18. Then he said to his father, “That’s not right, Father! This is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”
19. His father refused and said, “I know, Son, I know! Manasseh, too, will become a nation, and he, too, will be important. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be more important than he, and his descendants will become many nations.”
20. That day he blessed them. He said,“Because of you, Israel will speak this blessing,‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’”In this way Israel put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
21. Then Israel said to Joseph, “Now I’m about to die, but God will be with you. He will bring you back to the land of your fathers.
22. I’m giving you one more mountain ridge than your brothers. I took it from the Amorites with my own sword and bow.”