Imposition of hands was a most ancient public ceremony amongst the Jews, by which was designed and made certain the person or other thing intended in a man’s prayer, blessing, sacrifice, consecration, condemnation, or other speech. So Jacob, in blessing the children of Joseph ( Gen. 48:14), “laid his right hand on Ephraim the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh the firstborn”; and this he did “wittingly” (though they were so presented to him by Joseph, as he was forced in doing it to stretch out his arms across), to design to whom he intended the greater blessing. So also in the sacrificing of the burnt-offering, Aaron is commanded ( Exod. 29:10) “to lay his hands on the head of the bullock”; and (verse 15) “to lay his hand on the head of the ram.” The same is also said again ( Levit. 1:4, and 8:14). Likewise Moses, when he ordained Joshua to be captain of the Israelites, that is, consecrated him to God’s service ( Numb.