וירא ישראל את בני יוסף ויאמר מי אלה ויאמר יוסף אל אביו בני הם אשר נתן לי אלקים בזה
Rashi quotes the Midrash which explains that, although Yaakov Avinu’s vision was impaired, he would still have been able to see the two young men standing before him. Instead, they explain that, Mi eileh? “Who are these?” is a reference to descendants of Menashe and Efraim, whose nefarious activities precluded them from deserving blessing. Yaakov wondered – “How did they get into this family? They certainly do not have a reason to warrant blessing.” Yosef assured his father that his two sons had been begotten through a marriage of sanctity with a kesubah, kosher marriage contract, and that, indeed, they…
