Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 14. Changing. Hebrew “making his hands intelligent;” or giving to understand, by forming a cross with his extended hands, that he had some particular reason for so doing. Bible.—By the preference given to Ephraim, he forshewed his royal dignity, in giving kings to the ten tribes, (Euseb.) and that his tribe would surpass that of his brother in glory and numbers; (verse 19,) and lastly, give birth to that great leader, Josue; who, as a figure of Christ, should introduce the Israelites into the promised land. Menochius.—The custom of imposing hands on a person, is of high antiquity, and is still practiced in the Christian church in the ordination of her ministers. Numbers 8:10. Acts 6:6. See Matthew 19:13. Numbers 27:23. Calmet.—The cross of Christ is the source of all our exaltation. A preference for the younger children is generally observable in Scripture; being intended to shew that the Church, though chosen later out of all nations, should obtain the preference over the synagogue. Theodoret. Tirinus.