According to Genesis 48:13-15, Joseph presented his two sons for his aging father's blessing, placing the elder son Manasses in the position of greater honour by Jacob's right hand and the younger, Ephraim, by Jacob's left. When it came to the blessing however, Jacob crossed his hands over, favouring Ephraim with his right hand. The exegetes saw this as a type for God's favouring of the Christians over the Jews (the younger faith over the older).