Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 48:13/אבן עזרא על בראשית מ״ח:י״ג
אויקח יוסף. וכבר לקח, וכבר הראיתיך רבים כאלה:
1AND JOSEPH TOOK THEM BOTH. Its meaning is: And Joseph had taken them both.18 (took) is a pluperfect that means had taken. In verse 9 we are told that Jacob told Joseph, Bring them (your sons), I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. Verse 10, while stating that Jacob kissed them, does not state that Joseph brought them to his father. This is stated in verse 13. Filwarg in keeping with his interpretation of I.E., viz., that verses 9-12 summarize what happened and verses 13-20 tell in detail what occurred, interprets as follows: Scripture is about to relate the details of the blessing. It begins by telling that Joseph had brought his children to his father in the following manner, Ephraim in his right hand and Manasseh in his left hand. I have already noted many other such instances.19