By faith By firmly believing what God had revealed unto him concerning the future state of his children; Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau Prophetically foretold the particular blessings they should receive, preferring the younger before the elder. See notes on Genesis 27:6-40. By faith Jacob, when a dying That is, when near death, believing that God would make good his promise of giving his posterity the land of Canaan; blessed both the sons of Joseph Foretelling that two tribes should spring from these two sons; and that the tribe of Ephraim, the younger, should be more powerful than the tribe of Manasseh, the elder; and worshipped Acknowledged God's goodness to him, which he had so long experienced; leaning Or bowing down; on the top of his staff In the passage referred to, (Genesis 47:31,) it is said, according to our version: Israel bowed himself upon his bed's head; but the apostle says here, He worshipped upon the top of his staff; which agrees with the Greek and Syriac translation. It seems, as Hallet observes, the word משׂה, used in Genesis, signifies either a bed or a staff; and the passages may be reconciled by supposing that he was sitting on the side of the bed when he blessed these sons of Joseph, and leaned on the top of his staff for support, being very old and feeble.
Related Commentaries of Hebrews 11:20
Hebrews 11:20-21
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.