God is giving us many hints at the conditions of ‘names’ dealing with heritage with this idea of Joseph carrying over the Name Israel. That the birthright of Reuben is given to Joseph's sons, as is stated in I Chron. Now the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. The birthright promised to God’s people is in three aspects: image, dominion, and participation in God’s kingdom. Reuben (the first born) does not receive the blessings and birthright promises and neither does Judah (as assumed). Jacob adopted the two sons of Joseph and split the birthright title between his own son, Judah, and … This is exactly what Joseph did. Judah was the fourth son of Jacob-Israel. JUDAH'S SCEPTRE AND JOSEPH'S BIRTHRIGHT By J. H. ALLEN Originally published, 1902. Yesterday, we covered Jacob crossing his arms to bless Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Thus, two peoples carrying these blessings would arise from these boys. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: to bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom” – (Psalm 105:17-22). To learn more details about the fulfillment of these blessings promised over 3,500 years ago, read our article “Who Are the United States and Britain in Prophecy?”, Tomorrow on the Daily Bible Verse Blog: “Jacob Prophesies to His Sons.”. The text specifically notes that “Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. Fewer still have understood that these great national material promises were never given to the Jews! But the transgressors shall be destroyed together’ – (Psalm 37:37,38). Reuben lost his birthright through one act of lust. He was given a special gift by his father - a richly ornamented coat. In The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, Levi says: ‘Whosoever teacheth noble things and doeth them, shall be enthroned with kings, as was Joseph my brother’ (Testament of Levi). Although Joseph is the eleventh son of Jacob (Israel), he is Rachel’s firstborn, so in a sense he is both firstborn and favored. In ‘The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs’, all the sons of Jacob speak of Joseph as ‘the good and holy man’ except Judah, who sold his brother for twenty pieces of silver. Pharaoh and Potiphar could see the holiness and beauty and integrity of this great man of Yahweh: ‘And Pharaoh said, …Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of Yahweh is?’ Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Yahweh hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.’, Thinkers should ponder over these facts, remembering that the great man in Yahweh’s sight in the Old Testament was not Moses or David or Solomon, but Joseph: ‘In all things like unto Jacob.’. ‘Neither was there a man born like unto Joseph, a governor of his brethren, a stay of the people, whose bones were regarded of Yahweh’ – (Ecclesiasticus 49:15). Now Yahweh’s purpose and plan for Joseph was revealed. Notice in the story of Jacob and Esau, Esau was older and so had the birthright…but Jacob stole it from him. Simeon and Levi were cursed by Jacob for their brutal murder of the men of Shechem. Scholars and, in particular, intellectuals, head men, have never really understood men like Jacob and Joseph but these two were Yahweh’s men. Ferrar Fenton translates this ‘Fly from fornication. The older sons resented Joseph, and this open contempt created a common bond that eventually resulted in a family mutiny … © 2021 The Ensign Trust. It is somewhat remarkable that when the book of Genesis gives us ‘The generations of Jacob’, it comes to a sudden stop. AND JOSEPH'S BIRTHRIGHT An Analysis of the Prophecies of the Scriptures in regard to the Royal Family of Judah and the Many Nations of Israel, the Lost Ten Tribes By J. H. ALLEN Originally published, 1902. Ephraim, being blessed with the right hand, received the greater blessing. All of his attention were given to things of the world, and to pleasures of the flesh. However, Jacob takes note that it isn't just the brothers bowing to Jospeh but Jacob as well! Strange that Joseph’s birthright son was named Ephraim, which means ‘fruitful’. However, the Bible also shows that the father could rescind the birthright and pass it on to a younger son. Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. Although Reuben’s inheritance and birthright were given to Joseph, Judah’s descendants became the rulers of Israel. Who Are the United States and Britain in Prophecy. Joseph– “Joseph is a fruitful vine....” (vs. 22). Since the Bible is word for word the true Word of Yahweh, every occasion that is included in the Bible narrative is there for a specific purpose, not merely for interest or as a story. Neither Judah, Moses, David, Solomon, or any of the sons of Leah, ever reached the great moral heights of Joseph. Meanwhile, Joseph was given visions by God showing him that his father's household would bow down to him. Joseph was very much loved by Jacob because he had been born to him in his old age. The very next chapter of Genesis (39), in contrast, shows how Joseph refused to consent to the evil intent and immoral thoughts of Potiphar’s wife. After giving the birthright to Joseph’s son Ephraim, Jacob, on his deathbed, giving his blessing to each of his sons, said ‘The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah … until Shiloh come’ – (Genesis 49:10). v. 1, indicates the gradual disintegration of the tribe of Reuben, and the rise to prominence of the Joseph division. He was famished, and asked Jacob to give him the food. If indeed this coat signaled that Joseph held the birthright, which may have been in question among the brothers because there were four firstborn sons in Jacob’s family, this fact would explain the intense hostility and jealousy the coat provoked among the other sons of Jacob. Nevertheless, it was Jacob who became Israel, and Joseph who was ruler and governor of Egypt, and Joshua who led the Israelites over the Jordan into Canaan. Because the prophecies about Judah point to the Western democracies, then the last part of Genesis 49:26 becomes a major clue: “because you are the leader of your brothers” (Contemporary English Version).. The phrase ‘the son of his old age’ speaks of a future tense, for Benjamin was younger than Joseph. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. Paul goes on, ‘…ye are not your own. Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),” ‘Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. In the time of the patriarchs, such blessings acted as a “last will and testament” and were highly prized as a means of revealing God’s will. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren … and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Hence when he was hungry enough its no big surprise that a bowl of food had more value than a birthright full of things he couldn't really comprehend or appreciate - … They had hated Joseph when he told them of his dreams. According to the Targums, the ‘tents’ were really ‘Academies of Learning’, and Jacob is represented as a life-long scholar. The name Joshua translated into the Hebrew becomes Yahshua. Ephraim and Manasseh were merely individual tribes among the 12 tribes. But because of Adam’s fall, man completely failed to express God. To arrive at a true picture of today’s events, and to be able to judge properly the significance of each incident as it occurs, it is often necessary to go back, as it were, into the Old Testament and to make a study of parallels, and the experiences of our forefathers. Joseph had two sons named Ephraim and Manasseh by an Egyptian wife. Abram tried to convince his father, Terach, of the folly of idol worship. After this, with Joseph out of the way, Judah dominated the sons of Jacob, and with great cunning won the confidence of his father Israel. Every other sin that a man can do is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against his own constitution. So he is not reckoned according to birthright. The birthright was instead given to Joseph’s sons (1 Chronicles 5:1). Essentially, the singular birthright blessing was being divided between two brothers. The United States is the one, great single nation of Manasseh. Head men, ‘with the vail of their heart’, cannot understand two heart-men like Jacob and Joseph. We learn two things. The only other mention of this occurs in 1 Chronicles 5:1, where the Chronicler begins, “The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel,” but then adds: “(He was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, son of Israel, so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright;” Although Judah is given leadership of the tribes, Joseph is blessed with the double portion of the birthright (1 Chronicles 5:2). In addition to assuming the leadership role in the family, the recipient of the birthright inherited twice that received by the other sons. Ancient Jews observed the law of the firstborn… or the one who had the birthright. As Ephraim and Manasseh are counted with the twelve tribes of Israel, with the double portion given through Joseph, we now have ‘thirteen tribes’, Ephraim taking the place of Joseph in carrying the largest portion of the Birthright, and Manasseh being the ‘thirteenth’, the second portion of the Birthright. He is not listed in the genealogy according to birthright. Genesis 49:26 In Genesis 49, besides Judah, one other tribe is given prominence over his brothers—Joseph. This … We must keep in mind the fact that the Lord cast Israel afar off to the isles of the sea, and then, through the prophet Isaiah, commanded silence for a certain period, or until the people should have renewed their strength. They hated Joseph because he received his father’s undivided attention and affection. Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. One of the most well-known parts of the Christmas story is the account of wise men bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Genesis 49:1 provides us a key clue to the fulfillment of these blessings—they would be fulfilled in the “last days.” In other words, times that were relatively close to the end of the age. " Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel - he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright " (I Chronicles 5:1). It was a bitter moment when later Judah, so proud and haughty, had to kneel before the ruler of Egypt, and beg for his brother Benjamin, having made himself surety for Benjamin to his father Jacob. Although Joseph was the eleventh-born son in order of birth, he was second in line for the birthright because he was the firstborn son of the second wife. Even if we disregard the earlier promises given to Abraham and Isaac of descendants as numerous as the sand of the seashore, the Promised Land of Canaan, royal dynasties, and the gates of their enemies, Esau stood to inherit a literal fortune. Genesis 38 tells of the immoral acts of Judah, and his sheer hypocrisy in ordering Tamar, his daughter-in-law, to be burnt to death. Name Joshua translated into the Hebrew becomes Yahshua years old, was feeding the with. First of all a slave, a servant, and asked Jacob to give Ephraim the why was the birthright given to joseph. 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