Genesis 48: Jacob Blesses Manasseh and Ephraim Joseph’s Sons

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <script type="text/javascript"> //OwnerIQ var __oiq_pct = 50; if( __oiq_pct>=100 || Math.floor(Math.random()*100/(100-__oiq_pct)) > 0 ) { var _oiqq = _oiqq || []; _oiqq.push(['oiq_addPageBrand','Lycos']); _oiqq.push(['oiq_addPageCat','Internet > Websites']); _oiqq.push(['oiq_addPageLifecycle','Intend']); _oiqq.push(['oiq_doTag']); (function() { var oiq = document.createElement('script'); oiq.type = 'text/javascript'; oiq.async = true; oiq.src = document.location.protocol + '//px.owneriq.net/stas/s/lycosn.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(oiq, s); })(); } //Google Analytics var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount','UA-21402695-19']); _gaq.push(['_setDomainName','tripod.com']); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar',1,'member_name','lastdayscalendar',3]); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); //Lycos Init function getReferrer() { var all= this.document.cookie; if (all== '') return false; var cookie_name = 'REFERRER='; var start = all.lastIndexOf(cookie_name); if (start == -1) return false; start += cookie_name.length; var end = all.indexOf(';', start); if (end == -1) end = all.length; return all.substring(start, end); } function getQuery() { var rfr = getReferrer(); if (rfr == '') return false; var q = extractQuery(rfr, 'yahoo.com', 'p='); if (q) return q; q = extractQuery(rfr, '', 'q='); return q ? q : ""; } function extractQuery(full, site, q_param) { var start = full.lastIndexOf(site); if (start == -1) return false; start = full.lastIndexOf(q_param); if (start == -1) return false; start += q_param.length; var end = full.indexOf('&', start); if (end == -1) end = full.length; return unescape(full.substring(start, end)).split(" ").join("+"); } function generateHref(atag, template){ atag.href=template.replace('_MYURL_', window.location.href.replace('http://', '')).replace('_MYTITLE_','Check%20out%20this%20Tripod%20Member%20site!'); } var lycos_ad = Array(); var lycos_onload_timer; var cm_role = "live"; var cm_host = "tripod.lycos.com"; var cm_taxid = "/memberembedded"; var tripod_member_name = "lastdayscalendar"; var tripod_member_page = "lastdayscalendar/genesis_48.htm"; var tripod_ratings_hash = "1738735186:d1246290ad57e59bdb805d3f227eed3d"; var lycos_ad_category = {"dmoz":"games\/paper_and_pencil","ontarget":"&CAT=arts%20and%20entertainment&L2CAT=games","find_what":"Bible AND Studies"}; var lycos_ad_remote_addr = "209.202.244.9"; var lycos_ad_www_server = "www.tripod.lycos.com"; var lycos_ad_track_small = ""; var lycos_ad_track_served = ""; var lycos_search_query = getQuery(); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type='text/javascript'> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; (function() { var gads = document.createElement('script'); gads.async = true; gads.type = 'text/javascript'; var useSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; gads.src = (useSSL ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js'; var node = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); })(); </script> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/95963596/TRI_300X250_dfp', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1450204159126-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/95963596/TRI_above_728x90_dfp', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1450204159126-1').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/95963596/TRI_below_728x90_dfp', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1450204159126-2').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function(isV) { if( !isV ) { return; } var adMgr = new AdManager(); var lycos_prod_set = adMgr.chooseProductSet(); var slots = ["leaderboard", "leaderboard2", "toolbar_image", "toolbar_text", "smallbox", "top_promo", "footer2", "slider"]; var adCat = this.lycos_ad_category; adMgr.setForcedParam('page', (adCat && adCat.dmoz) ? adCat.dmoz : 'member'); if (this.lycos_search_query) { adMgr.setForcedParam("keyword", this.lycos_search_query); } else if(adCat && adCat.find_what) { adMgr.setForcedParam('keyword', adCat.find_what); } for (var s in slots) { var slot = slots[s]; if (adMgr.isSlotAvailable(slot)) { this.lycos_ad[slot] = adMgr.getSlot(slot); } } adMgr.renderHeader(); adMgr.renderFooter(); }((function() { var w = 0, h = 0, minimumThreshold = 300; if (top == self) { return true; } if (typeof(window.innerWidth) == 'number' ) { w = window.innerWidth; h = window.innerHeight; } else if (document.documentElement && (document.documentElement.clientWidth || document.documentElement.clientHeight)) { w = document.documentElement.clientWidth; h = document.documentElement.clientHeight; } else if (document.body && (document.body.clientWidth || document.body.clientHeight)) { w = document.body.clientWidth; h = document.body.clientHeight; } return ((w > minimumThreshold) && (h > minimumThreshold)); }()))); window.onload = function() { var f = document.getElementById("FooterAd"); var b = document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0]; b.appendChild(f); f.style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('lycosFooterAdiFrame').src = '/adm/ad/footerAd.iframe.html'; // DOM Inj Ad (function(isTrellix) { var e = document.createElement('iframe'); e.style.border = '0'; e.style.margin = 0; e.style.display = 'block'; e.style.cssFloat = 'right'; e.style.height = '254px'; e.style.overflow = 'hidden'; e.style.padding = 0; e.style.width = '300px'; var isBlokedByDomain = function( href ) { var blockedDomains = [ "ananyaporn13000.tripod.com", "xxxpornxxx.tripod.com" ]; var flag = false; for( var i=0; i<blockedDomains.length; i++ ) { if( href.search( blockedDomains[ i ] ) >= 0 ) { flag = true; } } return flag; } var getMetaContent = function( metaName ) { var metas = document.getElementsByTagName('meta'); for (i=0; i<metas.length; i++) { if( metas[i].getAttribute("name") == metaName ) { return metas[i].getAttribute("content"); } } return false; } var getCommentNodes = function(regexPattern) { var nodes = {}; var nodesA = []; var preferredNodesList = ['a', 'c', 'b']; (function getNodesThatHaveComments(n, pattern) { if (n.hasChildNodes()) { if (n.tagName === 'IFRAME') { return false; } for (var i = 0; i < n.childNodes.length; i++) { if ((n.childNodes[i].nodeType === 8) && (pattern.test(n.childNodes[i].nodeValue))) { var areaName = pattern.exec(n.childNodes[i].nodeValue)[1]; nodes[areaName] = n; } else if (n.childNodes[i].nodeType === 1) { getNodesThatHaveComments(n.childNodes[i], pattern); } } } }(document.body, regexPattern)); for (var i in preferredNodesList) { if (nodes[preferredNodesList[i]]) { if( isTrellix && nodes[preferredNodesList[i]].parentNode.parentNode.parentNode.parentNode ) { nodesA.push(nodes[preferredNodesList[i]].parentNode.parentNode.parentNode.parentNode); } else { nodesA.push( nodes[preferredNodesList[i]] ); } } } return nodesA; } var properNode = null; var areaNodes = getCommentNodes( new RegExp( '^area Type="area_(\\w+)"' ) ); for (var i = 0; i < areaNodes.length; i++) { var a = parseInt(getComputedStyle(areaNodes[i]).width); if ((a >= 300) && (a <= 400)) { properNode = areaNodes[i]; break; } } var propertyName = getMetaContent("property") || false; if( isTrellix && (properNode) ) { e.src = '/adm/ad/injectAd.iframe.html'; properNode.insertBefore(e, properNode.firstChild); } else if( isTrellix && !( properNode ) ) // Slap the ad eventhought there is no alocated slot { e.src = '/adm/ad/injectAd.iframe.html'; e.style.cssFloat = 'none'; var cdiv = document.createElement('div'); cdiv.style = "width:300px;margin:10px auto;"; cdiv.appendChild( e ); b.insertBefore(cdiv, b.lastChild); } else if( !isBlokedByDomain( location.href ) ) { var injF = document.createElement('iframe'); injF.style.border = '0'; injF.style.margin = 0; injF.style.display = 'block'; injF.style.cssFloat = 'none'; injF.style.height = '254px'; injF.style.overflow = 'hidden'; injF.style.padding = 0; injF.style.width = '300px'; injF.src = '/adm/ad/injectAd.iframe.html'; if( b && ( !isTrellix || ( typeof isTrellix == "undefined" ) ) ) // All other tripod props { var cdiv = document.createElement('div'); cdiv.style = "width:300px;margin:10px auto;"; cdiv.appendChild( injF ); b.insertBefore(cdiv, b.lastChild); } } }( document.isTrellix )); } </script> <div id="tb_container" style="background:#DFDCCF; border-bottom:1px solid #393939; position:relative; z-index:999999999!important">  <style> .adCenterClass{margin:0 auto} </style> <div id="tb_ad" class="adCenterClass" style="display:block!important; overflow:hidden; width:916px;"> <div id="ad_container" style="display:block!important; float:left; width:728px "> <script type="text/javascript"> if (typeof lycos_ad !== "undefined" && "leaderboard" in lycos_ad) { document.write(lycos_ad['leaderboard']); } </script> </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> if (typeof lycos_ad !== "undefined" && "slider" in lycos_ad) { document.write(lycos_ad['slider']); } </script>  <div id="FooterAd" style="background:#DFDCCF; border-top:1px solid #393939; clear:both; display:none; width:100%!important; position:relative; z-index:999999!important; height:90px!important"> <div class="adCenterClass" style="display:block!important; overflow:hidden; width:916px;"> <div id="footerAd_container" style="display:block!important; float:left; width:728px"> <iframe id="lycosFooterAdiFrame" style="border:0; display:block; float:left; height:96px; overflow:hidden; padding:0; width:750px"></iframe> </div> </div> </div> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Last Days Calendar:Bible Prophecy,Last Days,The Rapture</b></FONT><B>  </b><B>  </b><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B> |     </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Last Days Calendar:Bible Prophecy,La"><U><B>home</b></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="jewish_festivals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Festivals of the LORD reveal Bible Proph"><U>Festivals of the LORD reveal Bible Prophecy about End Times. </U></A>   |   <A HREF="hannukah_foreshadows_antichrist.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The History of Hanukkah Foreshadows the "><U>The History of Hanukkah Foreshadows the Reign of Antichrist!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="asteroids.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Asteroids in Bible Prophecy Reveal End T"><U>Asteroids in Bible Prophecy Reveal End Times and the Rapture</U></A>   |   <A HREF="bible_prophecy.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why is it so Important to Study Bible Pr"><U>Why is it so Important to Study "Bible Prophecy"?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="bible_study.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bible Study rule 1: Study Bible prophecy"><U>Bible Study rule #1: Study Bible prophecy in proper context!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="the_first_resurrection.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resurrection and the Rapture"><U>Resurrection and the Rapture</U></A>   |   <A HREF="interpreting_revelation.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Interpreting Revelation"><U>Interpreting "Revelation"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="the_7th_or_last_trumpet.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Day of Trumpets: The 7th Trumpet or "><U>The Day of Trumpets: The 7th Trumpet or Last Trumpet Sounds!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="prophecy_from_a_hebraic_mind_set.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="End Times Prophecy Must Be Studied with "><U>End Times Prophecy Must Be Studied with a "Hebraic-Mind Set"   </U></A>   |   <A HREF="wheat_must_be_threshed.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Before Wheat is Gathered into the Barn, "><U>Before Wheat is Gathered into the Barn, it Must be Threshed!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="twenty_four_elders.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who Are the TwentyFour Elders of Revelat"><U>Who Are the Twenty-Four Elders of Revelation?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="To Him Who Overcomes"><U>To Him Who Overcomes</U></A>   |   <A HREF="the_soon_return_of_jesus_christ.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Can Jesus Christ return at any moment to"><U>Can Jesus Christ return at any moment to rapture the church?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="the_bible_is_divinely_inspired.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Is there Evidence that Proves the Bible "><U>Is there Evidence that Proves the Bible is Divinely Inspired?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="blasphemy_of_the_holy_spirit_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and The Day"><U>Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and The Day of Atonement</U></A>   |   <A HREF="until_i_make_your_enemies_a_footstool.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sit at My Right Hand Until I Make Your E"><U>Sit at My Right Hand Until I Make Your Enemies a Footstool!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="the_seventh_day_is_a_sabbath.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD"><U>The seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD, assembly and rest</U></A>   |   <A HREF="for_the_lord_and_gideon.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gideon A Prophetic Picture"><U>Gideon - A Prophetic Picture</U></A>   |   <A HREF="jabez.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Prayer of Jabez"><U>The Prayer of Jabez</U></A>   |   <A HREF="millennial_blessings.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1,000 Year Renewal of the Garden of Eden"><U>1,000 Year Renewal of the Garden of Eden</U></A>   |   <A HREF="bees__cell_phones_and_prophecy.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Missing Bees, Cell Phones and Fulfillmen"><U>Missing Bees, Cell Phones and Fulfillment of Bible Prophecy!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="144_000.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Those Who Were Sealed:144,000 from All t"><U>Those Who Were Sealed:144,000 from All the Tribes of Israel</U></A>   |   <A HREF="in_his_image.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="All of Creation Bears the Image and Like"><U>All of Creation Bears the Image and Likeness of Our Creator!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="the_joy_of_the_lord_is_our_strength.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The joy of the LORD is our strength, how"><U>The joy of the LORD is our strength, how can we know His joy?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="messianic_prophecies.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Messianic prophecies fulfilled by Messia"><U>Messianic prophecies fulfilled by Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ)</U></A>   |   <A HREF="christ_the_king_of_the_jews.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Christ Who Was Born King of the Jews is "><U>Christ Who Was Born King of the Jews is Both Savior and Lord.</U></A>   |   <A HREF="annihilation_or_torment_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Do Jews Believe About Hell?"><U>What Do Jews Believe About Hell?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="son_of_david.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Messiah is the Son of David"><U>The Messiah is the Son of David</U></A>   |   <A HREF="rebellion.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Until the Rebellion Occurs"><U>Until the Rebellion Occurs</U></A>   |   <A HREF="the_whore_of_babylon.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who Is Mystery Babylon The Great Mother "><U>Who Is Mystery Babylon The Great Mother of Prostitutes?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DO YOU KNOW?"><U>DO YOU KNOW?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="i_know.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Now I Know "><U>Now I Know </U></A>   |   <A HREF="sharing_the_gospel.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sharing the Gospel with a Rabbinical Stu"><U>Sharing the Gospel with a Rabbinical Student</U></A>   |   <A HREF="fasting_and_prayer_to_set_the_oppressed_free.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fasting and Prayer: Spiritual Power to S"><U>Fasting and Prayer: Spiritual Power to Set the Oppressed Free</U></A>   |   <A HREF="pray_no.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just Pray No! Ltd. Weekend of Prayer"><U>Just Pray No! Ltd. "Weekend of Prayer"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="testimony.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Testimony of Author Steven L. Sherma"><U>The Testimony of Author Steven L. Sherman </U></A>   |   <A HREF="the_revelation_of_jesus_christ.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: Understa"><U>THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: Understanding the Apocalypse</U></A>   |   <A HREF="christianity_versus_cults.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Christianity versus Cults and Counterfei"><U>Christianity versus Cults and Counterfeits - Defining Cults</U></A>   |   <A HREF="the_mormons.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church of the LatterDay Saints, Joseph S"><U>Church of the Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith & the Mormons </U></A>   |   <A HREF="roman_catholicism.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Is Catholicism True Orthodox Christianit"><U>Is Catholicism True Orthodox Christianity or a Christian Cult?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id96.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Is this the Dawn of a New Age or just Ol"><U>Is this the Dawn of a New Age or just Old Fashioned Paganism?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="sda.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Is SeventhDay Adventism Christianity or "><U>Is Seventh-Day Adventism Christianity or is SDA Cultism?  </U></A>   |   <A HREF="islam.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Islam: The Religion of Peace Bent on Con"><U>Islam: The Religion of "Peace" Bent on Conquest</U></A>   |   <A HREF="freemasonry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Claims of Freemasons vs. the Hidden "><U>The Claims of Freemasons vs. the Hidden Truth of Freemasonry</U></A>   |   <A HREF="the_jehovah_s_witnesses.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Jehovahs Witnesses: True Christianit"><U>The Jehovah’s Witnesses: True Christianity or Christian Cult?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="scientology.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The True History and Practices of the Ch"><U>The True History and Practices of the Church of Scientology!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Yes, In the Beginning God Created the He"><U>Yes, In the Beginning God Created the Heavens and the Earth! </U></A>   |   <A HREF="day_six.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Looking Back to Day Six of Creation and "><U>"Looking Back to Day Six of Creation and the Garden of Eden"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Fall of Man, the Curse of Sin, and t"><U>The Fall of Man, the Curse of Sin, and the Promised Redeemer</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Account of Cain, Abel and Seth: the "><U>The Account of Cain, Abel and Seth: the Sons of Adam and Eve</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_5___6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From Adam to Noah Mans Wickedness, Neph"><U>From Adam to Noah - Man’s Wickedness, Nephilim and the Flood</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The LORD Told Noah and HIs Family to Go "><U>The LORD Told Noah and HIs Family to Go into the Ark</U></A>   |   <A HREF="god_remembered_noah.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="But God Remembered Noah All the Wild An"><U>But God Remembered Noah & All the Wild Animals and Livestock </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Blessing, Gods Covenant with Noah, "><U>God’s Blessing, God’s Covenant with Noah, and Canaan’s Curse</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis Chapter 10 The Account of Shem,"><U>"Genesis Chapter 10" - The Account of Shem, Ham and Japheth</U></A>   |   <A HREF="tower_of_babel.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Tower of Babel the Ancient Babyloni"><U>The Tower of Babel & the Ancient Babylonian Mystery Religion </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Blessing of Abram Gods Promised Lan"><U>The Blessing of Abram & God’s Promised Land to His Offspring</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis Chapter 13 Abram Called on the "><U>Genesis Chapter 13 - "Abram Called on the Name of the LORD"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 14 Abram Rescues Lot Pays a Ti"><U>Genesis 14 - Abram Rescues Lot & Pays a Tithe to Melchizedek </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 15: Gods Covenant with Abram Who"><U>Genesis 15: God’s Covenant with Abram Who Believed the LORD</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hagar Will Bear Abram a Son and the LORD"><U>Hagar Will Bear Abram a Son and the LORD Named Him Ishmael</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Covenant of Circumcision between El "><U>The Covenant of Circumcision between El Shaddai and Abraham</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_18_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The LORD Appeared to Abraham and Abraham"><U>The LORD Appeared to Abraham and Abraham Pleaded for Sodom</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis Chapter 19 Sodom and Gomorrah D"><U>Genesis Chapter 19 - Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed by Angels!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis Chapter 20 Abraham and Sarah De"><U>Genesis Chapter 20 - Abraham and Sarah Deceive Abimelech</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis Ch. 21 Sarah Bore Isaac to Abra"><U>Genesis Ch. 21 - Sarah Bore Isaac to Abraham in Her Old Age </U></A>   |   <A HREF="abraham_offers_isaac_a_burnt_offering.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis Ch.22 Abraham is Told to Sacrif"><U>Genesis Ch.22 - Abraham is Told to Sacrifice Isaac as a Burnt Offering</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sarah Dies so Abraham Purchases a Field "><U>Sarah Dies so Abraham Purchases a Field & a Cave in Hebron </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Servant of Abraham Was Sent Back to "><U>The Servant of Abraham Was Sent Back to Get a Wife for Isaac (Genesis 24)</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 25 Abraham Left Everything that"><U>Genesis 25 – Abraham Left Everything that He Owned to Isaac! </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 26 Isaac Settles in Gerar He D"><U>Genesis 26 - Isaac Settles in Gerar & He Deceives Abimelech!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 27 Jacob Deceives Isaac and Ste"><U>Genesis 27 – Jacob Deceives Isaac and Steals Esau’s Blessing  </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_28_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Traveling to Get a Wife, Jacob Dreams of"><U>Traveling to Get a Wife, Jacob Dreams of a Stairway to Heaven</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 29: Jacob is Deceived by Laban s"><U>Genesis 29: Jacob is Deceived by Laban so He Will Marry Leah</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 30 Jacob is Blessed with Many C"><U>Genesis 30 - Jacob is Blessed with Many Children and Flocks!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 31 Jacob Flees from Laban then "><U>Genesis 31 - Jacob Flees from Laban then Laban Pursues Jacob</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 32 Jacob Prepares for Esau then"><U>Genesis 32 - Jacob Prepares for Esau; then Wrestles with God </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 33 After Twenty Years, Jacob Re"><U>Genesis 33 - After Twenty Years, Jacob Reconciles with Esau</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Simeon and Levi, Dinahs Brothers, take V"><U>Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s Brothers, take Vengeance on Shechem</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 35 Jacob Builds an Altar to God"><U>Genesis 35 - Jacob Builds an Altar to God Almighty at Bethel</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_36_1_8_and_genesis_37_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rejected by His Own Brothers, Joseph is "><U>Rejected by His Own Brothers, Joseph is a Type of the Messiah</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judah, his Daughterinlaw Tamar, and the "><U>Judah, his Daughter-in-law Tamar, and the Levirate Marriage</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar, Captain"><U>Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar, Captain of Pharaoh’s Guard</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Joseph Interprets the Dreams of Pharaohs"><U>Joseph Interprets the Dreams of Pharaoh’s Cupbearer and Baker</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 41 Pharaoh Sends for Joseph to "><U>Genesis 41 - Pharaoh Sends for Joseph to Interpret His Dreams</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 42 Josephs Brothers Went Down t"><U>Genesis 42 - Joseph’s Brothers Went Down to Egypt to Buy Grain</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_43___44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 43 44 Josephs Brothers Bring B"><U>Genesis 43 & 44 - Joseph’s Brothers Bring Benjamin to Egypt</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 45 When Joseph Made Himself Kno"><U>Genesis 45 - When Joseph Made Himself Known to His Brothers!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 46 Jacob and the Sons of Israel"><U>Genesis 46 - Jacob and the Sons of Israel Go Down to Egypt</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 47 Josephs Father and Brothers "><U>Genesis 47 - Joseph’s Father and Brothers Now Dwell in Goshen</U></A>   |   <B>Genesis 48: Jacob Blesses Manasseh and Ephraim Joseph’s Sons</b>   |   <A HREF="genesis_49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 49 Jacob Calls for His Sons to "><U>Genesis 49 - Jacob Calls for His Sons to Assemble Before Him</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 50 The Egyptians and Jacobs Fam"><U>Genesis 50 - The Egyptians and Jacob’s Family Mourn for Jacob</U></A>   |   <A HREF="intro_to_daniel.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Introduction to the Book of Daniel"><U>Introduction to the Book of Daniel</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_chapter_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah ar"><U>Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are Captive in Babylon</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzars Dream "><U>Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Dazzling Statue</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_chapter_3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="King Nebuchadnezzar Made an Image of Gol"><U>King Nebuchadnezzar Made an Image of Gold Sixty Cubits High!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel__chapter_4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel Chapter 4 King Nebuchadnezzar Ha"><U>Daniel Chapter 4 - King Nebuchadnezzar Has a Fearful Dream! </U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 5 King Belshazzar Quakes at the "><U>Daniel 5 - King Belshazzar Quakes at the Writing on the Wall</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 6 The Scheme of the Administrato"><U>Daniel 6 - The Scheme of the Administrators and the Satraps </U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 7 Daniel Had a Dream and Saw Vis"><U>Daniel 7 - Daniel Had a Dream and Saw Visions of Four Beasts</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 8 Daniel Has a Vision of a Ram w"><U>Daniel 8 - Daniel Has a Vision of a Ram with Two Long Horns</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 9 The Desolation of Jerusalem Wou"><U>Daniel 9 -The Desolation of Jerusalem Would Last Seventy Years</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 10 A Revelation Was Revealed to "><U>Daniel 10 - A Revelation Was Revealed to Daniel in a Vision</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 11 The Kings of the North and So"><U>Daniel 11 - The Kings of the North and South and the Antichrist</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 12Michael Will Arise and There Wi"><U>Daniel 12-Michael Will Arise and There Will Be Great Distress</U></A>   |   <A HREF="introduction_to_judges.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Introduction to the Book of Judges wh"><U>An Introduction to the Book of Judges when Israel had no King</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="After Joshua Died, Israelites Fight the "><U>After Joshua Died, Israelites Fight the Remaining Canaanites</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges 2 The Israelites Disobeyed the A"><U>Judges 2 - The Israelites Disobeyed the Angel of the LORD! </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 3 The Israelites Lived A"><U>Judges Chapter 3 - The Israelites Lived Among the Canaanites </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 4 Deborah led Israel now"><U>Judges Chapter 4 - Deborah led Israel now that Ehud was Dead </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Israelites were given into the Hands"><U>The Israelites were given into the Hands of the Midianites!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges 7 The LORD said to Gideon, You H"><U>Judges 7 - The LORD said to Gideon, "You Have too Many Men."</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 8 Gideon Captures the Tw"><U>Judges Chapter 8 - Gideon Captures the Two Kings of Midian </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 9 Abimelech Murdered His"><U>Judges Chapter 9 - Abimelech Murdered His Seventy Brothers!   </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_10_and_chaapter_11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 10 and Chapter 11 Tola, "><U>Judges Chapter 10 and Chapter 11 - Tola, Jair and Jephthah </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 12 Jephthah defeats the "><U>Judges Chapter 12 - Jephthah defeats the Ephraimites</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 13 The Birth of Samson W"><U>Judges Chapter 13 - The Birth of Samson Who was a Nazarite</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 14 Samson Wants a Philis"><U>Judges Chapter 14 - Samson Wants a Philistine Woman as a Wife</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 15 Samson Takes Vengeanc"><U>Judges Chapter 15 - Samson Takes Vengeance on the Philistines</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_16_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 16 The Secret of Samsons"><U>Judges Chapter 16 - The Secret of Samson’s Strength Revealed</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 17 Micah from the Hill C"><U>Judges Chapter 17 - Micah from the Hill Country of Ephraim </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 18 In Those Days the Dan"><U>Judges Chapter 18 - In Those Days the Danites Had No King</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 1 These Days He Has Spo"><U>Hebrews Chapter 1 - These Days He Has Spoken to Us by His Son</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 2 How Shall We Ignore s"><U>Hebrews Chapter 2 - How Shall We Ignore so Great a Salvation?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 3 Jesus is Worthy of Gr"><U>Hebrews Chapter 3 - Jesus is Worthy of Greater Honor than Moses</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 4 A Sabbath Rest for th"><U>Hebrews Chapter 4 - A Sabbath Rest for the People of God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 5 A High Priest in the "><U>Hebrews Chapter 5 - A High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_6_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 6 The Things that Have t"><U>Hebrews Chapter 6 -The Things that Have to Do with Salvation</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Ch.7 Jesus is a Priest in the O"><U>Hebrews Ch.7 - Jesus is a Priest in the Order of Melchizedek</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 8 Jesus the High Priest"><U>Hebrews Chapter 8 - Jesus the High Priest of the New Covenant </U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 9 Regulations for Worsh"><U>Hebrews Chapter 9 - Regulations for Worship in the Tabernacle</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 10 Christs Ultimate Sac"><U>Hebrews Chapter 10 - Christ’s Ultimate Sacrifice Once for All</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 11 Great Men and Women "><U>Hebrews Chapter 11 - Great Men and Women Who Lived By Faith!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 12 Run the Race Fixing "><U>Hebrews Chapter 12 - Run the Race Fixing Ours Eyes on Jesus </U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 13 Keep On Loving, Be P"><U>Hebrews Chapter 13 - Keep On Loving, Be Pure, and Be Content</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="02ad2c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <IMG SRC="17674af0.jpg" border=0 width="116" height="175" ALT="last days,prophecy,end times,rapture,bible,scriptures,bible prophecies,endtimes,hebrew calendar,jewish culture,bible studies,messiah,festivals,revelation" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> THE LAST DAYS CALENDAR:</div> <div> Understanding God's</div> <div> Appointed Times</div> <div> USE LINK TO ORDER ON LINE</div> <div> <A HREF="https://www.redemption-press.com/shop/the-last-days-calendar/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.redemption-press.com/shop/th"><U>Redemption Press</U></A></div> <div> or Call<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003399" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 1-360-226-3488</div> <bR> <div> THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: </div> <div> Understanding the Apocalypse </div> <div> <IMG SRC="37e98b90.jpg" border=0 width="152" height="185" ALT="revelation,apocalypse,Jesus, Christ,Jesus Christ,last days,prophecy,end times,rapture,Hebrew calendar,jewish culture,bible studies,messiah,festivals" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> USE LINK TO ORDER ON LINE</div> <div> <A HREF="https://www.redemption-press.com/shop/the-revelation-of-jesus-christ/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.redemption-press.com/shop/th"><U>Redemption Press</U></A></div> <div> or Call<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003399" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 1-360-226-3488</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Genesis 48: Jacob Blesses Manasseh and Ephraim Joseph’s Sons</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Jacob Blesses Manasseh and Ephraim who are the Sons of Joseph</div> <bR> <div> <B>Manasseh and Ephraim were the two sons born to Joseph in Egypt. Before their grandfather Jacob died, Israel reckoned them as his and blessed them.</b> </div> <bR> <div> <I>Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him</I>. Genesis 48:1</div> <bR> <div> Joseph had promised his father Jacob that after Jacob died; Joseph would have his father’s remains interred in the land of promise where Abraham and Isaac had been laid to rest. It was some time after that agreement that Joseph was told that Jacob had fallen deathly ill.</div> <bR> <div> More than a quarter of a century before, Joseph had interpreted Pharaoh’s two dreams. The king rewarded Joseph by honoring him with the highest ranking office in Egypt and placed him in charge of preparing for the future famine. Pharaoh also had given Joseph Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife.</div> <div>  </div> <div> The city of On was also known as Heliopolis, “The City of the Sun.” It was the center of worship of the sun god, Ra, and was located 10 miles northeast of modern Cairo. The high priest in On held the title of “Greatest of Seers.” When Joseph married into this family, he joined a social class befitting a national leader. Also implied in the marriage arrangement was Pharaoh’s confidence that Joseph, too, was a “seer,” or prophet, of the highest caliber.</div> <bR> <div> The names of Joseph's sons, born to him in the land of his exile, are significant. Asenath bore Joseph two sons. The first he named Manasseh meaning “forgetfulness.” In naming his firstborn child Manasseh, Joseph had declared that God made him forget all his toil and his father’s entire household.</div> <bR> <div> The second son Joseph called Ephraim, meaning “doubly fruitful.” In naming his second son Ephraim, Joseph acknowledged that it was God who had caused him to be fruitful in the land of his affliction.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Joseph having learned of his father’s illness took Manasseh and Ephraim along with him to see their grandfather. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Jacob said to Joseph, “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 increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’</I> Genesis 48:2-4</div> <bR> <div> After Jacob had deceived his father Isaac and had stolen Esau’s blessing, Jacob fled from his family’s home in Beersheba at set out for Harran. When Jacob stopped for the night, he took a stone and put it under his head and went to sleep. Jacob dreamt of a stairway that rested on the earth and reached up to heaven with God’s angels ascending and descending upon it.</div> <bR> <div> <I>When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”</I> <I>Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.</I> Genesis 28:16-19</div> <bR> <div> Jacob was so spiritually and emotionally impacted that, to memorialize the occasion and the place, he blessed the stone on which his head had rested, sanctified it by anointing it with oil and gave Luz the name “Bethel” (God's House).</div> <bR> <div> Twenty years later, Jacob returned from Paddan Aram and prepared to face his brother Esau. Jacob, having learned that Esau was coming with four hundred men to meet him, was in dire fear that Esau was planning to attack and kill him. Jacob divided his family and animals into two groups in an attempt to save one group if the other was attacked.</div> <bR> <div> Jacob sent his family, his servants and his possessions across the Jabbok, which is a tributary of the Jordan River, but he stayed on the other side.</div> <bR> <div> <I>So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”</I> Genesis 32:24-27</div> <bR> <div> Jacob wrestled with the “Angel of the LORD,” and in spite of the excruciating pain of a dislocated hip, would not let go until he received a blessing.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” </I>Genesis 32:28</div> <bR> <div> Jacob whose name means, “heel-grabber” or “usurper” had deceived his father and stolen his brother’s blessing. In spite of being deceived and cheated by Laban for twenty years, Jacob remained faithful to fulfill his end of their work agreement. Jacob’s struggles served to refine his character. His name change reflected his new nature. Israel means “prince of God" or “he who struggles with God.”</div> <div>  </div> <div> Five years later, Jacob travels to Bethel where God appeared to him again and blessed him. God Almighty promised to make Jacob into a great nation. God also reiterates His promise given to Abraham and Isaac that Canaan would be the everlasting possession of their descendents. After the conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land would be known as "Eretz Yisrael" - “Land of Israel.” </div> <bR> <div> <I>“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.</I> Genesis 48:5</div> <bR> <div> Jacob proclaimed from his death bed that he was adopting Joseph’s two sons. His grandsons would be elevated to the position of sons of Israel. Joseph would now receive a double portion, which is the privilege of the firstborn. When it came time for the tribes of Israel to possess the Promised Land, Ephraim and Manasseh would each inherit their own portion of territory. </div> <bR> <div> Reuben who was Jacob’s firstborn son should have been Jacob’s heir. As firstborn he was entitled to the first rank among his brothers, the leadership of the tribes, and to a double share of the inheritance. But Reuben forfeited and lost these privileges because he defiled his father’s bed. The next two brothers in line for the birthright, Simeon and Levi also forfeited their privileges because of their violence and cruelty against the inhabitants of Shechem.</div> <bR> <div> Jacob stated that just as Reuben and Simeon, who were his first and second born sons, were his sons so would Ephraim and Manasseh be his sons. Even though Manasseh was Joseph’s firstborn, Jacob lists Ephraim first.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers.</I> Genesis 48:6</div> <bR> <div> If Joseph were to have any other sons after Manasseh and Ephraim, these sons would be reckoned as his own. They would be considered as Jacob’s grandchildren. They would not have their own tribes or territories but would reside in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh as if they were the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh.</div> <div>  </div> <div> <I>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” (that is, Bethlehem).</I> Genesis 48:7</div> <bR> <div> Of Jacob's two wives (Rachel and Leah) and two concubines (Bilhah and Zilpah), Rachel was the only one that Jacob truly loved or wanted to marry. Jacob only married Leah because he had been deceived by his father-in-law Laban.</div> <bR> <div> <I>When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me?"</I> Genesis 29:25</div> <bR> <div> Laban not only tricked Jacob into marrying Leah instead of Rachel, but extracted another seven years of labor from him in order to pay a second bridal price.</div> <bR> <div> It was through Rachel and Leah's insistence, not Jacob's, that two concubines were included in the multi-wife family:</div> <bR> <div> <I>When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Then she said, “Here is Bilhah, my servant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.”</I> Genesis 30:1-3</div> <bR> <div> <I>When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. </I>Genesis 30:9</div> <bR> <div> On his death bed Jacob recounts to his son Joseph how his beloved wife Rachel died in childbirth and was buried beside the road to Bethlehem. Rachel was Joseph’s mother and the first of Jacob’s four wives to die. </div> <bR> <div> <I>Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate</I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I> </I></FONT><I>robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.</I> Genesis 37:3-4</div> <bR> <div> Joseph was the long awaited son of Rachel, the wife that Jacob loved. Joseph was the son born to Jacob in his old age. Israel loved Jacob more than any of his other sons. For this reason, Jacob adopted Joseph’s sons as his own and Jacob gave Joseph the double blessing as if he was the firstborn son. </div> <bR> <div> <I>When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>“They are the sons God has given me here,” Joseph said to his father.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may bless them.”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.” </I>Genesis 48:8-11</div> <bR> <div> For twenty-two years Jacob believed that Joseph was torn to death by a wild animal because Joseph’s jealous brothers had presented Joseph’s ornate robe to their father covered in blood. </div> <bR> <div> <I>So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” </I>Genesis 45:25-28</div> <bR> <div> Jacob not only lives to see Joseph before he dies but also to see Joseph’s sons as well.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him. But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn</I>. Genesis 48:12-14</div> <bR> <div> Joseph bows down in respect to his father and in reverence and thankfulness to God. Joseph then places his younger son Ephraim towards Israel’s left hand and his firstborn son Manasseh towards his father’s right hand. </div> <bR> <div> According to Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, the word “Hand” most frequently represents the ownership, power, or control that its possessor (either an individual or a people) exercises. This can be seen in the story of the exodus from Egypt. God's hand, described as mighty (Exodus 3:19-20), overcomes the hand of the Egyptians (Exodus 3:8) through miraculous plagues and the parting of the Red Sea.</div> <bR> <div> The hand of God, and especially the right hand, is also understood as a place of salvation, refuge, and protection. It is the favored position for the firstborn of Joseph to receive Jacob's blessing. Israel crossed his arms so that Ephraim would receive the right hand of blessing as if he were the firstborn son of Joseph.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Then he blessed Joseph and said,</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>“May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,</I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I> </I></FONT><I>the Angel who has delivered me from all harm—may he bless these boys.</I></div> <div> <I>May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly on the earth.” </I>Genesis 48:15-16</div> <bR> <div> Israel refers to the God of Abraham and Isaac as his shepherd and the Angel who had delivered him from all harm. </div> <bR> <div> A Christophany is an appearance of the incarnate Christ in the Old Testament, or after his ascension. A Christophany is thus a special case of a theophany. The word, “Theophany” is derived from the Ancient Greek, meaning “appearance of God.” Whenever someone received a visit from “the angel of the LORD,” this was in fact the pre-incarnate Christ. The visible appearances of God in human or angelic form in the Old Testament, is actually the Son of God manifesting Himself prior to His incarnation. Old Testament theophanies that involved the manifestation of God in human form were appearances of the second person of the Trinity, and as such their purpose was not only to provide immediate revelation but also to prepare mankind for the incarnation of Christ.</div> <bR> <div> <I>When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.” Genesis</I> 48:17-19</div> <bR> <div> <I>This was not the first time in the history of God’s people that the younger brother would become greater than the firstborn son.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>The L</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>ORD</I></FONT><I> said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” </I>Genesis 25:23</div> <bR> <div> Within Rebekah’s womb were two sons from whom two nations would descend. From Esau, the first born or older son, the Edomites would arise. From Jacob, the younger son, the Israelites would emerge. In the L<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >ORD</FONT>’s sovereignty and foresight, Jacob would obtain the birthright and blessing that the older son Esau would despise. By divine intervention, the usual natural order of leadership was reversed. </div> <bR> <div> Israel’s act of blessing Ephraim with the right hand of blessing was an intentional act performed by divine guidance and to fulfill God’s purposes.</div> <bR> <div> <I>He blessed them that day and said,</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>“In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.</I> Genesis 48:20</div> <bR> <div> It is staggering that Jacob chose his grandsons, the sons of Joseph to be bearers of the birthright. That birthright was the passing on of the promises given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob himself. This included the promise given to Jacob that his seed would become a “Nation and a Company of Nations!” </div> <bR> <div> Friday night, when Jewish families gather around the table to celebrate the Sabbath festive meal, parents bless their children. To the girls they say, “May God make you like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah.” To the boys they say, “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.” It’s easy to understand why Jewish parents choose to bless their girls to be like the great Matriarchs. But why don’t they bless their sons to be like the holy Patriarchs? </div> <bR> <div> Of course one reason that Jewish boys are blessed to be like Ephraim and Manasseh is that it was the blessing that Jacob pronounced over Joseph’s sons. But there is also a lesson to be learned.</div> <div> Ephraim and Manasseh accomplished something that no one else in the covenantal family had achieved. Isaac and Ishmael were brothers, but they weren’t able to live together. Ishmael was banned from Abraham’s home. Jacob and Esau were twins, and they, too, had their share of sibling rivalry. At one point, Esau wanted to kill his brother. Next came the sons of Jacob, and as we know, their jealousy of Jacob’s favorite led them to sell Joseph into slavery. </div> <bR> <div> Jacob explained that he had seen in prophecy that great men will come from Ephraim, the younger brother, and so he needed the greater blessing to help those descendants. Amazingly, Manasseh doesn’t protest. He was not jealous and he was not resentful. Ephraim and Manasseh were the first brothers in the line of Abraham who loved each other unconditionally and did not fight.</div> <bR> <div> This is another reason why parents bless their sons to be like Ephraim and Manasseh. Because, as great as it is to be righteous and holy like the Patriarchs, it is so critical to be able to live in harmony with our brothers. As it says in the Psalm 133:1, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Few things make the Lord happier then when there is unity among His children.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers. And to you I give one more ridge of land than to your brothers, the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.”</I> Genesis 48:21-22</div> <bR> <div> After the Exodus and forty years in the wilderness, God would bring the tribes of Israel along with the bones of Joseph back to the land of Canaan in Joshua's time. </div> <bR> <div> Israel promised that Joseph would receive one more ridge or portion of land than his brothers. The word in Hebrew translated as “ridge or portion” is “Shechem.” Not only the ridge, but the city of Shechem itself, and all the adjacent country, eventually was possessed by the tribe of Ephraim.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="genesis_47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 47 Josephs Father and Brothers "><U><B>Genesis 47 - Joseph’s Father and Brothers Now Dwell in Goshen</b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="genesis_49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 49 Jacob Calls for His Sons to "><U><B>Genesis 49 - Jacob Calls for His Sons to Assemble Before Him</b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="jewish_festivals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Festivals of the LORD reveal Bible Proph"><U><B>Festivals of the LORD reveal Bible Prophecy about End Times. </b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Last Days Calendar:Bible Prophecy,La"><U><B>The Last Days Calendar:Bible Prophecy,Last Days,The Rapture</b></U></A><B> (Home)</b></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>