Now, Jacob purposely gave the greater blessing to the younger of Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim. So what can we learn about faith from Jacob? There is so much to wonder and marvel at in the Torah portion of Va Yechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26). Ephraim in Hebrew means: Double fruitfulness. Clearly, this is a great way to bless our sons and grandsons. And again, another example is during the census taking in the Torah portion of Pinchas (Numbers 25:10 – 30:1, specifically Numbers 26:28), Manasseh is mentioned first. According to tradition, the eldest son is blessed with the patriarch’s right hand. Joseph was upset but Jacob told him that Ephraim would be greater than Manasseh. “Now you’re two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine. In fact, when the nation of Israel originally left Egypt, the tribe of Ephraim was larger than that of Manasseh (Numbers 1:32-35), and after the kingdom was divided, the prophetic name for wayward Israel was Ephraim (cf: Psalms 78:67-68, Isaiah 11:12-13, 17:3, 28:1-4, Jeremiah 4:15, 7:15, 31:9), even though the capital city of Samaria was actually in Western Manasseh. Jacob said, “[Manasseh] too will become a people, and he too will become great. Even though we are, We can understand Ephraim’s lack of worldly leadership skills in the scripture that outlines the camping placement of the tribes (Numbers 2:3, 12, 18, 27). The right hand would traditionally be placed on the head of the firstborn who receives special consideration and additional benefits in the blessing ritual. > 1 Chronicles 5 : 1 “These are the sons of Reuʹben, Israel’s firstborn. In this scene, Joseph brings his two sons (Manasseh and Ephraim) to his dying father Jacob so that they can receive the family blessing. Eventually, Moses agreed to allow this BUT with one important condition, he also stationed half of the tribe of Manasseh there too (Numbers 32:33 and Deuteronomy 3:13). An amazing teaching. 2 And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. His two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, each became the founder of a tribe of Israel. Ephraim was born in Egypt to Joseph’s wife, Asenath. With that important legality out of the way, Jacob continues to bless his grandsons. Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph shows a scene from the Old Testament book of Genesis, Chapter 48. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. ( Log Out /  In the case of Manasseh, who dealt with worldly matters, he knew how to balance and control the influence of the world so that he, while in it, would perform Yah’s will. Ephraim and Manasseh, or Manasseh and Ephraim… both these tribes (whether their name placement in the scriptures is first or second) offer powerful insights for us to use today on how to contend with this world, how to immerse in Torah and how to be a benefit to the whole nation of Israel – together in unity. So too Gentiles have been adopted into Israel.. Like Ephraim and Manassah Gentiles are no longer to be regarded foreighners to Israel but as fellow citizens. Jacob places his right hand on the head of Ephraim and blesses him. The first has to do with a blessing. Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?” And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.” And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless … And then Manasseh was guided to Jacob by Joseph’s left hand. 1 SOME TIME after these things occurred, someone told Joseph, Behold, your father is sick. He told Joseph that his sons were going to be included in his inheritance. As we look back on the actions of Jacob, it’s not hard to see that he was inspired by the Spirit of Yah to make the profound act of crossing his hands when he blessed Ephraim and Manasseh. Nowhere is it recorded that Ephraim and Manasseh were at odds with each other. Manasseh was focused on spiritual matters while not totally shunning worldly matters. But what part of the cup represents not being severed from this world? Perhaps one might say that the highlight of their character is their remarkable upbringing. Jacob clearly understood this and that is why he gave them the legal status equal to Reuben and Simeon. Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, … And he blessed Joseph…, Now when Joseph saw that his father {Jacob} laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. Answer: Israel’s twelve tribes were named for Jacob’s children or, in the case of Ephraim (and Manasseh), his grandchildren. As a result of Jacob’s obedience in his prophetic blessings of Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob was enabled, by the Holy Spirit, to pronounce prophetic blessings over all twelve of his own sons (Genesis 49:1-28). R. Judah HeḤasid, in his comment on Jacob’s blessing asserts that the subject of Genesis 48:20b, “he placed Ephraim before Manasseh,” and 48:22, “I have given you [=Joseph] an extra portion…,” is not Jacob but Moses, referring to when Moses put Ephraim before Manasseh in the tribal listings in Num 2:18-21. In Genesis 48 on his deathbed Israel picks Ephraim over Manasseh to touch with right hand even though Manasseh … In our day of western Christianity we seem to have convinced ourselves that we have some kind of magic power in our own words. According to tradition, the eldest son is blessed with the patriarch’s right hand. Jacob wished to emphasize the point that with these siblings, there is no rivalry. God had chosen Abel, not Cain; Isaac, not Ishmael; Jacob, not Esau; and Joseph, not Reuben; and now He would choose Ephraim over Manasseh. Ephraim and Manasseh will be as much mine as Reuben and Simon are. Joseph steps in to correct Jacob, but Jacob is stirred by something powerful; “I know it my son, I know it…”, he says and then proceeds to bless the second born son Ephraim first and then secondly, the first born son Manasseh. So, this brings up a question or two. Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?” And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.” And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.” When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come," he roused himself and sat up in bed. Realizing that, Joseph put Manasseh under Jacob’s right hand so that Manasseh would receive the greater blessing. At first, Jacob states that Ephraim and Manasseh will be to him like his own sons (Genesis 48:5). Both are powerful. Even though Ephraim was given the right hand blessing status, it becomes clear in verse 20 that he and his descendants were not skilled as worldly leaders (though powerful as spiritual leaders). In fact, one midrash, in explaining why Ephraim receives the blessing of the firstborn instead of his older brother, Manasseh, by imagining Ephraim studying Torah with his grandfather, Jacob. Since Israel is the Covenant Birthright Name, this same name is delivered over from Jacob (also named ‘Israel’ by God), to Manasseh and Ephraim. Question: "What can we learn from the tribe of Manasseh?" Joseph thinks his father’s eyesight has led to a mistake, but Jacob explains that blessing Ephraim as the firstborn is indeed his intent. If you notice from Revelation 7:4-8 above, not only is the tribe of Dan missing but so is the tribe of Ephraim. Sages say that Ephraim was focused solely on spiritual matters. Jacob purposely gave the greater blessing to Ephraim. The fourth case was when Joseph brought Ephraim and Manasseh to Jacob to be blessed by him, he tried to maneuver the blessing of the birthright according to the natural birth (vv. After Jacob wrestled with Him all night, God renamed Jacob “Israel,” which means “you have struggled with God and men and have overcome” (Genesis 32:22–30). One example of the benefit of these boys can be found in the settling of the tribes when the people of Israel finally entered The Land. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, "The Strong God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. Background. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, God Almighty appeared to … ESV. Each boy excelled in their focus. This is what is meant by being sanctified. But, as Jacob extended his hands, he crossed his arms so that his right hand was placed on Ephraim’s head. Why did Jacob cross his hands? Jacob dies, and Genesis concludes with Joseph's death in Egypt. He was able to do this because he understood a powerful point. Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh. 48 After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Manasseh and Ephraim are to be figured among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, would have an inheritance in that land, because their grandfather was adopting them. British power came before American power. Blessing Ephraim and Manasseh (48:1-20) " 1 Some time later Joseph was told, 'Your father is ill.' So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. Yet, each boy’s focus was for one purpose … "And he blessed them that day": That Joseph visited him, and this be did "by faith"; believing that what he had said concerning them would be accomplished, as the apostle observes (Heb. When Jacob was old, sick and dying, his son Joseph came with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, so that Jacob might bless them. Manasseh and Ephraim are among the twelve tribes of Israel that inherited territory in the Promised Land. Why did Jacob cross his hands? The birthright blessings, which included primarily physical blessings of national greatness , were being divided between Joseph’s two sons. Even though Joseph was a foreigner (a Hebrew) in Egypt, he had been … 1. Please take note of the order given to Joseph’s two sons in verse 1. Contrary to the intention of Joseph, Ephraim was preferred to Manasseh by Jacob, and upon him was conferred the birthright blessing Gen. 48:17-19. Thank you. Answer: Israel’s twelve tribes were named for Jacob’s children or, in the case of Manasseh (and Ephraim), his grandchildren. ( Log Out /  He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”, So he blessed them that day, saying,”By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh! The two parts work together revealing unity. In these verses, Jacob is bringing the sons of Joseph born to him in Egypt, into the National Name Israel. 2 When Joseph arrived, Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to see you.” So Jacob 1 gathered his strength and sat up in his bed. He blesses Manasseh, the firstborn, with greatness; he blesses Ephraim, the younger boy, by saying that he would be still greater, not only a people but a multitude of nations (Genesis 48:16, 19). With that important legality out of the way, Jacob continues to bless his grandsons. This clearly acknowledges the leadership qualities of Manasseh. Like Ephraim and Manasseh Gentiles are adopted sons and like them have become fellow heirs to Israel. This time it is Ephraim first and then Manasseh second (verse 5). That is the spiritual analogy. 48 After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. This simple action became a prophecy concerning these two boys. jacob blesses joseph’s sons (genesis 48:15-22 [17] And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. No explanation is given for the last minute switch, but Ephraim’s precedence … Again, the sages say that Moses wanted to make sure that Gad and Reuben would have strong Torah neighbours and a strong Torah influence which the tribe of Manasseh could offer. Manasseh was the first born and Ephraim the younger. Joseph named his second-born son “Ephraim” because “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering” (Genesis 41:52). Yesterday, we covered Jacob crossing his arms to bless Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. The other tribal encampment leaders were acknowledged with prominence, but when Ephraim is mentioned, his prominence is diminished so that it becomes almost equalize with Manasseh. (Hebrews 11:21, Genesis 48:1-22, NKJV). (8-12) Jacob calls for Joseph’s sons, to bless them. Thank you. ( Log Out /  Manasseh was focused on spiritual matters while not totally shunning worldly matters. However, Ephraim received the blessing of the birthright because Jacob crossed his blessing hands (vv. Joseph put Manasseh on Jacob’s right side and Ephraim on his left, but Jacob crossed his hands and put his right hand on Ephraim who was younger. Jacob wants to establish legally that they were not Egyptians, but were of the family of Abraham and therefore part of the structure of promises given by God to the patriarchs. Manasseh was born first and so should have been pre-eminent, but an act of chicanery reversed the order, resulting in Jacob giving the first-born blessing to Ephraim instead. 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