Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 48

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Makbilot Bamikra points out that the narrative of Yaakov blessing Yosef's children in a weakened and visually impaired state, parallels the story of Yitzchak’s blessings to Yaakov and Esav before his death. In both cases, the younger son receives the bigger blessing, but while Yitzchak gives this blessing unwittingly, Yaakov does so with full knowledge.

In ויחי יעקב - ויחי יוסף, Prof. Yonatan Grossman suggests that the parallels indicate that despite the price paid for his deceit, Yaakov does not regret his tricking of his father to receive the blessings.

Makbilot Bamikra points out that the blessing of fertility to Ephraim and Menashe parallels other commands to reproduces and promises of fertility that were given to humankind and to the Patriarchs at pivotal moments.
Concordance – However, by clicking on the word “וידגו” in Bereshit 48:16 and choosing concordance from the drop-down, one can see that this precise image (of teeming like fish) is not found elsewhere in Tanakh, and can be added to the images of the stars of the sky and the dust of the earth as another form of God’s promise of fertility.

The blessing of Menashe and Ephraim represents a partial resolution of all of the stories of animosity between brothers in Bereshit.

in קנאת אחים בספר בראשית, R. Shlomo Brin explores the pattern of tensions between brothers in Sefer Bereshit, beginning with the narrative of Kayin and Hevel.
See וישב: מרבית אחים by Dr. Esti Rosenberg and Dr. Yosefa Wruble for a discussion of the meaning behind the tense relationships between brothers in Sefer Bereshit, culminating in the relationship of Yosef and his brothers.
See R. Eliyahu Safran’s article Yaakov’s Blessing: Menashe, Ephraim, and a Lesson for Our Lives for a brief discussion of the harmony modeled between Menashe and Ephraim.

Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 48/0