The Brachah That Beats All Brachos

Torah Thoughts on Parshas Vayechi by Rabbi Yosef Polstein

"וַיִקַח יוֹסֵף אֶת שְׁנֵיהֶם אֶת אֶפְרַיִם בִּימִינוֹ מִשְׂמֹאל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת מְנַשֶׁה בִשְׂמֹאלוֹ מִימִין יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַגֵשׁ אֵלָיו"  בְּרֵאשִׁית מ''ח:י''ג

“And Yosef took the two of them – Ephraim with his right [hand], to Yisrael’s left, and Menashe with his left, to Yisrael’s right – and he drew close to him.”  Bereshis 48:13

The following questions have bothered me for years.

1. Why did Yosef present both sons to Yaakov to receive a brachah at the same time, standing them side by side?  Why didn’t he present Menashe first for his own blessing, followed by Ephraim? This was certainly the way that Yaakov gave his brachos to all of his sons. 

2. In Verses 16 and 17, Yosef waited until Yaakov finished his long brachah before objecting to his father’s placing of his right hand on Ephraim. Why did he not immediately react when seeing his father’s shifting of his hands?

3. In Verse 19, Yaakov gives an elaborate answer for his giving a blessing to Ephraim first.  Why wasn’t it enough for Yaakov to just say “I know what I am doing.” Why did he explain that his actions were because Ephraim would be greater? Had Yosef not objected, there is no indication that Yaakov would have articulated the reason for his switching his hands.

4. In Verse 20, we find that Yaakov makes Ephraim and Menashe the future model for brachos that fathers would give their sons. What prompted this declaration?

5. And finally, in Verse 20, why did Yaakov add the insulting move of placing Ephraim before Menashe? Yaakov knew very well what showing too much favoritism can cause.

To answer these questions we first need to understand Yosef’s concern with his sons’ receiving Yaakov’s brachah.  Yosef was well-aware of the painful consequences of his father’s stealing of Esav’s brachah from his father, Yitzchak, and the jealousy that ensued. He knew all-too-well the pain that his jealous brothers caused him and Yaakov as well. Yosef was, therefore, making every effort to avoid a similar tragedy between his own sons. He therefore stands both boys before Yaakov to ensure that they receive the very same brachah together. (Answer to Question 1) The placing of Menashe to Yaakov’s right makes sense and would not evoke an ill feeling from Ephraim, as firstborn Menashe deserved to be there.

Yaakov’s carefully crafted switch of hands may have jolted Yosef at first, but Yosef quickly understood the intentions of his father. Yaakov wanted to show Yosef that he need not be concerned about any jealousy between his sons and placed his right hand on Ephraim to prove the point. Because Menashe, aware of what his grandfather had done, didn’t so much as flinch. Yosef, realizing the message his father wanted to show, now wants to take it a step further, by giving Menashe reason to challenge his grandfather. He comes to the defense of Menashe, “No, father! your right hand belongs on Menashe…” And still no words of objection from Menashe. (Answer to Question 2). 

And now Yaakov wants to take it to a whole new level. He responds to Yosef’s objection and reveals his prophetic vision that although both sons will become great, Ephraim will be greater. Menashe is still silent. (Answer to Question 3) And if all this wasn’t enough to prove his point, Yaakov pulls Ephraim closer to himself, placing him in front of Menashe, and still not a peep out of Menashe. (Answer to Question 5) I am sure at this point that Yaakov and Yosef looked into each other’s eyes knowing so clearly now how special Menashe and Ephraim were. Considering the family's tragic past, Yaakov knew that this lack of jealousy between his two grandsons contained the tikun that future Klal Yisrael will need (Answer to Question 4), and thereby became the prototype brachah for all generations.