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17 January. Genesis chapters 48-50
One of the last episodes in Jacob’s life is the blessing of two of his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh. This seems to be a recognised ritual, Joseph leading the elder son to be blessed with Jacob’s right hand and the younger with his left. Many cultures still honour the eldest son of a family as the most important among his siblings in some way, and we still speak of a “right hand man” as being the closest aide or most important officer to someone in power.
But Jacob will have none of it. Sometimes grandparents can see the character of their grandchildren better than the parents themselves. He knows – by observation or divine revelation or a combination of both – that the descendants of the younger son, Ephraim, will be the more important in the future to God’s purposes. And so he crosses his hands over so that Ephraim gets the “right hand” blessing.
The very last episode in the account of the Patriarchs is Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers after their father’s death. Sometimes the death of a parent can split a family, but it can also be an occasion for healing of old wounds.