[Avodah] Menasheh and Efrayim, or Efrayim and Menasheh?

[Micha Berger]

On Tue, Jan 08, 2013 at 02:57:44AM +0000, Akiva Miller wrote:
: However, in 48:5, when Yaakov announces that each of these sons will be
: full-fledged shevatim, just like Reuven and Shimon, Yaakov Avinu refers to
: them as "Efrayim and Menasheh". This is nine pesukim earlier than 48:14,
: in which Yosef attempts to correct his father.

The Maharal (Gur Aryeh ad loc) answers that Yoseif was not surprised
by his father giving the more learned son more kavod. But when it
came to the bekhorah, it shouldn't have been an issue of merit, but of
primogenitury alone. And therefore it wasn't until Yaaqov placed Ephraim
ahead of Menasheh in the berakhah that Yoseif thought he was erring.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha