Genesis 48:10
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Now Israel’s eyesight was poor because of old age; he could hardly see. Joseph brought his sons to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Adoption of Joseph's Sons. - Gen 48:1, Gen 48:2. After these events, i.e., not long after Jacob's arrangements for his burial, it was told to Joseph (ויּאמר "one said," cf. Gen 48:2) that his father was taken ill; whereupon Joseph went to him with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, who were then 18 or 20 years old. On his arrival being announced to Jacob, Israel made himself strong (collected his strength), and sat up on his bed. The change of names is as significant here as in Gen 45:27-28. Jacob, enfeebled with age, gathered up his strength for a work, which he was about to perform as Israel, the bearer of the grace of the promise.
Open source ↗The time drawing nigh that Israel must die, having, in the former chapter, given order about his burial, in this he takes leave of his grand-children by Joseph, and in the next of all his children. Thus Jacob's dying words are recorded, because he then spoke by a spirit of prophecy; Abraham's and Isaac's are not. God's gifts and graces shine forth much more in some saints than in others upon their death-beds. The Spirit, like the wind, blows where it listeth. In this chapter, I. Joseph, hearing of his father's sickness, goes to visit him, and takes his two sons with him (Gen 48:1, Gen 48:2). II. Jacob solemnly adopts his two sons, and takes them for his own (Gen 48:3-7). III. He blesses them (Gen 48:8-16). IV. He explains and justifies the crossing of his hands in blessing them (Gen 48:17-20). V. He leaves a particular legacy to Joseph (Gen 48:21, Gen 48:22).
Open source ↗48:10 As Isaac his father had done, Jacob now gave the blessing when his eyesight was failing (cp. 27:1).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” Esau replied.
So he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.
Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
Early the next morning, Laban got up and kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then he left to return home.
And at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room.
Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.
Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his gaze was fixed because he could not see.
So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?”
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.