11 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.
11 Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too."
11 And Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also."
11 and then said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has let me see your children as well!"
11 And Israel said to Joseph, "I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!"
11 Then Jacob said to Joseph, "I never thought I would see your face again, but now God has let me see your children, too!"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 48:11
Commentary on Genesis 48:8-22
(Read Genesis 48:8-22)
The two good men own God in their comforts. Joseph says, They are my sons whom God has given me. Jacob says, God hath showed me thy seed. Comforts are doubly sweet to us when we see them coming from God's hand. He not only prevents our fears, but exceeds our hopes. Jacob mentions the care the Divine providence had taken of him all his days. A great deal of hardship he had known in his time, but God kept him from the evil of his troubles. Now he was dying, he looked upon himself as redeemed from all sin and sorrow for ever. Christ, the Angel of the covenant, redeems from all evil. Deliverances from misery and dangers, by the Divine power, coming through the ransom of the blood of Christ, in Scripture are often called redemption. In blessing Joseph's sons, Jacob crossed hands. Joseph was willing to support his first-born, and would have removed his father's hands. But Jacob acted neither by mistake, nor from a partial affection to one more than the other; but from a spirit of prophecy, and by the Divine counsel. God, in bestowing blessings upon his people, gives more to some than to others, more gifts, graces, and comforts, and more of the good things of this life. He often gives most to those that are least likely. He chooses the weak things of the world; he raises the poor out of the dust. Grace observes not the order of nature, nor does God prefer those whom we think fittest to be preferred, but as it pleases him. How poor are they who have no riches but those of this world! How miserable is a death-bed to those who have no well-grounded hope of good, but dreadful apprehensions of evil, and nothing but evil for ever!