Yaakov and Yisrael — ‘My Son’ and ‘Your Grandsons’

The opening of our parsha contains narrative that seems inconsistent — “Yaakov” lives in Egypt, but the days of “Yisrael” are getting closer to his death.

After asking Yosef to swear that the burial will not take place in Egypt and will take place in his family burial plot, “Yisrael” bows at the head of the bed.

Time passes, and Yosef is told (by—?), “Your father is sick.” So he takes “his two sons with him, Ephraim and Menashe.” Someone (who?) tells “Yaakov,” “Your son Yosef is here.” So “Yisrael” strengthens himself and sits on the bed.

Then “Yaakov” speaks to Yosef, and through what he tells Yosef it almost seems as if Menashe and Ephraim are not present.

In short, Yosef is informed that his two sons will be viewed as if they are the oldest of the 12 tribes, and that through them Yosef is receiving the double portion of the first born’s rights.

After saying this, “Yisrael” sees Yosef’s sons and puzzlingly asks, “Who are these [people]?” before he is reminded they are his grandsons and he asks to bless them. (47:29-48:9)

There are numerous theories for the switch between Yaakov and Yisrael, what each name represents, and why each might be used in the context in which it appears. Many are interesting but most have an inconsistency or a flaw (or a stretch) that makes it not worth belaboring the point.

The problems we will zero in on surround who is telling Yosef about his father, who is telling his father about his arrival, why are we told that he took “his sons” and then it specifies “Ephraim and Menashe” (talk about stating the obvious!), and what is the role of Ephraim and Menashe until Yaakov notices their presence?

The Torah tells us Yosef took them “with him,” indicating their presence should have been noted from the moment Yosef showed up, not after Yaakov has already given Yosef a blessing and instructions!

Many commentaries (Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Radak, Pesikta, Alshich) suggest that the one who told Yosef about his father’s illness, and the one who informed his father that “Yosef is here” was the same person — The “Magid.” The announcer.

Rashi even suggests that his identity is unimportant because sometimes the Torah leaves out unimportant details.