Aliya Summary: Joseph was disturbed that Jacob placed his right hand
on Ephraim, and he attempted to adjust his father's hands. "I know, my
son, I know," Jacob responded, explaining that the "younger brother will
be greater, and his children['s fame] will fill the nations." Jacob
blessed the two boys further, saying that all of Israel will bless each
other by saying: "May G‑d make you like Ephraim and Menashe."
Yosef
panics when he sees Yaakov switch hands/blessings, but this was borne
of the same theme discussed earlier. Yosef had to test his brothers to
make sure they didn't become jealous when Binyamin got more presents
than they did, and the brothers passed. Yaakov blessing Yosef's younger
son more than the older might have created the same sort of jealousy,
and Yosef had never tested his sons for their reaction. Yaakov's
response was that he knew they would handle it well, and indeed they
did. How did Yaakov know? Probably because Ephraim and Menashe had Yosef
as a father, who instilled the proper values in his children. While
Yosef tested his brothers, Yaakov didn't even see a need to test -
Yosef's children's character was a given!
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