Genesis 48:16

Jacob called God ‘the *angel who has rescued me’. God had appeared several times as an *angel. (For example, see Genesis 31:11.)

v17 Joseph saw that his father put his right hand on Ephraim’s head. That did not please Joseph. He took his father’s hand so as to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. v18 And Joseph said to his father, ‘No, my father! This one is the older son. Put your right hand on his head.’ v19 But his father refused. And he said, ‘I know, my son. I know. He also shall become a nation and he also shall be great. But his younger brother shall be greater than he shall. And his family shall become many nations.’ v20 So Israel blessed them that day. He said,

‘The nation of Israel will use your names when they bless people.

They will say,

“Let God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.” ’

So Israel made Ephraim more important than Manasseh.

v21 Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘I shall die very soon, but God will be with you. He will bring you back to the country where your fathers lived. v22 Moreover I give Shechem to you rather than to your brothers. I took it from the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.’