseh was divided, one half on one side Jordan, the other half on the other side, which made it the less powerful and considerable. God, in bestowing his blessings upon his people, gives more to some than to others, more gifts, graces and comforts, and more of the good things of this life. And he often gives most to those that are least likely: he chuseth the weak things of the world, raiseth the poor out of the dust. Grace observes not the order of nature, nor doth God prefer those whom we think fittest to be preferred but as it pleaseth him.