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Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice;
and the knowledge of God more than your burnt offerings.
Bible Chapter Studies
1A0 GENESIS CHAPTER 48
Genesis 48 is yet another important chapter in Father's Word as, it is in this chapter that Jacob passes down the Abrahamic Covenant onto his grandsons. The Chapter opens with Jacob--now 147 years old--and his sons, and their wives, and all they have, now having joined onto his second youngest son Joseph,--whom Jacob's older sons sold to the Ishmeelites, who then carried him down into Egypt--who is residing in the land of Goshen, in Egypt, because of the famine in the land of Canaan, and residing in the land of Goshen, in Egypt.
Jacob is old, and is ready to return Home to Father, and it is time for him to prepare for his death and burial, and therefore, he calls Joseph to his bed in order to make the arrangements. So, let's now read of, and learn of, this Abrahamic Covenant which Father YHVH had made with Abram, Isaac and Jacob, and is now being passed down to Jacob's great-grandsons.
With that introduction being said, let's go to Father and ask Him for His Blessings on our Study of His Word: Father, we come to you right now to thank you for inviting us to Your table in order that we might be able to receive Your Spiritual Meat, and Father, we ask You, to open our ears and eyes, that we might be able to hear and see your Truths, open our hearts and minds, and prepare us to receive Your Truth. We Pray for Your understanding of Your Word, we seek Your knowledge of Your Word and most importantly Father, we Pray for and desire Your Wisdom from Your Word, in Jesus' Precious name, thank You Father, Amen.
46:28-50:13 JACOB IN EGYPT. (Introversion.)
47:27-50:13 Israelites.
47:27-50:13 ISRAELITES. (Alternation and Introversion.)
47:29-49:32 charges.
47:29-49:32 JACOB’S CHARGES.
48:1-20 Blessing of Joseph and his sons.
48:1-20 BLESSING OF JOSEPH AND HIS SONS. (Extended Alternation.)
48:1 Joseph’s sons brought.
Genesis 48:1 And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph (let him add [or perhaps simply active participle adding]; or, increase), “Behold, thy father is sick:” and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh (causing to forget; or, forgetting) and Ephraim (double fruit; or, double fruitfulness). -> After these things=After having to flee Canaan because of the famine and now having lived in Egypt for approximately seventeen years, Jacob had called Joseph to his bedside in Genesis 47:29-31 in order to make him sware unto him--Jacob--that he would not allow his body to be buried in Egypt; but, be returned to the land Father sware to give unto Abraham, i.e. the Promised Land: Canaan. Jacob--Israel--wants to be buried in that plot of land called the "Cave of Machpelah," where Sarah, Rebekah, Abraham, and Leah are already buried. This means that when he does pass and return Home to be with Father, that Joseph and his brethren will have to have his body embalmed by the Egyptians,--Israelites do not embalm--then wrapped, and they must ask Pharaoh for Joseph's leave while they carry his body back to Canaan.
Thy father is sick=Jacob was old, he had a disease, and was becoming worse for the wear, in other words, he was dying and getting to return Home to Father.
Joseph=The elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel. He was born in Padan-aram (Mesopotamia). He is first mentioned when a youth, seventeen years old. Joseph brought the evil report of his brethren to his father, and they hated him because his father loved him more than he did them, and had shown his preference by making a dress which appears to have been a long tunic with sleeves, worn by youths and maidens of the richer class Genesis 37:2. He dreamed a dream foreshadowing his future power, which increased the hatred of his brethren Genesis 37:5-7. He was sent by his father to visit his brothers, who were tending flocks in the fields of Dothan. They resolved to kill him, but he was saved by Reuben, who persuaded the brothers to cast Joseph into a dry pit, to the intent that he might restore him to Jacob. The appearance of the Ishmaelites suggested his sale for "twenty pieces (shekels) of silver." ver. 28. Sold into Egypt to Potiphar, Joseph prospered and was soon set over Potiphar's house, and "all he had he gave into his hand;" but incurring the anger of Potiphar's wife Genesis 39:7-13 he was falsely accused and thrown into prison, where he remained at least two years, interpreting during this time the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker. Finally Pharaoh himself dreamed two prophetic dreams. Joseph, being sent for, interpreted them in the name of God, foretelling the seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine. Pharaoh at once appointed Joseph not merely governor of Egypt, but second only to the sovereign, and also gave him to wife Asenath, daughter of Potipherah priest of On (Hieropolis), and gave him a name or title, Zaphnath-paaneah (preserver of life). Joseph's first act was to go throughout all the land of Egypt. During the seven plenteous years there was a very abundant produce, and he gathered the fifth part and laid it up. When the seven good years had passed, the famine began Genesis 41:54-57. [FAMINE ] After the famine had lasted for a time, apparently two years, Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they brought, and brought it into Pharaoh's house Genesis 13,14, and when the money was exhausted, all the cattle, and finally all the land except that of the priests, and apparently, as a consequence, the Egyptians themselves. He demanded, however, only a fifth part of the produce as Pharaoh's right. Now Jacob, who had suffered also from the effects of the famine, sent Joseph's brother to Egypt for corn. The whole story of Joseph's treatment of his brethren is so graphically told in Genesis 42-45 and is so familiar, that it is unnecessary here to repeat it. On the death of Jacob in Egypt Joseph carried him to Canaan, and laid him in the cave of Machpelah, the burying-place of his fathers. Joseph lived "a hundred and ten years," having been more than ninety in Egypt. Dying, he took an oath of his brethren that they should carry up his bones to the land of promise: thus showing in his latest action the faith Hebrews 11:22, which had guided his whole life. Like his father he was embalmed, "and he was put in a coffin in Egypt" Genesis 50:26. His trust Moses kept, and laid the bones of Joseph in his inheritance in Shechem, in the territory of Ephraim his offspring. His tomb is, according to tradition, about a stone's throw from Jacob's well..
Manasseh=The eldest son of Joseph Genesis 41:51; 46:20. Both he and Ephraim were born before the commencement of the famine. He was placed after his younger brother, Ephraim, by his grandfather Jacob, when he adopted them into his own family, and made them heads of tribes. Whether the elder of the two sons was inferior in form or promise to the younger, or whether there was any external reason to justify the preference of Jacob, we are not told. In the division of the promised land half of the tribe of Manasseh settled east of the Jordan in the district embracing the hills of Gilead with their inaccessible heights and impassable ravines, and the almost impregnable tract of Argob Joshua 13:29-33. Here they throve exceedingly, pushing their way northward over the rich plains of Jaulan and Jedur to the foot of Mount Hermon I Chronicles 5:23. But they gradually assimilated themselves with the old inhabitants of the country, and on them descended the punishment which was ordained to he the inevitable consequence of such misdoing. They, first of all Israel, were carried away by Pul and Tiglath-pileser, and settled in the Assyrian territories I Chronicles 5:25,26. The other half tribe settled to the west of the Jordan, north of Ephraim Joshua 17:1..
Ephraim=The second son of Joseph by his wife Asenath. The first indication we have of that ascendancy over his elder brother Manasseh which at a later period the tribe of Ephraim so unmistakably possessed is in the blessing of the children by Jacob Genesis 48..
48:2 Joseph’s sons brought.
Genesis 48:2 And one told Jacob (heel catcher; or, supplanter), and said, “Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee:” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. -> The news of his son and grandsons coming to see him, strengthened Jacob so much that, he was able to raise himself up and sit upon his bed. Pay attention here brethren as, there is a prophesy about to be revealed to us in this chapter; and, sadly, the content of this prophesy is ignored by almost the entire Christian church world today. How and why is this? Because, they have allowed the kenites--satan’s offspring with Eve: i.e. Cain's descendants, see Matthew 13:34-43--to deny the blessings which are about to be passed down to Joseph and his offspring,--Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, to his son Isaac, to Jacob--and place them in the hands of not only Judah; but, into the hands of the Kenite strangers—i.e. the nethinims, see also Joshua 9—who mixed amongst them called “the Jews.”
Sat upon the bed=Notice that Jacob "sat" upon the bed? Meaning that, he neither was leaning upon it, nor was he worshipping it. Pay attention and notice also the difference between here in verse v48:2, and below in verse v48:12.
Jacob...Israel=Jacob is used of the Natural Jacob and his natural seed; where, Israel is used for the Spiritual Israel and the spiritual seed. The second son of Isaac and Rebekah. He was born with Esau, probably at the well of Lahai-ro,. His history is related in the latter half of the book of Genesis. He bought the birthright from his brother Esau, and afterward acquired the blessing intended for Esau, by practicing a well-known deceit on Isaac. (Jacob did not obtain the blessing because of his deceit, but in spite of it. That which was promised he would have received in some good way; but Jacob and his mother, distrusting God's promise, sought the promised blessing in a wrong way, and received with it trouble and sorrow. --ED.) Jacob, in his 78th year, was sent from the family home to avoid his brother, and to seek a wife among his kindred in Padan-aram. As he passed through Bethel, God appeared to him. After the lapse of twenty-one years he returned from Padan-aram with two wives, two concubines, eleven sons and a daughter, and large property. He escaped from the angry pursuit of Laban, from a meeting with Esau, and from the vengeance of the Canaanites provoked by the murder of Shechem; and in each of these three emergencies he was aided and strengthened by the interposition of God, and in sign of the grace won by a night of wrestling with God his name was changed at Jabbok into Israel. Deborah and Rachel died before he reached Hebron; Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, was sold into Egypt eleven years before the death of Isaac; and Jacob had probably exceeded his 130th year when he went tither. He was presented to Pharaoh, and dwelt for seventeen years in Rameses and Goshen, and died in his 147th year. His body was embalmed, carried with great care and pomp into the land of Canaan, and deposited with his fathers, and his wife Leah, in the cave of Machpelah. The example of Jacob is quoted by the first and the last of the minor prophets. Besides the frequent mention of his name in conjunction with the names of the other two patriarchs, there are distinct references to the events in the life of Jacob in four books of the New Testament – John 1:51; 4:5,12; Acts 7:12,16; Romans 9:11-13; Hebrews 11:21; 12:16..
Israel="God commands, orders, and rules;" wherein, man always attempts it; but, in the end, always fails. Out of the forty or so names with the compound "EL," or "YAH," Father YHVH is always the "doer" of what the verb means, i.e. Dani-EL: EL Judges. EL=EL is essentially the Almighty, thought the word is never so rendered (see below, "Shaddai"). EL is Elohim in all His strength and power. It is rendered "God" as Elohim is, but El is God the Omnipotent. Elohim is God the Creator putting His omnipotence into operation. Eloah (see below) is God Who wills and orders all, and Who is to be the one object of the worship of His people. El is the God Who knows all (first occurrence is in Genesis 14:18; 22) and sees all (Genesis 16:13) and that performeth all things for His people (Psalms 57:2); and in Whom all the Divine attributes are concentrated..
48:3 Blessing of Jacob.
Genesis 48:3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, “GOD ALMIGHTY (EL Shaddai) appeared unto me at Luz (as growing there; or, almond tree) in the land of Canaan (humiliated; or, lowland), and blessed me, -> Jacob relates to Joseph the story of his vision of a ladder reaching up into heaven and the angels ascending and descending upon it. Let's let Father's Word tell relate it to us: Genesis 28:10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba (well of an oath; or, well of the oath), and went toward Haran (parched; or, mountaineer). -> In the last Chapter,--Genesis 27--Isaac had called his eldest son Esau to him in order to bestow upon him the Abrahamic Covenant, what Isaac did not know, was, that, Esau had already sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob. Their mother Rebekah knew; so, she therefore, called Jacob to her in order for her to tell him how to go about receiving his rightful Blessing from his father. As he was receiving it, his older brother Esau returned and overheard Isaac giving his Blessing to Jacob. Esau then hated his brother and sought to kill him. Again, their mother stepped in and told Jacob to flee Canaan in order to go to her brother Laban, and while he was there, he should find a woman to marry, one who was of Adamic seed. Remember, it will be Jacob, who will be the father of the twelve Patriarchs, or the Tribes of Israel. Isaac then indeed gave Jacob he True Blessing and sent him on his way, which is where we are picking this up: as Jacob is travelling between Beer-sheba and going toward Haran. And=Note the polysyndeton emphasizing what is about to happen in verses v28:11-15. Canaan=A name denoting the country west of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, and between those waters and the Mediterranean; given by God to Abraham's posterity, the children of Israel Exodus 6:4; Leviticus 25:38. [PALESTINE].. Beer-sheba=The name of one of the old places in Palestine which formed the southern limit of the country. There are two accounts of the origin of the name. According to the first, the well was dug by Abraham, and the name given to Judah Joshua 15:28, and then to Simeon Joshua 19:2; I Chronicles 4:28. In the often-quoted "from Dan even unto Beersheba" Judges 20:1, it represents the southern boundary of Canaan, as Dan the northern. In the time of Jerome it was still a considerable place, and still retains its ancient name --Bir es-Seba . There are at present on the spot two principal wells and five smaller ones. The two principal wells are on or close to the northern bank of the Wady es-Seba . The larger of the two, which lies to the east, is, according to Dr. Robinson, 12 1/2 feet in diameter, and at the time of his visit (April 12) was 44 1/2 feet to the surface of the water. The masonry which encloses the well extends downward 28 1/2 feet. The other well Isaiah 5 feet in diameter, and was 42 feet to the water. The curb-stones around the mouth of both wells are worn into deep grooves by the action of the ropes of so many centures. These wells are in constant use today. The five lesser wells are in a group in the bed of the wady. On some low hills north of the large wells are scattered the foundations and ruins of a town of moderate size.. Haran=HARAN or CHARRAN Acts 7:2,4, name of the place whither Abraham migrated with his family from Ur of the Chaldees, and where the descendants of his brother Nahor established themselves, compare Genesis 24:10 with Genesis 27:43. It is said to be in Mesopotamia Genesis 24:10, or more definitely in Padan-aram Genesis 25:20, the cultivated district at the foot of the hills, a name well applying to the beautiful stretch of country which lies below Mount Masius between the Khabour and the Euphrates. Here, about midway in this district, is a small village still called Harran. It was celebrated among the Romans, under the name of Charrae, as the scene of the defeat of Crassus.. [28:11] And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. -> Took of the stones=Jacob selected one stone from the many which were laying on the ground around where he was going to lay and sleep for the night. We know he only selected one because of what is written in verses v28:18 and v28:22 below. Anyway, Jacob selected a stone to lay his head upon; and we’ll see later where this pillow stone, will also be called Jacob's pillar, and will become very important in the future as, it is this particular stone which will be carried by our forefathers the entire time they are in Egypt, then through the wilderness, and then held through many centuries where it will be carried to great Brittan. It is this stone that the kings of Israel were crowned upon, and today it sits in Scotland and is pledged to be allowed for use during the next crowning of the king of England. It is the stone that Queen Elizabeth II was crowned upon, and should there be another linkage in the royalty line, he or she will also be crowned upon "Jacob's pillar" (stone). [28:12] And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. -> So, as Jacob lay sleeping, he dreams this dream wherein he sees a latter which reaches all the way up into heaven, and upon this latter, he watches as angels both descend and ascend from heaven. A curious sight for him no doubt. What he is actually witnessing are angels stepping between the two dimensions: the one where Father and all those who have not yet been born in the flesh, as well as those who have been in this Flesh Age; but, have died the fleshly death and returned Home to Father reside, and this Flesh Age dimension. Jesus—in the Gospel of John—made mention of this vision which Jacob had: John 1:51 And He—Jesus—saith unto him,—him being Nathanael who upon seeing Jesus, after being called by Phillip, immediately believed on Him and proclaimed: John 1:49 “…‘Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel.—“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man.". It was because of Nathaniel’s faith that Jesus told him that he would forthwith be able to see the angels which come and go from Father's throne, stepping between the dimensions, in order to do the service of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the link between the dimension which Father resides in—what we mortal man call: heaven—and earth. It is only by and through our Lord Jesus Christ that the angels may descend and ascend. Jesus Christ is the link between Father and man, for He is the tabernacle for man, to allow man to commune with Father. [28:13] And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, “I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; -> Stood above it=Check out the word “above” in the Strong’s Concordance, and then compare it with the word “by” in Genesis 18:2 as they are both the same Hebrew word: H5921 - על, - ‛al, pronounced – al, and means: Properly the same as H5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural, often with prefix, or as conjugation with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications: - above, according to (-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through (-out), to, touching, X with.. So, this again supports and gives credence to the fact that Father is not “above” us in heaven as man falsely assumes, he is right here on His Earth, in another dimension. Notice also in this verse that Father tells Jacob that He is the YHVH of both Abraham, and of Isaac, in other words, He is the YHVH of the living, not of the dead. To thee will I give it=This is the same Promise that Father gave to both Abraham—Genesis 13:15--and Isaac—Genesis 26:3—and is now making with Jacob. Notice also all the "shalls," "shalts," and "wills" in these verses and also in YHVH’S Covenant? It is not the angels; but, the Divine faithfulness and promise which mark “this place” and make it “the House of YHVH.” [28:14] And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. -> Note the same Promise and the personal gifts Father is bestowing upon Jacob? He just told him that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the heavens and as the sand as in the sea. He also makes a very prophetic statement, “…in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” How and why is this? Because, it is in this seedline—the Adamic seedline—only through which Father Himself will come and be born into this Flesh Age as His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. [28:15] And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” -> The Divine Promise. Brethren, these are the Promises that are available to you and I today, if we claim them, and we can only claim them if we know them, and if we are faithful. Father told Isaiah in the Book named for him: Isaiah 43:26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.. I will not leave thee=This Promise first made, here (Genesis 28:15), to Jacob for Covenant Grace; to the People, for journey in Deuteronomy 31:6; to Joshua, for conflict in Joshua 1:5,8; to Solomon, for work in I Chronicles 28:20; and to us, for Daily Provision in Hebrews 13:5,6. [28:16] And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.” -> Upon waking from his sleep, Jacob remembered all that Father had said to him, and he immediately knew and understood that he was indeed a Blessed man. He also knew and understood that the world would certainly be Blessed because of Who would come through his loins. [28:17] And he was afraid, and said, “How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” -> Brethren check out both these words “afraid” and “dreadful” in your Strong’s Concordance as they are both the same word in the Hebrew, they both translate out to Hebrew word number: H3372 - ירא, - yârê', pronounced - yaw-ray', and means: A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten: - affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, -fully, -ing). (be had in) reverence (-end), X see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).. With this being so, let’s now re-read it as the verse would be more precisely translated, “And he was reverence of where he was, and said, How awesome is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. See, Jacob knew that this is the window to see right into the dimension of where Father is in heaven, and the gate to control the access right into heaven and the throne of God. House of God=This house is the place where Father YHVH meets His unworthy Children in Grace. It was so with David as can be read in I Chronicles 22:1. It is the same with us. Our “place of worship” is where Father manifests Himself to us in Grace. “The GOD of all Grace” is emphatically, “The GOG of Jacob” with which we can compare Psalms 146:5 and it reads: Psalms 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:. [28:18] And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. -> The next thing Jacob did after waking was to anoint the very stone he had used as his pillow the night before. Don’t mis-think here brethren as, Jacob didn’t worship that stone; no, he set it up as an altar in order to give praise to, and worship Father. Many years later there would be huge rings placed in it, and it would be carried where ever the Israelites would go. That rock would be there as a reminder to the vision of Jacob, and the Promises which Father had made to him, and to the generations of his children which would follow. Today it is called "The Stone of Destiny," and you can watch one of my favorite Biblical Archeologist’s Documentary concerning the Stone of Destiny. Sharpen up for me brethren as the next verse is why we came here. [28:19] And he called the name of that place Bethel (house of EL see below): but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. -> After anointing that stone, giving praise to and worshipping Father, Jacob then changed the name of this location from Luz to Beth-EL. Because it was here that Father showed him that this location was the gateway between the two dimensions. [28:20] And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, -> Vowed a vow=This brethren is the first recorded vow in all Father's Word. Anyway, after worshipping Father, Jacob then vowed to Father that if He would always be with him, lead him, and guide him; then, he likewise would always honor, serve and worship Father. Really Jacob needn't have worried for Father would not leave him, nor will He leave us brethren, as Paul told us in Hebrews 13: Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.". Notice also that Jacob asked for "bread to eat" and what did Jesus teach us concerning bread? Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread., and He then follows that with John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst., and John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.". Today we partake of His Bread of Life in two ways: i.e., by Studying His Word, and by partaking of His Body when we partake of the Holy Sacraments of Communion. [28:21] So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: -> Father had told, and promised Jacob a long and prosperous life, with many children, and that the Messiah would come through his offspring; so, now, Jacob is recognizing the fact of this promise, and in turn, making a commitment back to Father. He therefore continues with his vow, and now makes a contract with Father; saying, that, should Father bring him again back home to his father Isaac's house in Canaan; then Father ELOHIM will forever be YHVH to him. [28:22] And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee." -> Jacob set that stone pillar up as Father's house, in order to be a remembrance not only of YHVH'S covenant to him; but, also, as Jacob’s commitment to Father. Brethren, if you want a reason for the giving of you tithe back to Father, this is the best that you can find! It is the keeping of the commitment made by father to Jacob, and today, as ELYON--The Dispenser of God's blessings in the earth--blesses you, you are bound by that commitment to "surely give the tenth unto Thee."
GOD ALMIGHTY=EL is essentially the Almighty, thought the word is never so rendered (see below, "Shaddai"). EL is Elohim in all His strength and power. It is rendered "God" as Elohim is, but EL is God the Omnipotent. Elohim is God the Creator putting His omnipotence into operation. Eloah (see below) is God Who wills and orders all, and Who is to be the one object of the worship of His people. El is the God Who knows all (first occurrence Genesis 14:18,22) and sees all (Genesis 16:13) and that performeth all things for His people (Psalms 57:2); and in Whom all the Divine attributes are concentrated.; whereas, Shaddai is in every instance translated "Almighty", and is indicated by small capital letters ("ALMIGHTY"). It is God (El), not as the source of strength, but of grace; not as Creator, but as the Giver.. Shaddai is the All-bountiful. This title does not refer to His creative power, but to His power to supply all the needs of His people. Its first occurrence is in Genesis 17:1, and is used to show Abraham that He Who called him out to walk alone before Him could supply all his need. Even so it is the title used in II Corinthians 6:18, where we are all led to "come out" in separation from the world. It is always used in connection with El (see above)..
Luz=It seems impossible to discover with precision whether Luz and Bethel represent one and the same town--the former the Canaanite, the latter the Hebrew, name--or whether they were distinct places, though in close proximity. The most probable conclusion is that the two places were, during the times preceding the conquest, distinct, Luz being the city and Bethel the pillar and altar of Jacob that after the destruction of Luz by the tribe of Ephraim the town of Bethel arose. When the original Luz was destroyed, through the treachery of one of its inhabitants, the man who had introduced the Israelites into the town went into the "land of the Hittites" and built a city which he named after the former one Judges 1:28. Its situation, as well as that of the land of the Hittites," has never been discovered, and is one of the favorable puzzles of Scripture geographers..
48:4 Blessing of Jacob.
Genesis 48:4 And said unto me, ‘Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. -> Several things to take note of in this verse brethren: (1) The Blessing of the Abrahamic Covenant is now being passed onto the fourth generation of Abraham’s seed, to his great-grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh; and, (2) the Blessing actually contains four parts: (a) I will make thee fruitful, (b) multiply thee, (c) I will make of thee a multitude of people; and (d) will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.
48:5-7 United preference.
Genesis 48:5 And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben (see ye a son; or, behold a son) and Simeon (heard; or, hearing), they shall be mine. -> Here, Jacob is telling Joseph that his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, will now inherit the firstfruit Blessings in place of Jacob's own two oldest sons Reuben and Simeon. The reason for this, is because, well, it goes back to well before they all came down into Egypt, it even goes so far back as to when Jacob had made his second youngest son Joseph that coat of many colors, which meant that he was going to bestow the firstfruit Blessings on his second youngest son. Why would Jacob do this? Because when his brother Esau sought to kill him, he fled his family, Isaac and Rebekah. While he was on his way to his grandfather Bethuel, Rebekah's father,--where Rebekah had told him to flee to--he had prayed to Father to provide a wife for him. Upon arriving in Padan-aram, he sighted the woman he fell in love with, Rachel. He went to his uncle and paid her dowry--i.e. he worked for his uncle for seven years--and on their wedding night, he went into his new bride and consummated their marriage; however, in the morning when he awoke, he discovered that he had been tricked, and he had lain with Rachel's older sister Leah, whom he had actually married. He went to his uncle to protest; but, it was too late and he was now indeed married to the sister of the woman he loved and wanted. Not to worry said his uncle, you can also marry my younger daughter too, just pay her dowry of working for me for another seven years; but, you won't have to wait until the end of the seven years to marry her, you can have her now, Jacob agreed. Jacob loved Rachel more than her sister Leah; but, Leah was the first to conceive and bear a child: Reuben, she next conceived and bare Simeon, and then Levi and Judah. All this time--obviously several years--Rachel was unable to conceive and she became frustrated and disappointed; so, she gave her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob to lay with in order to have her own son; but, in her heart she knew this child would not be hers, but, Bilhah conceived and bare Dan and then Naphtali. Leah, seeing what her sister was doing, also gave her handmaid Zilpah to Jacob to bare her children and Zilpah's first was Gad and then Asher. Leah then bare Issachar and Zebulun, finally Rachel conceived and bare Joseph whom Jacob loved above all his other sons because, he was the firstborn of his favorite wife, the woman he fell in love with when he came to Luz: Rachel. So, that brings us back to the beginning of this commentary concerning this verse, Jacob is about to bestow onto his two grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh the firstfruit Blessings which should have gone to Reuben and Simeon. Reuben lost his main portion because he slept with one of his father's concubines. Simeon lost his--you could almost say unfairly; but, Father would not have let that stand--because he like his younger brother Levi, became an instrument of cruelty, in other words, when their sister Dinah was raped by Shechem, who then later wanted to marry her, they deceitfully told him that the only way they would allow that was if he and all the other men of Shechem first became circumcised. All the men agreed, and as they were recovering, Simeon and Levi attacked and slew all the males, and spoiled the city by taking all the women and children, and also all their flocks.
Reuben=Jacob's firstborn Child Genesis 29:32, the son of Leah. The notices of the patriarch Reuben give, on the whole a favorable view of his disposition. To him and him alone the preservation of Joseph's life appears to have been due and afterward he becomes responsible for his safety Genesis 37:18-30; 42:37. Of the repulsive crime which mars his history, and which turned the blessing of his dying father into a curse --his adulterous connection with Bilhah-- we know from the Scriptures only the fact Genesis 35:22. He was of an ardent, impetuous, unbalanced but not ungenerous nature; not crafty and cruel, as were Simeon and Levi, but rather, to use the metaphor of the dying patriarch, boiling up like a vessel of water over a rapid wood fire, and as quickly subsiding when the fuel was withdrawn. At the time of the migration into Egypt, Reuben's sons were four Genesis 46:9; I Chronicles 5:3. The census at Mount Sinai Numbers 1:20,21; 2:11, shows that at the exodus the men of the tribe above twenty years of age and fit for active warlike service numbered 46,600. The Reubenites maintained the ancient calling of their forefathers. Their cattle accompanied them in their flight from Egypt Exodus 12:38. Territory of the tribe . --The portion of the promised land selected by Reuben had the special name of "the Mishor," with reference possibly to its evenness. Under its modern name of the Belka it is still esteemed beyond all others by the Arab sheep-masters. It was a fine pasture-land east of the Jordan, lying between the river Arnon on the south and Gilead on the north. Though the Israelites all aided the Reubenites in conquering the land, and they in return helped their brothers to secure their own possessions, still there was always afterward a bar, a difference in feeling and habits, between the eastern and western tribes. The pile of stones which they erected on the west bank of the Jordan to mark their boundary was erected in accordance with the unalterable habits of Bedouin tribes both before and since. This act was completely misunderstood and was construed into an attempt to set up a rival altar to that of the sacred tent. No Judge, no prophet, no hero of the tribe of Reuben is handed down to us. The Reubenites disliked war clinging to their fields and pastures even when their brethren were in great distress. Being remote from the seat of the national government and of the national religion, it is not to be wondered at that the Reubenites relinquished the faith of Jehovah. The last historical notice which we possess of them, while it records this fact, records also as its natural consequence that they and the Gadites and the half-tribe Manasseh were carried off by Pul and Tiglath-pileser I Chronicles 5:26..
Simeon=The second of Jacob's son by Leah. His birth is recorded in Genesis 29:33. The first group of Jacob's children consists, besides Simeon, of the three other sons of Leah --Reuben, Levi, Judah. Besides the massacre of Shechem Genesis 34:25, the only personal incident related of Simeon is the fact of his being selected by Joseph as the hostage for the appearance of Benjamin Genesis 42:19,24,36; 43:23. The chief families of the tribe of Simeon are mentioned in the lists of Genesis 46:10. At the census of Sinai Simeon numbered 59,300 fighting men Numbers 1:23. When the second census was taken, at Shittim, the numbers had fallen to 22,200, and it was the weakest of all the tribes. This was no doubt partly due to the recent mortality following the idolatry of Peor, but there must have been other causes which have escaped mention. To Simeon was allotted a portion of land out of the territory of Judah, on its southern frontier, which contained eighteen or nineteen cities, with their villages, spread round the venerable well of Beersheba Joshua 19:1-8; I Chronicles 4:28-33. Of these places, with the help of Judah, the Simeonites possessed themselves Judges 1:3,17, and there they were found, doubtless by Joab, residing in the reign of David I Chronicles 4:31. What part of the tribe took at the time of the division of the kingdom we are not told. The only thing which can be interpreted into a trace of its having taken any part with the northern kingdom are the two casual notices of II Chronicles 15:9 and II Chronicles 34:6, which appear to imply the presence of Simeonites there in the reigns of Asa and Josiah. On the other hand the definite statement of I Chronicles 4:41-43 proves that at that time there were still some of them remaining in the original seat of the tribe, and actuated by all the warlike, lawless spirit of their progenitor..
Genesis 48:6 And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. -> In Jacob bestowing the firstfruit Blessings onto Ephraim and Manasseh, what really happened was that Jacob got what he initially wanted, and that was to bestow it upon his second youngest son, the oldest of his favorite wife Rachel, in other words, onto Joseph. There really cannot be any complaint by Jacob's other sons as, this was deserved because, in reality, Joseph had saved the entire family. Had he not been obedient to Father, then Father wouldn't have Blessed him with showing him the interpretation of pharaoh's dream, whereby pharaoh promoted him to second in charge of all Egypt.
Genesis 48:7 And as for me, when I came from Padan (to extend; a plateau; or the second form which is from the same and H758; the table land of Aram; or, field), Rachel (The same as H7353; [H7353] to journey; a ewe (the females being the predominant element of a flock), (as a good traveller); or, ewe or sheep) died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath (fruitfulness; or, fruitful): and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Beth-lehem (house of bread).” -> Jacob relates to his son what happened to his mother, of how as he was returning from his other grandfather's house to his great grandfather's in order to see his own brother Esau, while in route and just outside Ephrath, during the process of giving birth to his younger brother Benjamin, Rachel died. She had initially named him Benoni (son of my sorrow); but immediately after she passed and returned Home to Father, Jacob named him Benjamin (son of [the] right hand). Jacob continued on until he reached Ephrath and then buried his favorite wife right there in Ephrath, or as it's better known today, Beth-lehem.
Close to five hundred years in the future to this time there will be another important birth in this same little town called Beth-lehem, only this birth will be different for several reasons: (1) this birth will be by a virgin named Mary; (2) this birth will be the fulfilling of prophesy of our Creator ELOHIM--Immanuel (with us [is] YAH); or in the Greek, Emmanuel (YAH with us)--also partaking of being born in the flesh; and (3) this birth will be the birth of the Saviour of the world - John 3:16 For ELOHIM so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life..
Padan=Pa'dan-A'ram: By this name, which signifies the table-land of Aram , i.e. Syriac, the Hebrews designated the tract of country which they otherwise called the Aram-naharaim, "Aram of the two of rivers," the Greek Mesopotamia Genesis 24:10, and "the field (Authorized Version,'country') of Syria" Hosea 12:13. The term was perhaps more especially applied to that portion which bordered on the Euphrates, to distinguish if from the mountainous districts in the north and northeast of Mesopotamia. It is elsewhere called PADAN simply Genesis 48:7. Abraham obtained a wife for Isaac from Padan-aram Genesis 25:20. Jacob's wives were also from Padan-aram Genesis 28:2,5,6,7; 31:1-8; 33:18..
Rachel=The younger of the daughters of Laban, the wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. The incidents of her life may be found in Genesis 29-33,35. The story of Jacob and Rachel has always had a peculiar interest. The beauty of Rachel, Jacob's deep love and long servitude for her, their marriage, and Rachel's death on giving birth to Benjamin, with Jacob's grief at her loss Genesis 48:7, makes a touching tale. Yet from what is related to us concerning her character there does not seem much to claim any high degree of admiration and esteem. She appears to have shared all the duplicity and falsehood of her family. See, for instance, Rachel's stealing her father's images, and the ready dexterity and presence of mind with which she concealed her theft Genesis 31:1. ... "Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day" Genesis 35:19,20. The site of Rachel's tomb, "on the way to Bethlehem," "a little way to come to Ephrath," "in the border of Benjamin," never been questioned. It Is about two miles south of Jerusalem and one mile north of Bethlehem..
Ephrath=The ancient name of Bethlehem-judah Genesis 35:16,19; 48:7..
Beth-lehem=One of the oldest towns in Palestine, already in existence at the time of Jacob's return to the country. Its earliest name was EPHRATH or EPHRATAH. See Genesis 35:16,19; 48:7. After the conquest Bethlehem appears under its own name, BETHLEHEM-JUDAH Judges 17:7; I Samuel 17:12; Ruth 1:1,2. The book of Ruth is a page from the domestic history of Bethlehem. It was the home of Ruth Ruth 1:19, and of David I Samuel 17:12. It was fortified by Rehoboam II Chronicles 11:6. It was here that our Lord was born Matthew 2:1, and here that he was visited by the shepherds Luke 2:15-17, and the Magi Matthew 2. The modern town of Beit-lahm lies to the east of the main road from Jerusalem to Hebron, six miles from the former. It covers the east and northeast parts of the ridge of a long gray hill of Jura limestone, which stands nearly due east and west, and is about a mile in length. The hill has a deep valley on the north and another on the south. On the top lies the village in a kind of irregular triangle. The population is about 3000 souls, entirely Christians. The Church of the Nativity, built by the empress Helena A.D. 330, is the oldest Christian church in existence. It is built over the grotto where Christ is supposed to have been born. Also, a town in the portion of Zebulun, named nowhere but in Joshua 19:15 Now known as Beit-lahm..
48:8-12 Joseph’s sons presented.
Genesis 48:8 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, “Who are these?” -> Jacob's asking here of who Ephraim and Manasseh are, is not because he doesn't know who they are as, he and their father Joseph have to this point been discussing them; however, he is asking because his sight is failing because of his age,--verified in verse v48:10 below--and because, he is trying to ensure that everything is kept legal, whereby none of his sons can come back later and say they were dealt with unfairly in their Blessings, therefore, the question, "Who are these?" gives identification to the subjects are that are to receive the blessing promises. It's the documentation to the right of inheritance.
Genesis 48:9 And Joseph said unto his father, “They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place.” And he said, “Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.” -> These are my sons, whom GOD hath given me in this place=Don't be taken in by foolishness and believe for one second that an Egyptian woman bare these two sons of Joseph who are about to receive the firstfruit Blessings. Yes, Joseph was taken down into Egypt, and yes, it was in Egypt that he married; however, his wife Asenath, (worshipper of neith) mother of Manasseh and Ephraim, was the daughter of Poti-pherah, priest of On, who was of the shepherd kings,--otherwise known as the hyksos,--and therefore was not Egyptian; but, southern kings, in other words, Hebrews, or Israelites.
GOD=In the manuscripts, in this instance the article is included, thus making this read: ELOHIM Himself.
Genesis 48:10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. -> Jacob drew his grandsons close to him, hugged each of them and set them upon his lap, thus showing his love for each of the two boys, they were after all, the children of his favorite son, Joseph.
Genesis 48:11 And Israel said unto Joseph, “I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.” -> I had not thought to see thy face=Of course he hadn't after all, his other sons had deceptively brought that coat of many colors--to understand the "who," "where," "when," and "how" of this coat and "why" it caused his brothers to throw Joseph into the pit and then sell him, we have to understand the "what" of what the coat denoted; see back in the day, the raiment or, "coat" marked the social rank and position of its wearer, therefore, the oldest, or chief son, received the coat and it denoted his official and his priestly position--back to their father in order to make him think Joseph had been killed and devoured by an evil beast. So, now he is over joyed in not only seeing Joseph; but, also his two sons.
Genesis 48:12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. -> Bowed himself=After loving on his grandsons, Jacob then bowed himself and worshipped Father. He had much to be thankful for and he wanted to give Father all the glory and praise. We also know from Hebrews 11 that he was leaning upon his staff: Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. -> Meaning that even though he was leaning on his staff, as we read in verse v48:2 above, he was still sitting on his bed as he did this.
48:13-16 Blessing by Jacob.
Sharpen up for me brethren as we are about to read something of importance in this next verse:
Genesis 48:13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him. -> Joseph, the boy's father took his youngest son: Ephraim in his right hand, thus putting him in front of Jacob's left hand, and he took his oldest son: Manasseh in his left hand, putting him in front of Jacob's right hand. In doing this Joseph--knowing that his father couldn't see,--was trying to ensure that his oldest son received the firstfruit Blessing--i.e. the Father's Blessing and supremacy; a double portion; and the Domestic Priesthood--and his younger son would receive the standard offspring Blessing.
It's important to understand what is happening here. The act which is taking place could have caused a great deal of controversy and jealousy, had not Father prepared the way for Joseph. Remember, through his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph is about to receive the firstfruit Blessing he was denied when his brothers sold him to the Ishmeelites who took him down to Egypt. Joseph was the eleventh born to Jacob; however, had it not been for the deception of Jacob's mother's brother Laban, Rachel would have been Jacob's first wife, and thus Joseph would have been the first born to Jacob, and thus the rightful firstfruit Blessings would have been his. It was hatred and jealousy which caused Joseph's brothers to sell Joseph into Egypt in the first place; but, remember, it was all part of Father's plan, which He revealed to Joseph many years before in his dreams.
Genesis 48:14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. -> Did you catch what just happened? Though Joseph placed his oldest son in front of his father's right hand, his father purposely placed his right hand on the younger son's head. In other words, he "cross(ed)" his arms in order to place his hand on the younger son's head thus giving the younger son the birthright or firstfruit Blessing. Of course, when Israel--Jacob, whom Father had renamed Israel--formed that cross with his arms, he was in a sense, prophesying the future symbol of Christianity. He also told his son Joseph--as we'll read in verse v48:19 below--that the younger son will become a multitude--or commonwealth--of nations, and every one of those nations today, flys that very symbol which Israel's arms formed when he "cross(ed) his arms.
Genesis 48:15 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, -> Both Abram--later renamed Abraham by Father--and his son--Jacob's father--did walk Father's path all their lives and it is through their seed that all the Earth is Blessed. Because this very Word we're reading and Studying is the story of this seedline, the very line in which Father Himself will be born in the flesh.
Genesis 48:16 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. -> Jacob just legally passed the promises which Father bestowed upon Abraham, on to the next generation. Let’s read of this Promise, you can find it in Genesis 12, and again in Genesis 17, first from Genesis 12: Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: [12:3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”, now let's read it from Genesis 17: Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, “I am the Almighty GOD; walk before Me, and be thou perfect. [17:2] And I will make my covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply “thee exceedingly.” [17:3] And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, [17:4] “As for “Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. [17:5] Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. [17:6] And I will make “thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. [17:7] And I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. [17:8] And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” -> So, we see that those promises were of making Abraham—whose name means: father of a multitude—a great nation, his name great, and his being a Blessing to all the nations of the earth, and now the Abrahamic Covenant belongs to Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. They have become equal status with all the other sons of Jacob, only they now possess the blessed promises also.
In this documentation, Jacob has adopted Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh to be his own sons. The Angel spoken of here is the same angel that wrestled with Jacob all night before he changed Jacob’s name, and blessed him. This same Angel is the Angel which Jacob is calling on to pass the name and the blessing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, on to Ephraim and Manasseh. It is believed by many scholars that that Ephraim here, would become a multi-nation empire, or a confederacy of nations. Whereas Manasseh will become one great power; thus, I believe Ephraim to be Great Brittan, and Manasseh to be the United States in these final generations. How and why also do I say this? Because, the blessing given to Ephraim of becoming a multitude of nations is clearly seen in Great Britain, and their commonwealth, as well as in many of the nations of northern Europe, and in Joseph’s older son, Manasseh, and the blessing of his becoming a great nation? We read in Genesis 49:22-24 where the birthright blessings for Joseph included: Genesis 49:22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: [49:23] The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: [49:24] But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) -> Of course the blessings given to Joseph would be divided between Ephraim and Manasseh. Note that Joseph would be “the shepherd, the stone of Israel”. We already know about Ephraim, so where is this great nation? The primary emblem of Manasseh is the “Olive Branch”, which stands for peace. Manasseh’s secondary emblem is the “Bundle of Arrows”, which stands for war. It would stand to reason then that this “Great Nation” would stand for peace but would also be strong militarily and make war when necessary. As earlier discussed, God had imposed the 7 times punishment on Israel. Again a time is 360 years and 7 times is 2520 years. So after going into captivity in Assyria, Manasseh would emerge 2520 years later as a nation and become a great nation. For those of you who are into Biblical numerics 2520 is a special number and is the number of chronological perfection (7 x 360) according to E.W. Bullinger. In addition to this it is the least common multiple of the ten digits governing all enumeration. (This means you can divide any of the 9 digits into 2520 and not have a remainder.) Another quite interesting feature of 2520 is that it is the product of the 4 perfection numbers, in Biblical numerics. (3,7,10,12) I believe that God picked this number 2520 to tell us that His hand was on all of these events (concerning Israel) and that He has been in control the whole time. Also, the Assyrian captivities began in 745 B.C. and Manasseh, occupying the land closest to Assyria, would have been the first ones the Assyrians came up against and the first taken into captivity. When we add 2520 years to 745 B.C. (add one year because there is no year zero) we come to the year 1776 A.D., the same year that the 13 American Colonies declared independence from Britain. Is it merely a coincidence that the United States of America began with the 13 colonies just as Israel had 13 tribes? Is it merely a coincidence that for the last 60 years the United States of America has been the most powerful nation, militarily and economically, the world has ever known? Is it just a coincidence that the people of the United States of America have created the greatest industrial nation and highest standard of living the world has ever known? Coincidence? I don’t think so. Let’s continue down this path: the marks of Israel and the blessings of Manasseh are everywhere staring us straight in the face. Look at the back side of a dollar bill and what do we see? On the right hand side we see the “Great Seal of the United States of America”. This includes the “Eagle” which was one of the emblems for Israel. The eagle is holding the “Olive Branch and the Bundle of Arrows”, the emblems of Manasseh. Above the eagle is written in Latin “E Pluribus Unum”, translated “out of many, one.” So the eagle represents all Israel and it holds, in its talons, the birthright blessings handed down by Jacob to Manasseh.
48:17-20 Inverted preference.
Genesis 48:17 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. -> Check out this word "displeased" in your Strong's Concordance brethren as in the Hebrew, it is actually made up of two words: H7489 - רעע, - râ‛a‛, pronounced - raw-ah', and means: A primitive root; properly to spoil (literally by breaking to pieces); figuratively to make (or be) good for nothing, that is, bad (physically, socially or morally). (associate selves and show self friendly are by mistake for H7462.): - afflict, associate selves [by mistake for H7462], break (down, in pieces), + displease, (be, bring, do) evil (doer, entreat, man), show self friendly [by mistake for H7462], do harm, (do) hurt, (behave self, deal) ill, X indeed, do mischief, punish, still vex, (do) wicked (doer, -ly), be (deal, do) worse., and now H5869 - עין, - ‛ayin, pronounced - ah'-yin, and means: Probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy a fountain (as the eye of the landscape): - affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye ([-brow], [-d], -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow [from the margin], X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open (-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you (-rselves).. So, in other words, Joseph looked on his father with evil in his eyes and to do him harm. Joseph not understanding that Father has directed this Blessing to be passed down in this manner, erroneously tries to correct his father and swap his hands back, in doing so, he also doesn't understand that he is about to break the "cross."
Genesis 48:18 And Joseph said unto his father, “Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.” -> Not so, my father=This was Joseph's will that his firstborn be given the birthright and firstfruits Blessings, not Father's, nor his father's, and fortunately, Jacob's faith overcame Joseph's will.
Genesis 48:19 And his father refused, and said, “I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.” -> His father refused=Jacob tells his son Joseph that he knows where he has placed his hands, he didn't err, it was on purpose because he was fulfilling Father's Will and Plan. In this we brethren see Jacob's faith overcoming "man's will," just as Isaac's faith overcame the "will of the flesh" in Genesis 27.
So then, what about Israel, or for that matter, the “Jews?” Also, what about the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and David? How can the promises be fulfilled if they haven’t been fulfilled in the Jews?
Most people in the world today--even the “Jews” themselves--consider Israel as meaning the “Jews,” or, put a different way, that the “Jews” are all that remains of Israel. Even scholars and clergymen try to fit all 13 tribes into one House, or one Tribe, the Tribe of Judah, or “the Jews.” If this were true, then Father’s promises to the 12 sons of Jacob (Israel), i.e. the birthright blessings given in Genesis 49, would have been broken as, the promises made in Genesis 49 were unconditional and Father doesn’t break His promises.
If today’s Jews were all that was left of Israel, this would also mean that the promises to Ephraim and Manasseh of becoming a “multitude of nations” and “a great nation” would have to be fulfilled in the Jews. This of course hasn’t happened; and besides, these promises were given to Ephraim and Manasseh, not to Judah.
To understand the Bible and the prophesies concerning Israel, we need to understand the history of the Jews and Israel as given in the Father’s Word. The word “Jew” in the Greek is “Ioudaios” which means “of the tribe of Judah; or, of the land of Judah.”
Judah was just one of the 12 patriarchs, which became tribes (13 if we count Levi) of Israel. The Jews of today only represent a part of the tribe of Judah. Again, to really understand this we need to review the history of Israel and Judah.
When Israel conquered the land of Canaan the land was divided up among the 11 tribes. Levi, not being numbered among the tribes was divided among the twelve tribes to take care of the priestly duties. Israel thrived as one nation from about 1451 B.C. to about 880 B.C.. They were a blessed and prosperous nation. They had colonies and trade as far away as Spain and the British Isles (the Isles afar off). They had one king over them. Then Solomon chased after all his foreign wives and served and worshipped their false gods and idols, so Father split the House of Israel into two separate and distinct Houses: Israel, made up of ten tribes, who lived in the northern territories; and Judah, made up of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, which occupied Jerusalem and the southern border.
Genesis 48:20 And he blessed them that day, saying, “In thee shall Israel bless, saying, ‘God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh:’” and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. -> This has come to pass exactly as it was written. As we approach the end times we see the bonding and support that Manasseh--the United States--has given to Ephraim--the British--and vice versa. These two nations are bonded together as brothers, and this bonding will continue until Jesus Christ returns at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. It is through these two brothers of nations that today the world is Blessed.
Genesis 48:21 And Israel said unto Joseph, “Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. -> Jacob, here identified by his Spiritual leadership name of Israel, is about to return Home to Father, when he does, Joseph will then ask pharaoh for their leave in order to carry his body back to their land. Surely Joseph will not stay there as that is not in the plan of Father as, he and all the People of Israel will be in Egypt for another approximately 383 years, which means all those who are alive at this time will also return Home to Father while still living in this foreign land.
Genesis 48:22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.” -> Portion=Check out this word in your Strong's Concordance as it is Hebrew word number H7926 - שׁכם, - shekem, pronounced - shek-em', and means: From H7925; the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively the spur of a hill: - back, X consent, portion, shoulder.. Both Abraham and Jacob bought land here at Shechem, Abraham in Genesis 23:18,19 and Jacob in Genesis 33:17-20, let's read of Jacob's purchase: Genesis 33:17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. -> Jacob named to this land and when he arrived he made those booths for his cattle, and hence, he called the name of that place Booths, or Succoth, they mean the same thing, the two words are interchangeable. Built him a house=This is the first we read of a house being built by any of the patriarchs in all of Father’s Word. Succoth=An ancient town, first heard of in the account of the homeward journey of Jacob from Padan-aram Genesis 35:17. The name is derived from the fact of Jacob's having there put up "booths" (succoth ) for his cattle as well as a house for himself. From the itinerary of Jacob's return it seems that Succoth lay between Peniel, near the ford of the torrent Jabbok and Shechem, compare with Genesis 32:30 and Genesis 33:18. In accordance with this is the mention of Succoth in the narrative of Gideon's pursuit of Zebah and Zalluunna Judges 5:5-17. It would appear from this passage that it lay east of the Jordan, which is corroborated by the fact that it was allotted to the tribe of Gad Joshua 13:27. Succoth is named once again after this--in I Kings 7:46; II Chronicles 4:17--as marking the spot at which the brass founderies were placed for casting the metal work of the temple. (Dr. Merrill identifies it with a site called Tell Darala , one mile north of the Jabbok. --ED.) Succoth was also the first camping-place of the Israelites when they left Egypt Exodus 12:37; 13:20; Numbers 33:5,6. This place was apparently reached at the close of the first days march. Rameses, the starting-place, was probably near the western end of the Wadi-t-Tumeylat . The distance traversed in each day's journey was about fifteen miles.. [33:18] And Jacob came to Shalem, (friendly; or, safe), a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city. -> After returning home to see his brother Esau and spending some time with him, the two men depart with Esau going to Seir, and Jacob coming to Shechem. Shalem=Probably not a proper name, but a place. It is certainly remarkable that there should be a modern village hearing the name of Salim three miles east of Nablus , the ancient Shechem.. Shechem=An important city in central Palestine, in the valley between mounts Ebal and Gerizim, 34 miles north of Jerusalem and 7 miles southeast of Samaria. Its present name, Nablus , is a corruption of Neapolis, which succeeded the more ancient Shechem, and received its new name from Vespasian. On coins still extant it is called Flavia Neapolis. The situation of the town is one of surpassing beauty. It lies in a sheltered valley, protected by Gerizim on the south and Ebal on the north. The feet of these mountains, where they rise from the town, are not more than five hundred yards apart. The bottom of the valley is about 1800 feet above the level of the sea, and the top of Gerizim 800 feet higher still. The site of the present city, which was also that of the Hebrew city, occurs exactly on the water-summit; and streams issuing from the numerous springs there flow down the opposite slopes of the valley, spreading verdure and fertility in every direction. Travellers vie with each other in the language which they employ to describe the scene that here bursts so suddenly upon them on arriving in spring or early summer at this paradise of the holy land. "The whole valley," says Dr. Robinson, "was filled with gardens of vegetables and orchards of all kinds of fruits, watered by fountains which burst forth in various parts and flow westward in refreshing streams. it came upon us suddenly like a scene of fairy enchantment. We saw nothing to compare with it in all Palestine." The allusions to Shechem in the Bible are numerous, and show how important the place was in Jewish history. Abraham, on his first migration to the land of promise, pitched his tent and built an altar under the oak (or terebinth) of Moreh at Shechem. "The Canaanite was then in the land;" and it is evident that the region, if not the city, was already in possession of the aboriginal race. See Genesis 12:6. At the time of Jacob's arrival here, after his sojourn in Mesopotamia, Genesis 33:18; 34. Shechem was a Hivite city, of which Hamor, the father of Shechem, was the headman. it was at this time that the patriarch purchased from that chieftain "the parcel of the field" which he subsequently bequeathed, as a special patrimony, to his son Joseph Genesis 33:19; Joshua 24:32; John 4:5. The field lay undoubtedly on the rich plain of the Mukhna , and its value was the greater on account of the well which Jacob had dug there, so as not to be dependent on his neighbors for a supply of water. In the distribution of the land after its conquest by the Hebrews, Shechem fell to the lot of Ephraim Joshua 20:7, but was assigned to the Levites, and became a city of refuge Joshua 21:20,21. It acquired new importance as the scene of the renewed promulgation of the law, when its blessings were heard from Gerizim and its curses from Ebal, and the people bowed their heads and acknowledged Jehovah as their king and ruler Deuteronomy 27:11; Joshua 24:23-25. It was here Joshua assembled the people, shortly before his death, and delivered to them his last counsels Joshua 24:1; 25. After the death of Gideon, Abimelech, his bastard son, induced the Shechemites to revolt from the Hebrew commonwealth and elect him as king Judges 9:1. ... In revenge for his expulsion after a reign of three years, Abimelech destroyed the city, and as an emblem of the fate to which he would consign it, sowed the ground with salt Judges 9:34-35. It was soon restored, however, for we are told in I Kings 12:1 ... that all Israel assembled at Shechem, and Rehoboam, Solomon's successor, went thither to be inaugurated as king. here, at this same place, the ten tribes renounced the house of David, and transferred their allegiance to Jeroboam I Kings 12:16, under whom Shechem became for a time the capital of his kingdom. From the time of the origin of the Samaritans, the history of Shechem blends itself with that of this people and of their sacred mount, Gerizim. [SAMARIA ] Shechem reappears in the New Testament. It is the SYCHAR of John 4:5 near which the Saviour conversed with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. The population of Nablus consists of about 5000, among whom are 500 Greek Christians, 150 Samaritans, and a few Jews. The enmity between the Samaritans and jews is as inveterate still as it was in the days of Christ. The Mohammedans, of course, make up the bulk of the population. The well of Jacob and the tomb of Joseph are still shown in the neighborhood of the town. The well of Jacob lies about a mile and a half east of the city, close to the lower road, and just beyond the wretched hamlet of Balata . The Christians sometimes call it Bir es-Samariyeh -- "the well of the Samaritan woman." The well is deep --75 feet when last measured --and there was probably a considerable accumulation of rubbish at the bottom. Sometimes it contains a few feet of water, but at others it is quite dry. It is entirely excavated in the solid rock, perfectly round, 9 feet in diameter, with the sides hewn smooth and regular. Of all the special localities of our Lord's life, this is almost the only one absolutely undisputed. The tomb of Joseph lies about a quarter of a mile north of the well, exactly in the centre of the opening of the valley. It is a small between Gerizim and Ebal. It is a small, square enclosure of high whitewashed walls, surrounding a tomb of the ordinary kind, but with the peculiarity that it is placed diagonally to the walls, instead of parallel as usual. A rough pillar used as an altar and black with the traces of fire is at the head and another at the foot of the tome. In the walls are two slabs with Hebrew inscriptions, and the interior is almost covered with the names of pilgrims in Hebrew Arabic and Samaritan. Beyond this there is nothing to remark in the structure itself. The local tradition of the tomb, like that of the well is as old as the beginning of the fourth century.. [33:19] And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money. -> Time will show that this wasn’t a good move for all involved as Jacob’s daughter Dinah will be raped by the son of Hamor Shechem and Simeon and Levi will enact their revenge to where all the males of Shechem will perish and the women, children and flocks will be taken as spoil. [33:20] And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel (the Mighty EL of Israel). -> After taking possession of his new land, Jacob set up an altar in order to give thanks to, honor, serve and worship Father, and he calls the name of the altar “GOD—The GOD of Israel.” Many years in the future to this time, Jesus will also visit this place and we can read of it in the Gospel of John: John 4:5 Then cometh He—Jesus--to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph..
Oct 2014
This Bible Study was written by Scott Reis and is provided in order to be used as a private Bible Study Tool. Therefore, it may be copied in whole or in part and shared for private Bible Study; however, it may not be reproduced and published as an original work.
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