Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons BY REMBRANDT, THE MOST CELEBRATED OF DUTCH + "And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid upon Ephraim's head."-Gen., 48, 14. W HEN Jacob was presented by his son to Pharaoh, the patriarch blessed the mighty monarch, as indeed by reason of his venerable age he had good right to do. Jacob himself, however, comparing his life with those of his fathers, declared, "few and evil have the days of the years of my life been.” As he grew very feeble, Joseph brought to him the two little sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, who had been born to Joseph in Egypt. And Jacob blessed the children, seeking to pass on to them as Joseph's sons the birthright and leadership of the race, which in his own life had caused so much strife and bitterness. Joseph brought the elder boy Manasseh to his father's right, to receive the chief blessing; but Jacob deliberately crossed his hands and laid the right hand with its gift of leadership upon the younger, Ephraim. "And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh." Rembrandt represents Joseph's Egyptian wife as also standing by; but her costume is not Egyptian, being copied from the Dutch dress of the artist's day. LEVITICUS IX- AARON'S SERVICES BEGUN 189 31 ¶ And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it. 32 And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire. 33 And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you. 34 As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. 35 Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded. 36 So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. Chapter 9 1 The first offerings of Aaron, for himself and the people. 8 The sin offering, 12 and the burnt offering for himself. 15 The offerings for the people. 23 Moses and Aaron blessed the people. 24 Fire cometh from the Lord, upon the altar. ND it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; 2 And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young1 calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. 3 And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering; 4 Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to-day the LORD will appear unto you. 5 ¶ And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. 6 And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you. 7 And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded. 8 ¶ Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. 'The English Revised Version here reads "a bull calf"; the American revision changes the phrase to "a calf of the herd." Similar variations occur in the next verse. |