בראשית, פרק מ״ח, פסוק י״א

After years of separation and utter despair, Jacob stands amazed before his son Joseph and his two grandsons. Before delivering his blessing, he pauses in deep awe to gather his strength and express profound gratitude, teaching a vital lesson about the obligation to thank God for His constant kindness [ביאור שטיינזלץ, ברכת אשר על התורה]. The primary approach among commentators is that Jacob reflects on his own internal judgment and expectations. He confesses that he never logically concluded or judged in his own mind that he would ever merit seeing his son again [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, רשב״ם, חזקוני, הטור הארוך, ביאור יש״ר, אם למקרא]. Delving into Jacob's psychological state, some explain that he was so absolutely certain of his son's tragic death that he did not even allow his heart to entertain a fleeting hope of his survival. The possibility of a reunion was so detached from reality that Jacob simply could not let the thought enter or absorb into his mind [רש״י, מזרחי, שפתי חכמים, גור אריה, דברי דוד, רש״ר הירש].

Another perspective connects Jacob's reflection to the realm of prayer and human effort. He admits that he never even prayed for such a reunion [רד״ק, חזקוני], as he considered it a vain request to ask for the return of someone he believed was already dead. Consumed by despair, he took no practical steps to search for him. Yet, precisely from this place of complete helplessness and the total absence of human effort, God's providence shines the brightest. Jacob emphasizes how God operates and bestows immense kindness even when a person does not lift a finger. This realization serves as a fitting prelude to the blessing of the grandsons, hinting that Ephraim, too, will receive a great blessing from God without any prior effort on his own part [העמק דבר].

A final layer of interpretation links the sight of Joseph's face with the presence of his children, viewing this combination as undeniable proof of Joseph's moral purity in Egypt [פני דוד, צפנת פענח, פרדס יוסף, שפתי כהן]. According to ancient tradition, a person who commits adultery suffers a physical change, with their face turning a sickly pale or green hue. The only remedy to restore a healthy complexion was a specific potion that, while curing the face, also caused permanent sterility. Upon reuniting, Jacob observes his son's bright and beautiful face. He admits an initial fear that perhaps his son had failed the moral tests of Egypt and consumed that potion to hide his sin. However, the fact that God has allowed him to see his son's children proves that no such potion of sterility was ever taken. Therefore, the bright complexion is genuine evidence that he maintained his purity and remained righteous. Adding to this, it is suggested that Jacob possessed a deep wisdom in reading faces, or perhaps saw his own exact likeness reflected in his son, confirming beyond a doubt that he had successfully withstood the temptations of Egypt [פני דוד].