²⁷ So he went to him and kissed^(A) him^(B). When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes,^(C) he blessed him and said,

³⁰ After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. ³¹ He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”^(L)

³² His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”^(M)

“I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.^(N)”

³³ Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me?^(O) I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!^(P)”

³⁴ When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry^(Q) and said to his father, “Bless^(R) me—me too, my father!”

³⁵ But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully^(S) and took your blessing.”^(T)

³⁶ Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob^[a]?^(U) This is the second time he has taken advantage of^(V) me: He took my birthright,^(W) and now he’s taken my blessing!”^(X) Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”

³⁷ Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine.^(Y) So what can I possibly do for you, my son?”

³⁸ Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.^(Z)

³⁹ His father Isaac answered him,^(AA)

²⁹ When the time drew near for Israel^(A) to die,^(B) he called for his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes,^(C) put your hand under my thigh^(D) and promise that you will show me kindness^(E) and faithfulness.^(F) Do not bury me in Egypt, ³⁰ but when I rest with my fathers,^(G) carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried.”^(H)

“I will do as you say,” he said.

³¹ “Swear to me,”^(I) he said. Then Joseph swore to him,^(J) and Israel^(K) worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.^[a](L)

⁸ When Israel^(A) saw the sons of Joseph,^(B) he asked, “Who are these?”

⁹ “They are the sons God has given me here,”^(C) Joseph said to his father.

Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may bless^(D) them.”

¹⁰ Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see.^(E) So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them^(F) and embraced them.^(G)

¹¹ Israel^(H) said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again,^(I) and now God has allowed me to see your children too.”^(J)

¹² Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees^(K) and bowed down with his face to the ground.^{(L) 13} And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand,^(M) and brought them close to him. ¹⁴ But Israel^(N) reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head,^(O) though he was the younger,^(P) and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.^(Q)

¹⁵ Then he blessed^(R) Joseph and said,

¹⁷ When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand^(AA) on Ephraim’s head^(AB) he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. ¹⁸ Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”^(AC)

¹⁹ But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great.^(AD) Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he,^(AE) and his descendants will become a group of nations.^(AF)” ²⁰ He blessed^(AG) them that day^(AH) and said,

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

²⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die.^(A) But God will surely come to your aid^(B) and take you up out of this land to the land^(C) he promised on oath to Abraham,^(D) Isaac^(E) and Jacob.”^{(F) 25} And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath^(G) and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones^(H) up from this place.”^(I)