think that it would be the place of his burial. Its past scenes filled his soul with the most tender recollections; and he would make yet another impression in favor of his beloved country on the heart of Joseph, by recalling to his mind one of these scenes which a son could never think of unmoved.

And as for me," said the venerable patriarch, "when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath."

All nations have loved the spot where the bones of their ancestors repose. The graves of our fathers! How many affecting thoughts are called up by these words! Who can think of the place where the remains of a parent are laid, of a brother or sister, of kindred and friends, without the deepest emotion!

I cannot but suppose that his father's tender mention of Rachel, of her death and burial, touched the heart of Joseph with sadness, and that he dropped the tears of filial gratitude to the memory of a beloved mother.

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The advanced age of Jacob had nearly deprived him of sight. He saw a little, but very indistinctly. Who are these ?" said he, as he caught a glimpse of two young men who were standing near his bed.

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They are my sons," said Joseph, "whom God hath given me in this place."

"Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them," was the affectionate request of their grandfather.

On their being brought near to him, he kissed them and embraced them, and observed to Joseph that he once thought he should never see him again; and yet God had not only permitted him to do this, but to see his children also.

Joseph then withdrew his sons from the embraces of his father, and bowed himself with his face to the earth.

He did this to show Jacob and all around him the deep affection and respect which he felt for his venerable parent, and how entirely he forgot that he was the rich and powerful governor of Egypt, when he stood, a son, by the bed of a dying father.

He arose and again brought his sons near their grandfather, to receive his blessing. In doing this, he wished Jacob, as was customary, to place his right hand on the head of the eldest, and his left hand on the head of the youngest, while blessing them. He therefore took Ephraim in his right hand, leading him toward Jacob's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand, leading him toward Jacob's right hand.

But what was his surprise to see his father imme-diately cross his hands, so as to place his right hand on the head of Ephraim, the youngest; and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, the eldest; and proceed to implore the blessing of God upon them.

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And he blessed Joseph, (for he blessed the father in blessing his children,) and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, (whom they loved and obeyed,) the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."

It would take a long time to go into an explanation of what Jacob probably intended by the word angel. Many learned and good men think that it was the Son of God himself, who afterward came down to live and die in our world, even the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom Jacob referred. If so, Jacob might well speak of his having redeemed him from all evil, and pray that his blessing might rest upon the sons of Joseph to redeem them from all evil also. For Christ, you know, is the great Redeemer; who, having poured out his blood on the cross, to save from sin and from hell all who put their trust in him, will bless them, and keep them from evil, and 14*

L. J.

bring them, at last, to be with him, for ever, in the kingdom of heaven.

In praying that his name and the name of Abraham and Isaac might be named on Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob intended to pray that they might be, indeed, placed by God in the great family to which he and his father and grandfather belonged, and thus have a share in the blessings that had been promised to Abraham, and Isaac, and himself, and their offspring. Jacob's prayer, that the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh might grow into a multitude, was, at a subsequent period, strikingly answered. For in the time of Moses, less than two hundred and forty years afterward, the number of those, among their descendants, who were twenty years of age and upward, and able to go to war, amounted to eighty-five thousand two hundred, a greater number than were found among the descendants of any other of the sons of Jacob

CHAPTER XXXI.

Conclusion of Jacob's blessing on the sons of Joseph.—Joseph's portion.-Jacob's prophecy, and blessing his sons. His death.-Does the reader wish to die as Jacob did?

"WHEN Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him : and he held up his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the first born; put thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; (that is, the descendants of Manasseh shall become very numerous and powerful.)

"But truly his younger brother shall be greater than he; and his seed (or descendants) shall be. come a multitude of nations.”

In concluding his blessing on the sons of Joseph, Jacob said, "In thee shall Israel (or my descendants, the Israelites) bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim, and as Manasseh. And he set Ephraim before Manasseh."

By this Jacob meant that Ephraim and his de