Bible Study Online Article
When Joseph had received word, that his father Jacob was ill. He headed out, taking along his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim, to go and visit the great patriarch. Once there, Jacob received word that Joseph had came to visit him: "Your son Joseph has come to you." After Jacob had heard this, he used what little strength that he had in his ailing body, and sat up on the bed. When Jacob saw Joseph, he spoke these words: "God almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there He blessed me and said to me: 'I am going to make you fruitful and will increase your numbers. I will make you into a great community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.' "Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simon are mine. Any children born after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. "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. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath." Now let's take a closer look at what Jacob just told Joseph and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. "God almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there He blessed me and said to me: 'I am going to make you fruitful and will increase your numbers. I will make you into a great community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.'" In regards to the place; that was located within the land of Canaan called "Luz": this was the name of that particular place that was located north of Jerusalem, before the Israelites had changed its name to -- Bethel. As for the blessing that God had told him, this was simply a reminder from God; that the promised Abrahamic Covenant was still intact, and that Jacob was the official bearer of that covenant at that time. Now we have Jacob, reminding Joseph about the promise that God had placed on him and his descendants. This was done, because things seemed to be going good for them while they dwelled in Egypt. But Egypt wasn't promised to them, and so therefore, Jacob wanted to remind Joseph of that fact. "Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. Any children born after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers." This statement deals with the twelve tribes, the foundation in which Israel is to be built on. Jacob informs Joseph, that Ephraim and Manasseh; are both, now recognized as one of his own. This would be the first part of the blessing that Jacob speaks unto Joseph's two sons. Because of this claim, Ephraim and Manasseh will now be added to the twelve tribes -- allowing them to be recognized as forefathers to the Israel nation. Ephraim would become the founder of the Ephraimites, and Manasseh would become the founder of the Manassites. This is what Jacob meant when he said: "Any children born after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers." Understand that their addition to the twelve tribes, don't change their number -- for they are still "the twelve tribes" and not "the fourteen tribes." For we must understand that although Ephraim and Manasseh, are recognized as being the household of Joseph -- know that, Joseph did not have a tribe named directly after him, so therefore -- his name is not counted amongst the twelve. Also, Levi did not have a tribe named directly after him; for he would be recognized, as the founder of the Levitical Priesthood; which was formed through his three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Because of this, Levi name was not counted amongst the twelve tribes either. "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. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath." We now find Jacob clearing some things up, when it comes to his past actions -- that concerned Rachel. Perhaps Jacob, wanted Ephraim and Manasseh; to know what happened to their grandmother, on that very unfortunate day -- and why she was buried on the side of the road to Ephrath. For he wanted them to know, that where she was buried, had nothing to do with "being disrespected." Jacob, wanted to make clear that it dealt with the way, and when she died. He wanted to explain to them, that it was best that they bury her quickly. For it wouldn't be good, to keep her body long enough for them to try to reach Hebron -- the burial place for the patriarchs. Note: On that day, Jacob did erect a pillar in her honor and because of this; that place would be known as Rachel's sepulchre or tomb. Jacob needed for them to know this, and later on; the Sacred Scriptures would back him up. For they tell us, that the place that the tribe of Benjamin was located; included the place where Jacob buried Rachel: "When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel's tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin." (1 Samuel 10:2) This is very important, for we must remember that the child Rachel died giving birth to, was Benjamin. What an honor it was for her, to have that same child; to become one of the founders of the Israel nation, and to become the protector and maintainer of her resting place. On another note, it very well could be; that Jacob also, wanted to give Ephraim and Manasseh some sense of understanding; on why he's including them into the very privileged position of being apart of the twelve tribes. Being that Rachel had died so early, it's very well possible; that he felt cheated: for he wouldn't be able to have anymore children through her. For Jacob, the addition of Ephraim and Manasseh -- would help to make up for that. So Jacob just blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, by claiming them as his own; and added them to the twelve tribes. This would be the first part of his blessing that he would bestow on the two boys. But when it came to the second part, Joseph was displeased at what his father had done. You would think that a blessing would be a good thing -- right? So what did Jacob do, or say; or perhaps both, that would cause Joseph to be concerned?
Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty **YOUR CURRENT SERIES WOULD BE HERE**
102) Jacob the Stunned & Delighted 105) Israel's Blessing to Pharaoh 107) The Promise Between Father & Son 108) Jacob Becomes Ill 109) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 110) Jacob Places Ephraim Before Manasseh 111) Joseph's Expectation and Disappointment 112) The Promise Covenant with Humanity 113) The Prophecy of Reuben, Simeon and Levi 115) The Tribe of Kings 116) Representation of the Scepter 117) The Importance of the Sanhedrin 118) The Gathering of the People  CrossDaily.com Web Search where you can VOTE FOR THIS SITE & other great ones. Christian search engine, directory & voting index. You'll find Bible, chat, churches, jobs, music, reviews, software, theology, & more. See the best sites!
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