Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in 48:15-16, and in 48:20.
The blessing of Jacob is given to Joseph, and his sons Manasseh and Ephraim. It is probably distinct from inheriting the promises Yahweh gave to Abraham because Scripture talks about all of Israel's descendants inheriting those promises. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#inherit and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#promise)
This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)
"someone said to Joseph"
"Listen, your father." Here the word "look" is used to get Joseph's attention.
"So Joseph took"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "When someone told Jacob" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"your son Joseph has come to you"
Here the author speaks of Israel struggling to to sit up in bed as if he were gathering "strength" as someone gathers actual things. Alternate translation: "Israel made a great effort to sit up in bed" or "Israel struggled as he sat up in bed" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This is the name of a city. See how you translated the name of this city in Genesis 28:19. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This can be translated with the new sentence starting in a different place. Alternate translation: "in the land of Canaan, and he blessed me"
This refers to God pronouncing a formal blessing on someone.
This can be translated with the new sentence starting in a different place. Alternate translation: "And he said to me"
This is a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "said to me that he would make me fruitful and multiply me. And, he said that he would make me an assembly of nations and he would give this land to my descendants as an everlasting possession." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)
God used the word "behold" here to alert Jacob to pay attention to what he was about to tell him.
The phrase "multiply you" explains how God would make Jacob "fruitful." Alternate translation: "I will give you very many descendants" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
Here "you" refers to Jacob, but it stands for Jacob's descendants. Alternate translation: "I will make your descendants into many nations" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
"a permanent possession"
This does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.
Ephraim and Manasseh each will receive a portion of land just like Joseph's brothers.
Possible meanings are 1)the rest of Joseph's children would inherit land as part of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh or 2) Joseph will be given separate land from Ephraim and Manasseh and Joseph's other children will inherit that land. Alternate translation: "as for their inheritance, you will list them under the names of their brothers"
This is another name for the town of Bethlehem. See how you translated the name of this city in Genesis 35:16.
"Whose sons are these?"
A father would often pronounce a formal blessing on his children or grandchildren.
The word "Now" is used here to mark a change from the story to background information about Israel. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)
"Israel kissed them"
Here "face" stands for the whole person. Alternate translation: "to see you again" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
When Joseph placed his sons on Israel's lap or knees it was a sign that Israel was adopting them. This gave the children special inheritance rights from Jacob. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)
Joseph bowed down to show honor to his father. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)
Joseph places the boys so that Israel will put his right hand on Manasseh. Manasseh was the oldest brother and the right hand was the sign he would receive the greater blessing. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)
Placing the right hand on Ephraim's head was the sign that he would receive the greater blessing. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)
Here "Joseph" also stands for Ephraim and Manasseh. Since Joseph is the father, he is the only one mentioned here. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
Serving God is spoken of as if it were walking before God. Alternate translation: "The God who my grandfather Abraham and father Isaac served" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
God has taken care of Israel like a shepherd takes care of his sheep. Alternate translation: "who has cared for me like a shepherd cares for his animals" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
These words could refer to 1) the angel that God sent to protect Jacob or 2) God, who appeared in angel form to protect Jacob.
"delivered me"
Here "name" stands for the person. The phrase "my name be named in them" is an idiom that means a person is remembered because of another person. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "May people remember Abraham, Isaac, and me because of Ephraim and Manasseh" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
Here "they" refers to Ephraim and Manasseh, but it stands for their descendants. Alternate translation: "May they have many descendants who will live all over the earth" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
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The right hand was the sign of the greater blessing which the oldest son was supposed to receive. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)
Here "He" refers to Manasseh, but it stands for his descendants. Alternate translation: "Your older son will have many descendants, and they will become a great people" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
"that day, saying"
"The people of Israel will speak your names when they are blessing others"
This is a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "by your names. They will ask God to make others like Ephraim and like Manasseh" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)
Israel saying Ephraim's name first is another way he indicates that Ephraim will be greater than Manasseh.
Giving Ephraim the greater blessing and making him more important than Manasseh is spoken of as if Israel physically put Ephraim in front of Manasseh. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Here "you" and "your" are plural and refer to all the people of Israel. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-you)
This is an idiom that means God will help and bless the people of Israel. Alternate translation: "God will help you" or "God will bless you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
Here "bring" can be translated as "take." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-go)
"land of your ancestors"
Possible meanings are 1) Joseph having more honor and authority than his brothers is spoken of as if he were physically above them. Alternate translation: "To you, who is greater than your brothers, I give the mountain slope" or 2) Jacob means he is giving more land to Joseph than he is giving to Joseph's brothers. Alternate translation: "To you, I give one more ridge than I give your brothers. I give to you the mountain slope" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Here "you" is singular and refers to Joseph. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-you)
Here "sword" and "bow" stands for fighting in battle. Alternate translation: "the portion of land I fought for and took from the Amorites" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)