Israel deliberately crosses his hands to bless the younger son over the older, again. Same pattern as his own life, and apparently he learned nothing structurally about birth order even after everything with Esau.
Literaryשכל את ידיו PLACING HIS HANDS DESIGNEDLY — Understand this as the Targum renders it: אחכמינון he put wisdom into them (viz., into his hands), meaning designedly and wisely he moved his hands for this purpose, intelligently and with full knowledge, fo...
Historical CommentatorsSelect a line on the left to view commentary.