‘And it happened after these things that someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is ill.” And he took with him his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim.'
Jacob has obtained Joseph's promise only just in time for shortly afterwards he falls ill and knows he has not long to go. The ‘someone' may well have been despatched by him, or it may be a faithful servant appointed by Joseph to look after him and constantly update him on his condition.
“He took with him his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim.” Not only in order to see their dying grandfather but precisely in order to obtain his dying blessing for them. The dying blessing was the equivalent of a will, and was also considered to have effectiveness to determine the future, for God was to be seen as in the blessing. It was considered legally binding. A man at such a time was thought to see beyond the ordinary and mundane. Manasseh is mentioned first because he is the firstborn.