Genesis 48:1
48:1 And it came to pass after these things, that [one] told
     Joseph, Behold, thy father [is] sick: and he took with him
     his {a} two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

     (a) Joseph valued his children being received into Jacob's
         family, which was the Church of God, more than enjoying
         all the treasures of Egypt.

Genesis 48:4
48:4 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and
     multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of
     people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee
     [for] an {b} everlasting possession.

     (b) Which is true in the carnal Israel until the coming of
         Christ, and in the spiritual forever.

Genesis 48:9
48:9 And Joseph said unto his father, They [are] my sons, whom
     {c} God hath given me in this [place]. And he said, Bring
     them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

     (c) The faithful acknowledge all benefits come from God's
         free mercy.

Genesis 48:14
48:14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid [it]
      upon {d} Ephraim's head, who [was] the younger, and his
      left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands
      wittingly; for Manasseh [was] the firstborn.

      (d) God's judgments are often contrary to man's and he
          prefers what man despises.

Genesis 48:16
48:16 The {e} Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the
      lads; and let my {f} name be named on them, and the name
      of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a
      multitude in the midst of the earth.

      (e) This angel must be understood to be Christ, as in
          Genesis 31:13,32:1.
      (f) Let them be taken as my children.

Genesis 48:17
48:17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand
      upon the head of Ephraim, it {g} displeased him: and he
      held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's
      head unto Manasseh's head.

      (g) Joseph fails by binding God's grace to the order of
          nature.

Genesis 48:20
48:20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel
      bless, saying, God make thee as {h} Ephraim and as
      Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

      (h) In whom God's graces should manifestly appear.

Genesis 48:21
48:21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall
      be with you, and bring you again unto the land of {i} your
      fathers.

      (i) Which they had by faith in the promise.

Genesis 48:22
48:22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy
      brethren, which {k} I took out of the hand of the Amorite
      with my sword and with my bow.

      (k) By my children whom God spared for my sake.