Verses 8-12 pick up the story line from verses 1-2. Together with verses 1-2 these verses form a complete episode, which tells of the visit of Joseph and his sons to the dying Jacob.

Who are these?: Jacob’s question may suggest that Jacob had not seen Joseph’s sons before. However, verse 10 makes clear that Jacob is nearly blind. See the rendering of Good News Translation. Translators may find it necessary to combine verses 8-10, putting Jacob’s blindness first, to explain why he had to ask who Joseph’s children were.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .