The Cross and its Shadow - Stephen N. Haskell

of Manasseh, the eldest, saying, "Not so, my father:
for this is the first-born." But his father refused,
saying, "I know it, my son, I know it: . . . he also
shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be
greater than he." (Genesis 48:15-20)
Like his great Uncle Esau, Manasseh, although
the first-born, received the second place in the
blessing; but the circumstances were entirely
different. Manasseh did nothing to forfeit his
privileges in the family blessing. While he did not
have the war-like propensities of Ephraim, which
enabled him to build up the kingdom of Israel, yet
Manasseh's name will outlive that of Ephraim.
There was one portion of the patriarch's
blessing which seemed to be shared more largely
by Manasseh than by his more prosperous brother.
"The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless
the lads." (Genesis 48:16)
The blessing of the Lord was prized by
Manasseh and his descendants. Although they lived
at a distance from the center of the nation, and
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