Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Genesis 48:17/רמב"ן על בראשית מ״ח:י״ז
אוַיֵּרַע בְּעֵינָיו אוּלַי יוֹסֵף הָיָה אוֹהֵב אֶת מְנַשֶּׁה יוֹתֵר בַּעֲבוּר הֱיוֹתוֹ בְּכוֹר, לָכֵן חָרָה לוֹ. וְהַנָּכוֹן בְּעֵינַי כִּי חָשַׁב שֶׁטָּעָה אָבִיו בָּהֶם, וְאִם הָיְתָה בִּרְכָתוֹ בִּבְלִי דַּעַת לֹא תָּבֹא בִּרְכָתוֹ עֲלֵיהֶם כִּי אֵינֶנָּה בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ כָּרָאוּי, וְכַאֲשֶׁר אָמַר לוֹ "יָדַעְתִּי בְנִי יָדַעְתִּי" נִתְפַּיֵּס:
1IT DISPLEASED HIM. Perhaps Joseph loved Menasheh more on account of his being the first-born. Hence it displeased him. The correct interpretation in my opinion is that he thought that his father had made a mistake concerning them, and if his blessing will be without true knowledge it will never be fulfilled upon them as it will not have been done with the proper Ruach Hakodesh (holy spirit). But when his father told him, I know it, my son, I know it,59 he was reconciled.