5 Which is greater, Manasseh or the tribe of Ephraim? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Genesis 47-48 - The Unexpected Nature of Grace - Tampa, FL The Journey of Joseph: Jacob Blesses Manasseh and Ephraim. Part Three Prof. Baruch J. Schwartz is the J. L Magnes Professor of Biblical Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he earned his Ph.D. Jacob adopts his grandsons (48:1-20). - Warren Wiersbe - BibleGateway 31 Israel said, Promise me. Joseph promised. exegesis - Why did Jacob insist that Joseph's sons were his However, Jacob chose to give Ephraim the greater blessingeven though Joseph objected. But faith recognizes that God's ways are not man's ways. Ephraim - Wikipedia Genesis 48: Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons - Bible Study - BibleWise He further writes: The Hebrew text is from Mikraot Gedolot Haketer. And we'll also send you our Weekly Updates from Israel - cancel anytime, Free Israel Cookbook! [17] R. Judah repeats this in his commentary to Deut 3:25. The English translation is quoted from Ramban (Nachmanides) Commentary on the Torah, Genesis (trans. 29 When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. One can calculate their ages as being between about 19 and 25. These two boys, who were born to hm during his time of his rejection in Egypt, have some amazing things to tell us about the Church today as well as the 21st century. ALL OVER THE WORLD;people from every tribe, every nation, and every tongue on earth! Joseph thinks his fathers eyesight has led to a mistake, but Jacob explains that blessing Ephraim as the firstborn is indeed his intent. Its kind of a long story. Jacob said to Joseph, "Almighty God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. Joseph was displeased when he saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraims head. Someone once said that if there is a blessing that every single person needs to hear again and again, it is the Ephraim and Manasseh blessing. However, Ephraim received the blessing of the birthright because Jacob crossed his blessing hands (vv. Ephraim was the son of Joseph and Asenath and the younger brother of Manasseh (Gen. 41:50-52). 31 And he said, Swear unto me. (Matthew 22:41 22:46), The parable of the bags of gold (Jesus tells the parable of the talents) (Matthew 25:14 25:30). Abrahams two sons Isaac and Ishmael could not get along, and their disagreement forms the basis of the Arab-Israeli conflict until today. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!. Below is the blessing Jacob prayed over Gad who must have been scratching his head upon hearing his fathers words . Is Bosnia a developing or developed country? Jacob gave all the glory to God, the God who called his fathers and blessed them, who shepherded him all his life and cared for him, and who saved him from evil and harm even though he had experienced great difficulty . These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Throughout the Old Testament, the name Ephraim often refers to the ten tribes comprising Israels Northern Kingdom, not just the single tribe named after Josephs son (Ezekiel 37:16; Hosea 5:3). News without bias or noise. So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will bless, saying . I want it this way because, as I was returning from Paddan, your mother Rachel, to my deep sorrow, died as we were on our way through Canaan when we were only a short distance from Ephrath, now called Bethlehem., 8 Just then Jacob noticed Josephs sons and said, Who are these?, 911 Joseph told his father, They are my sons whom God gave to me in this place., Bring them to me, he said, so I can bless them. Israels eyesight was poor from old age; he was nearly blind. 21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Print. And he said, Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.Now the eyes ofIsrael (notice the name change)were dim with age, so that he could not see. The destruction of the Great Temple and the signs of the end times (Matthew 24:1 24:35), The Song of Moses and Miriam attributes of God that are equally applicable to every Christian follower today. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. Throughout the ages, Jewish parents have prayed that their children withstand the temptations of exile, and keep a strong, proud Jewish identity. WE ARE DOUBLY BLESSED! Jacob told Joseph, If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. The act of putting a hand under anothers thigh was a symbolic act used to commit oneself to carry out a promise. And again, take note of the order given to the two boys. In other words, he crossed his arms. Did you realize thats what Elisha was asking of Elijah? He was given aDOUBLE PORTIONof his fathers blessing above his brothers! ThenIsraelsaw Josephs sons, and said, Who are these? And Joseph said to his father, They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place. Hmmm..Lets see:They receive everything through THE CROSS (Jacob crossed his hands)andEphraim would become a multitude of (Gentle) nations.. New transgender policy for public schools empathizes with those with gender dysphoria while being steadfast in opposing gender ideology. If you like, you can read all about their indiscretions in Genesis 34 & 35. Ephraim was born in Egypt before the arrival of the . Jacob Crosses His Arms - Life, Hope & Truth As one who is above your brothers, I give to you the mountain slope, which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.. Moses Commandments: The Secret of R. Nissim of Marseilles. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. As we look at the blessing over the boys, we must ask the question, "Why do we say 'may you be like Ephraim and Manasseh,' rather than, 'may you be like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?'" I believe the reason is both profound . Sign up for the Bible Blender newsletter and receive the latest on science and tech news, new product notifications, exclusive features, and more. 13-17). In the end, how does a parent gauge success? It is unclear why Jacob referred to God in such a manner. As a result of what Jacob did,Joseph became two tribes. Remember, God chose Ephraim and Manasseh to be the recipients of the birthright blessing, as recorded in Genesis 48. Something went wrong while submitting the form. 3 Then Jacob said to Joseph . Plus get new recipes weekly. As the elder, he naturally assumed his father would bestow the first-born blessing on him and a lesser blessing on the younger. This will figure in later as our story unfolds. I will make you into a group of nations, and I will give this land to your descendants as an everlasting possession.. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). In this Torah portion, we also read about the adoption of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, by their grandfather, Jacob. Joseph moved them from Jacobs knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. Genesis 4748: Jacob Adopts Josephs Sons. Joseph had brought his sons to his father so he could bless them before he died. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The next generation Isaacs twin sons, Jacob and Esav were so contentious that Esav repeatedly sought to kill Jacob and instructed his descendants to do the same. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Ephraim and Menashe represent a break from this pattern. Some time later Joseph was told, "Your father is ill.". The word translated to ridge is ambiguous. Why did Jacob favor Ephraim over Manasseh? 11 Israel said to Joseph, I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.. 48 Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, Indeed your father is sick; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. But, as Jacob extended his hands, he crossed his . See, for example, B. . How do you describe the shape of a molecule? (see Genesis 48:13-14). Terms and Conditions In the process,Joseph was elevated to patriarch status. Sometime later, Joseph was told, Your father is weakening. Joseph took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to visit his father. Israel (Jacob) was 147 years old when he called to his favorite son Joseph and pleaded that he not be buried in Egypt. Jacob then blesses them directly. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009. Gods fulfillment of Jacobs vow is confirmed by Gods covenant renewal: Your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name I am God Almighty. This is the blessing spoken by the patriarch Jacob in Genesis 48:20 over his two grandsons. and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. For geeks and other superhero types, Geek Slop provides the latest science and technology news, features, and an online shop chock full of geek gear. Then Jacob blessed Joseph and his sons. [21] Israel Meir Ta-Shema, Knesset Mehkarim, Studies in Medieval Rabbinic Literature, Vol. 48:8 When Israel saw Josephs sons, he asked, Who are these? 48:9 Joseph said to his father, They are the sons God has given me in this place. His father said, Bring them to me so I may bless them. 48:10 Now Israels eyes were failing because of his age; he was not able to see well. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed. 48 Some time later Joseph was told, Your father is ill. So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. Joseph told his father, Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. In Genesis 27, Isaac, who was blind, was deceived into blessing the younger Jacob over his elder brother Esau. Which is greater, Manasseh or the tribe of Ephraim? Jesus warns against hypocrisy the greatest threat to Christianity today (Matthew 23:1 23:12). 236-237 [Hebrew]. Its crystal clear that Ephraim refers to the Church in all nations, not just believers in Great Britain. The challenge was if Judaism would survive in the midst of all the distractions of diaspora life. Biblical Studies Press, 2006. 48 After this, Joseph was told, "Behold, your father is ill." So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me . Enduring Word Bible Commentary Genesis Chapter 48 Bible lessons blended with science, theology, modern-day life lessons and logic. Why are Ephraim and Menashe instead the subjects of this important tradition? Its the kind of sight that tugs at your heart strings. Put your right hand on his head., But Jacob refused and said, I know, my son, I know. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. window.location.replace(""); But Israel crossed his arms and put his right hand on the head of Ephraim who was the younger and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, the firstborn. 2 And Jacob was told, "Look, your son Joseph is coming to you"; and Israel [ a]strengthened himself and sat up on the bed. Josephs sons were born in Egypt not in the land of Jacob, so Jacob needed to reconcile this. Then Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. 2 And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. 48:18 Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. 48 Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, "Indeed your father is sick"; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Very cute. Just as Jacob adopted his grandsons as his own sons,you and I, Church, have been adopted into the family of God. by Bible Blender, Complete but concise summary of each book of the Bible (Old Testament and New Testament), Chronological summary of the New Testament Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John timeline), Jacob blesses Josephs sons and places Ephraim before firstborn Manasseh (Genesis 47:28 48:22), Joseph is generously blessed, but the biblical narrative will soon turn to another son, Blessing Ephraim as the firstborn ahead of Manasseh, Jacobs blessing of the younger son over the elder, When Jacob sees Josephs sons, he asks Who are these?, Placing a hand under the thigh during a promise, To you I give one more ridge of land than your brothers, Sources: NIV, The Message, The NET Bible, King James Version, NET Bible Notes, Faithlife Study Bible, The Apologetics Study Bible, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary, The Bible Readers Companion, Matthew Henrys Commentary, Holman Concise Bible Commentary, The Bible Exposition Commentary, The Teachers Bible Commentary, The Teachers Commentary, The Bible Guide, Word Studies in the New Testament, Holman Bible Handbook, Calvin Commentaries, Wiersbes Expository Outlines, The New Manner and Customs of the Bible, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, The Lexham Bible Dictionary, Eastons Bible Dictionary, Harpers Bible Dictionary, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, The Archaeological Encyclopedia, Biblical Archaeology Review, The New Bible Dictionary, The Lexham Analytical Lexicon, Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database, blessing Jacob himself received from Isaac, Joseph saves (by enslavement) the people of Egypt during the great famine (Genesis 47:13 47:27), Joseph mourns his fathers death, reassures his brothers they are safe, then passes from earth (Genesis 50:1 50:26), Jacob blesses the Twelve Tribes before breathing his last (Genesis 49:1 49:33). Old Israel kissed and embraced them and then said to Joseph, I never expected to see your face again, and now God has let me see your children as well!. 37 Jacob said to Joseph, The Strong God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. Jacob blesses Joseph's sons and places Ephraim before firstborn Jacob told Joseph, I never expected to see you again but now God has allowed me to see your children too.. Why does Jacob bless his grandsons first? | Galilee Green 77-85 [Hebrew], and more at length in his book: The Ear Discerns Words: Studies in Ibn Ezras Exegetical Methodology (Ramat Gan: Bar Ilan University Press, 2013) [Hebrew]. Why did Joseph name his second born son Ephraim? Then Israel bowed down at the head of his bed. 2122 Israel then said to Joseph, Im about to die. Ephraim and Menashe represent a break from this pattern. The right hand would traditionally be placed on the head of the firstborn who receives special consideration and additional benefits in the blessing ritual. Jacob (Israel) tells Joseph, I give you one more ridge of land than to your brothers, the ridge I gook from the Amorites with my sword and my bow. The statement is a surprise since Jacob is seen as peaceful and gentle in the prior chapters. The Holy Bible: King James Version. Here R. Judahs suggestion strains credulity indeed. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The New International Version. In prior verses, we are told that God sends angels (typically as messengers). Determine the structure of the passage. He doesnt have any grandchildren. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Evangelist Andrew Palau Joins Dozens of Churches in Austin, Texas for Historic SXSW Outreach Event. They are still precious to God and remain in covenant with Him, though the unsaved Jewsdo not enjoy the full blessing. Genesis 48:20 - Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh Print. Why did Jacob want to bless Manasseh more than Ephraim? Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations. 20 He blessed them that day and said. Ephraim and Menashe were the first set of Jewish brothers who did not fight. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Sara Japhet; Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1994), 453-459 [Hebrew]; and Eran Viezel, Medieval Bible Commentators on the Question of the Composition of the Bible: Research and Methodological Aspects, Tarbiz 84 (2016): 103-158 [Hebrew]. Despite great odds, they grew up in Egypt and maintained adherence to Torah ideals and practice. Jacob said to Joseph, God has blessed me. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 1: Ashkenaz, (Jerusalem: Magnes, 2005), pp. He was asking for thefirst-born blessing. 8 When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, Who are these?. Their Dad had brought them before their grandfather, Jacob, clinging to his knees, one oneach side. Jacob knowingly bestows the greater blessing on the younger son, Ephraim, reserving a lesser blessing for Manasseh, the firstborn. When Joseph tried to correct his father, the old man said, "I know, my son, I know." There was no human reason that Jacob blessed Ephraim above his older brother. He said to me, 'I will give . Jacobs Fight with the Amorites: They were also not intended to be historical narratives as such, but rather to serve as the foundation myths of the Jewish people that was emerging after the Exile. In all, he lived 147 years. Ephraim And Manasseh Adopted As Sons.Then Jacob says something very strange: And nowyour two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt,are mine;AS REUBEN AND SIMEON, they shall be mine.. 48:21 And Israel said unto Joseph: 'Behold, I die; but God will be with you, . This is important because they are now included in the group of Jacobs sons and will be accorded all benefits, inheritance, and rights as Jacobs sons. Print. Joseph named his second-born son Ephraim because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering ( Genesis 41:52 ). Jacob's Blessings Why Didn't Ephraim and Manasseh Switch Places? They came near to their grandfather and he pronounced his blessings over them. 8 And Israel beheld Josephs sons, and said, Who are these? THANK YOU, Your email address will not be published. Ephraim was placed on Jacob's left. Joseph had brought his sons to his father so he could bless them before he died. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 1. The Parable of the Ten Virgins Keep watch because you do not know the day or hour of His return (Matthew 25:1 25:13). THE EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH BLESSING - Real Identity Discovery Ministries Any children that you father after them will be yours; they will be listed under the names of their brothers in their inheritance. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, 16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. 14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraims head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manassehs head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. 48:1 After these things Joseph was told, Your father is weakening. So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. The blessing is simple they will carry on Jacobs name and increase greatly in number. The latter half-tribe was also referred to as "Machir," after the son of Manasseh whose descendants comprised that half-tribe. 17But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wifeasthe firstborn bygiving him aDOUBLEPORTIONof all that he has, for heisthe beginning of his strength; the right of the firstbornis his.. I have often wondered why Jacob chose to do this act of blessing Ephraim before Manasseh. Then Joseph took the two boys, Ephraim with his right hand setting him to Israels left, and Manasseh with his left hand setting him to Israels right, and stood them before him. 10 Now Israels eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. 6 Why did Jacob put his hand on Ephraims head? In fact, when his sons massacred men at Shechem, Jacob condemned their actions. Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch (19th century Germany) offers another explanation of why Jewish boys throughout the ages have received the blessing of Ephraim and Menashe: The first generations of Jews Abraham, Isaac and Jacob raised their children primarily in the Land of Israel. 2930 When the time came for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said, Do me this favor. Judah he-Hasid or R. Moshe Zaltman: Who Proposed that Torah Verses Were Written After the Time of Moses?, Journal of Jewish Studies 66:1 (2015): 97115. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israels left hand,and Manasseh with his left handtoward Israels right hand,and brought them near him. In doing so, Jacob noted that Ephraim would be greater than Manasseh (Genesis 48:521). Jesus tests the Pharisees Whose Son is the Messiah? Why did Jacob cross his hands when blessing Ephraim? Here we see Jacob invite Josephs foreign-born sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, into the family, an adoption of sorts and the means to award Joseph with two shares of the inheritance for saving the family. ). Ephraim really has become a MULTITUDE OF NATIONS! Forhe is not a Jew who is oneoutwardly,nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;but HE IS A JEW WHO IS ONE INWARDLY; and circumcision is that of the heart,in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God., In Galatians 6:15-16we also read, For in Christ Jesusneither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. 12 So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. 6 Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. One of the most beautiful customs in Jewish life is for parents to bless their children at the start of the Friday night Shabbat meal. As for me, Im presenting you, as the first among your brothers, the ridge of land I took from Amorites with my sword and bow.. 47:31 Jacob said, Swear to me that you will do so. So Joseph gave him his word. 12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. Genesis 48 ESV - Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh - Bible Gateway 7 As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. Thus far treatments of this work have generally dealt with the passages that R. Judah believed not to have been written by Moses. Genesis 48:6, Your two sonsare mine. Joseph put Ephraim on his right, directly across from Jacobs left hand, and put Manasseh on his left side across from Jacobs right hand. Tel: +52 (921) 21.19901 29 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. 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. Ohio man charged with attempting to burn down church that planned to host drag show events. 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 Joseph brought his sons near to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. Which is why we bless our sons to be like them, expressing our hope for proud Jewish children and grandchildren. Through My Bible Yr 03 - April 26 - WELS Here however, what at first appears to be a mistake in Jacobs true intent. It happened along the way, some distance from Ephrath. Thats why you dont hear the tribe of Joseph talked about very much but, instead, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. [1] Although Joseph positions the elder son, Manasseh, on Jacob's right (48: . 12 Then Joseph removed them from Israels knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. Ephraim and Manasseh in End Times Prophecy - Hoshana Rabbah Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Ignacio de la Llave 213 2 piso, Col. Centro, Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. But their shyness was soon dispelled. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In the next chapter, we will see a similar reversal of custom during Jacobs blessing of the remaining twelve sons (the Tribes of Israel).