And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.
Joseph lived to see his great-grandchildren through Ephraim, and he also got to hold and raise the children of Machir, who was Manasseh's son.
This verse shows that Joseph was blessed to live long enough to see multiple generations of his family and to personally care for his great-grandchildren.
📚 Historical Context
This verse occurs near the end of Joseph's life in Egypt, showing how God blessed him with longevity and the joy of seeing his family grow. In ancient times, seeing three generations was considered a sign of God's special blessing and favor. The phrase 'brought up upon Joseph's knees' refers to the custom where grandfathers would hold newborn children on their knees, symbolically adopting them and blessing them.
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