NOTES for Gen 48:1-22
Today's reading tells us about the dying Jacob blessing Joseph's children, who had been born to him in Egypt. Within traditional clan and tribal relationships this moment was very important: it meant that Joseph's children were accepted as members of the clan. Usually such a blessing was given soon after birth, but in the case of Joseph's children this had naturally been impossible, and only now did they receive Jacob's blessing as the founder of the clan.
During this traditional ritual, however, something happened that went beyond tradition. Usually the first blessing was received by the oldest son, who was considered the heir in his family (and if the matter concerned, for example, the children of a tribal leader, then customarily the oldest inherited authority after the leader's death). If two children came under the blessing at once, the one giving the blessing usually laid his right hand on the head of the older child and his left on the head of the younger.
Meanwhile, in the biblical story everything happened the other way around: with his right hand Jacob blessed not Joseph's older son, but his younger one (vv. 13-14). Joseph tried to point out the mistake to his father (vv. 17-18), but it turned out that this was no mistake at all, and that Jacob had deliberately blessed the younger with the special blessing traditionally given to the older child (vv. 19-20).
Such a violation of the tradition of seniority occurs repeatedly in the Bible, and in all situations of this kind it turns out to be a charismatic act, performed at God's special direction. This is not surprising: after all, in a society where rite and ritual permeate all of life, both private and public, following ritual and tradition is not merely expected, but so deeply ingrained in everyone that an accidental violation of ritual becomes nearly impossible in such a society.
And if it does happen, the reason may be God's direct intervention, by which He wants to point to His chosen one. Thus a violation of the order and custom established by human beings sometimes becomes an instrument in God's hands and a sign of His intervention.