79. Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen 48:1-22)

Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons and elevated them as tribal ancestors of Israel, standing together with their uncles.

πŸ‘‰ Read Gen 48:1-22

Jacob told Joseph about God’s promise for the land of (              ) and made two sons of (               ) stand together with their uncles to become two tribes of Israel.

Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh. ‘May God who has (            ) me from all harm bless these boys. May my (           ) be (            ) in them.’

Jacob blessed (               ) with his right hand and (                 ), the older, with his left hand, on purpose.

Jacob elevated Joseph over his (               ) and made him the direct heir of his land in Canaan, (                      ). (21-22)


Answers and Meditation

Canaan, Joseph

Jacob gave Joseph the double portion of inheritance among his brothers, and, thus, made him his firstborn. In this way, Jacob honored Rachel, his loving and intended wife, who had passed away earlier.


Protected, name, named

This blessing confirmed that the two sons of Joseph became two tribes of Israel.


Ephraim, Manasseh

Isaac had blessed Jacob, the younger, with the firstborn blessing by cheating. However, Jacob blessed Ephraim, the younger, on purpose.

Jacob’s blessing made Ephraim a prominent tribe in Israel's history. In the days of Judges, the tabernacle was in Shiloh, an Ephraimite territory. And later, this tribe became a core group of the Northern Kingdom. They continuously compete with the tribe Judah.

However, such blessings made Ephraim arrogant. Many Bible passages point out their prideful hearts.

 

Brothers, the mountain slope

In the later part of Jacob-Joseph's story, Joseph worked as the family leader, and he was elevated to the same level as Jacob.

Joseph's elevation is similar to Jesus' elevation.

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