This verse is stating that Joseph, while in Egypt, had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, before the start of the seven-year famine that he had prophesied. Let's break it down:
"To Joseph were born two sons...": This is a straightforward statement that Joseph became a father to two male children.
"...before the year of famine came...": This is important. It places the births of these children before the difficult years of famine that God foretold through Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream. This suggests a time of prosperity and establishment for Joseph in Egypt before the hardship hit.
"...whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him.": This identifies the mother of the children as Asenath. This tells us:
Asenath: Joseph's wife was not an Israelite woman.
The daughter of Potiphera priest of On: This gives information about Asenath's background. Potiphera was a priest in On (Heliopolis), a city known for its worship of the sun god. This highlights that Asenath came from an Egyptian, and likely a prominent and religious, background. This emphasizes Joseph's integration into Egyptian society and his rise to power.
In Summary:
The verse is a factual statement about Joseph's family. It establishes:
Joseph had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
These sons were born before the famine.
Their mother, Asenath, was Egyptian and the daughter of a priest.
The verse is important because it shows Joseph's success and assimilation into Egyptian society. It also sets the stage for the future role of Manasseh and Ephraim as important tribes within the nation of Israel. While they were born to an Egyptian mother, they are considered part of the Israelite lineage because of their father, Joseph.
This verse is stating that Joseph, while in Egypt, had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, before the start of the seven-year famine that he had prophesied. Let's break it down:
"To Joseph were born two sons...": This is a straightforward statement that Joseph became a father to two male children.
"...before the year of famine came...": This is important. It places the births of these children before the difficult years of famine that God foretold through Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream. This suggests a time of prosperity and establishment for Joseph in Egypt before the hardship hit.
"...whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him.": This identifies the mother of the children as Asenath. This tells us:
Asenath: Joseph's wife was not an Israelite woman.
The daughter of Potiphera priest of On: This gives information about Asenath's background. Potiphera was a priest in On (Heliopolis), a city known for its worship of the sun god. This highlights that Asenath came from an Egyptian, and likely a prominent and religious, background. This emphasizes Joseph's integration into Egyptian society and his rise to power.
In Summary:
The verse is a factual statement about Joseph's family. It establishes:
Joseph had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
These sons were born before the famine.
Their mother, Asenath, was Egyptian and the daughter of a priest.
The verse is important because it shows Joseph's success and assimilation into Egyptian society. It also sets the stage for the future role of Manasseh and Ephraim as important tribes within the nation of Israel. While they were born to an Egyptian mother, they are considered part of the Israelite lineage because of their father, Joseph.
