Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/351

Rh 333

Jacob's Blessing

has given unto

it

as

His chosen people.

And

day by day

repeat the sacred words, and thereby reconsecrate our-

we

selves ever anew to God's service, Sh'ma Y Israel, Adofiai Blohcnu, Adonai Bhod, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One", BanicJi shem k'vod malchutho lolam va'ed, "Praised be the name of His glorious kingdom for-

ever and ever".

NOTES Vv.

13-27.

These verses are hardly a part of the original narra-

They were introduced apparently

tive.

to

heighten

the

glory

of

system of taxation and of royal possession, obtaining in ancient Egypt, was instituted by Joseph. V. 22. The priests of Egypt enjoyed unusual powers and priviby

Joseph

representing

that the

leges.

XLVIII, 2)-7. These verses too have been inserted into the original and disturb the continuity of the story. V. 8 is the direct This episode of the adoption of Joseph's two continuation of v. 2. Apparently it represents an sons by Jacob is somewhat obscure. attempt to account for the historical fact that two tribes by the names of Ephraim and JManasseh were included among the tribes Since all the other of Israel, while there was no tribe of Joseph. tribes were called by the names of the sons of Jacob, this tradition tells 'that Ephraim and Manasseh were adopted by Jacob as his sons, and thus also became qualified to have tribes named after them, and narrative,

that they took the place of Joseph.

V.

After the settlement of the tribes of Israel

19.

in

Palestine

Ephraim became the most powerful and leading member of the northern group of tribes, to which Manasseh also belonged. This is the historical basis of this legend that Jacob blessed Ephraim as the tfirstborn instead of JManasseh.

The Hebrew word for "portion" (literally "shoulder') shechem. There is a play upon the name of Shechem, the important Canaanite city, which later became the chief city of the tribe of Ephraim and the first capital of the northern kingdom (I According to tradition Joseph was buried there Kings XII, 25). This verse implies that he was buried there (Joshua XXIV, 32). because this place was given to him by Jacob as his individual posV.

here

22.

is

session



cf.

XLIX,

18ff. and XXXIV. These verses are really an ancient Hebrew poem

XXXIII, 2-27. \n