Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
All Commentaries on Genesis 49:22 Go To Genesis 49
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
What is the reason why the father honored his son Joseph more abundantly than all his sons? Only because he saw in him the mysteries prefiguring Christ. On this account he blessed him who was awaited rather than him who was seen and said, “My son Joseph is to be increased.” Who is to be increased but Christ, whose grace is always increased, for his glory does not have an end to its advance? Of him also John says, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” because, through that perfect and saving name of his, grace was piled up and abounded in this world—“My son is to be increased.” And so, because his brothers saw that he was growing, they began to envy him; moreover, he whom Joseph prefigured also met with envy from those whom he loved more. In fact he said, “I have not come except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And they said, “We do not know where he is from.” He had care for them, and they denied him.
