Stretched out his right hand] Here we find the first mention of imposition of hands, which was afterward often used; First, in benediction, as Matth. 19. vers. 13. Secondly, in offerings, Leviticus 1:4. Thirdly, in testification or witnesse-bearing, and assenting, Leviticus 24:14. Deuteronomy 17:7. Fourthly, in extraordinary collation, or bestowing of gifts, and graces, Acts 8:17. Fifthly, in miraculous cures, Mark 6:5. Luke 4. 40. Acts 28:8. Sixthly, in admission, and ordination of Magistrates and Church-officers, Numbers 8:10. Deuteronomy 34:9. Acts 6:6. and Acts 13:3. 1 Timothy 4:14. which is used in the ordinary Ordination of Pastours of the Church, neither as implying a power to communicate the gifts of the Spirit, nor in any mysticall, or sacramentall signification in that ceremony, but as notifying the party ordained, to the eye by the hand, as well as to the eare by the tongue. upon Ephraims head] Because from him were to descend the Kings of the ten Tribes. Secondly, this Tribe in glory and numbr was to be superiour to the Tribe of Manasseh, as Jacob foretold, 5: 19. Thirdly, because of Ephraim was Joshua to spring, who was to conduct the people into Canaan, wherein he was a type of Christ. Guiding his hands wittingly] Hebr. Making his hands to understand. Feeling with his hands which was the fuller, and bigger, he wittingly laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim the younger, and so transferred the birth-right from the elder to the younger, as it was in the case of Esau and Jacob, Chap. 27. and therfore when the Tribes are numbred, Ephraim is mentioned by the name of Joseph, Numbers 1:32. and Manasseh by his own name, 5: 34. & Revelation 7:6. so in the sealing of the tribes it is said, Of the tribe, not of Ephraim, but of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand, Revelation 7:8. intimating that Josephs prerogative descended upon Ephraim, not upon Manasseh. The Doway Translators in their Annotations on this place would have it beleeved, that Jacob crossed his hands in blessing his grandchildren, to prefigure the forme of the Crosse, and Christ dying upon it, whereas it is plaine that Joseph having placed his sonnes so, that Ephraim was set next his left hand, and Manasseh next his right hand, Jacob meaning to bestow the blessing otherwise then Joseph conceived, and had plotted in the posture of them both, was occasioned to lay his armes acrosse, that he might put his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, and his left hand upon Manasseh.