Ex 1:1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob:
2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;
3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;
4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
5 All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already).
6 And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation.
7 But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.
The point here is to show the growth of the children of Israel numerically. Initially, they were a small group in Egypt but they grew prolifically and rapidly into a significant number in Egypt as the years rolled by. From "seventy persons" to being "fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them."
This is in fulfillment of the promises of God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that they would have numerous descendants.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Ge 50:22 So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father's household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years.
23 Joseph saw Ephraim's children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph's knees.
24 And Joseph said to his brethren, "I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."
25 Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here."
26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
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Joseph grew old in Egypt. There he saw his great-great-grandchildren. And yet Joseph did not feel at home in Egypt. Home was in the Land of Promise. And so, he instructed brethren and the children of Israel to bring him back to Canaan sometime in the future when God would finally visit them to bring them home.
Again, this should encourage Moses' original Israelite readers that home is back in Canaan. They should not stay or return to Egypt.
23 Joseph saw Ephraim's children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph's knees.
24 And Joseph said to his brethren, "I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."
25 Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here."
26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
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Joseph grew old in Egypt. There he saw his great-great-grandchildren. And yet Joseph did not feel at home in Egypt. Home was in the Land of Promise. And so, he instructed brethren and the children of Israel to bring him back to Canaan sometime in the future when God would finally visit them to bring them home.
Again, this should encourage Moses' original Israelite readers that home is back in Canaan. They should not stay or return to Egypt.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Ge 50:15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him."
16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying,
17 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you."' Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants."
19 Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
21 "Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Moses wants his original Israelite readers to learn at least three things here:
First, brethren should live peaceably and be forgiving to one another. This will be expedient when they will come to live in the land of Promise. Offenses will come but forgiveness should be administered when a brother becomes repentant.
Second, they should realize that God is a sovereign God who overrules even the evil done by others against them. That He is a God who can use evil and bring good out of it. That their slavery in Egypt was allowed but overruled by God to bring about good.
Third, they must realize that they are each others keeper. I will provide for you and your little ones. Cain asked: "Am I my brother's keeper?" Joseph's says "Yes!"
16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying,
17 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you."' Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants."
19 Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
21 "Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Moses wants his original Israelite readers to learn at least three things here:
First, brethren should live peaceably and be forgiving to one another. This will be expedient when they will come to live in the land of Promise. Offenses will come but forgiveness should be administered when a brother becomes repentant.
Second, they should realize that God is a sovereign God who overrules even the evil done by others against them. That He is a God who can use evil and bring good out of it. That their slavery in Egypt was allowed but overruled by God to bring about good.
Third, they must realize that they are each others keeper. I will provide for you and your little ones. Cain asked: "Am I my brother's keeper?" Joseph's says "Yes!"
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Ge 50:1 Then Joseph fell on his father's face, and wept over him, and kissed him.
2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.
3 Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
4 And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying,
5 'My father made me swear, saying, "Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me." Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.'"
6 And Pharaoh said, "Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear."
7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
8 as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen.
9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering.
10 Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father.
11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, "This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians." Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.
12 So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them.
13 For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place.
14 And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father.
Jacob became a great and respected man in Egypt. His funeral says it all. His was no ordinary wake and burial. It was a grand state funeral. He was mourned for like a king.
Moses wants to show his original Israelite readers here the fact that God's Word was fulfilled. God promised to bring him back to Canaan and He did it in a grand fashion.
Ge 46:4 "I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes."
Moses also wants to show here that even the Egyptians acknowledged in a way that Canaan was their homeland. They accompanied Jacob there in his burial.
2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.
3 Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
4 And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying,
5 'My father made me swear, saying, "Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me." Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.'"
6 And Pharaoh said, "Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear."
7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
8 as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen.
9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering.
10 Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father.
11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, "This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians." Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.
12 So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them.
13 For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place.
14 And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father.
Jacob became a great and respected man in Egypt. His funeral says it all. His was no ordinary wake and burial. It was a grand state funeral. He was mourned for like a king.
Moses wants to show his original Israelite readers here the fact that God's Word was fulfilled. God promised to bring him back to Canaan and He did it in a grand fashion.
Ge 46:4 "I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes."
Moses also wants to show here that even the Egyptians acknowledged in a way that Canaan was their homeland. They accompanied Jacob there in his burial.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Ge 49:29 Then he charged them and said to them: "I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
30 "in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite as a possession for a burial place.
31 "There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah.
32 "The field and the cave that is there were purchased from the sons of Heth."
33 And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
Although Jacob could have chosen to be buried in Egypt since there were a lot of magnificent tombs there for such a respected man as him, he chose to be buried in the land of promise. He did not consider Egypt his homeland. Rather, he looked to the promise of God that the land of Canaan was his home. Generally, people want to be buried in the place they consider as their homeland.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers that their forefathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) viewed the Promised Land as their homeland, and they (the Israelites) should too.
30 "in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite as a possession for a burial place.
31 "There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah.
32 "The field and the cave that is there were purchased from the sons of Heth."
33 And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
Although Jacob could have chosen to be buried in Egypt since there were a lot of magnificent tombs there for such a respected man as him, he chose to be buried in the land of promise. He did not consider Egypt his homeland. Rather, he looked to the promise of God that the land of Canaan was his home. Generally, people want to be buried in the place they consider as their homeland.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers that their forefathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) viewed the Promised Land as their homeland, and they (the Israelites) should too.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Ge 49:1 And Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:
2 "Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.
3 "Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.
4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel, Because you went up to your father's bed; Then you defiled it -He went up to my couch.
5 "Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place.
6 Let not my soul enter their council; Let not my honor be united to their assembly; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; And their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob And scatter them in Israel.
8 "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's children shall bow down before you.
9 Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
11 Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey's colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk.
13 "Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; He shall become a haven for ships, And his border shall adjoin Sidon.
14 "Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens;
15 He saw that rest was good, And that the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, And became a band of slaves.
16 "Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse's heels So that its rider shall fall backward.
18 I have waited for your salvation, O LORD!
19 "Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last.
20 "Bread from Asher shall be rich, And he shall yield royal dainties.
21 "Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words.
22 "Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall.
23 The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him.
24 But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
25 By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.
27 "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil."
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers here that God (in this case through the prophecies of Jacob) planned the future. They are to realize and learn that their future, as prophesied here by Jacob, is not in Egypt. They will dwell in the land of promise. Again, this should encourage them to go on to the land of Canaan.
They should learn too that God will determine their destinies and their enjoyment of the blessings in the land according to their faithfulness as revealed by their personal characters. That God hitches their courses according to their character and conduct as shown here in this chapter. This should encourage them to be faithful to God in obeying Him.
Even though there are curses and retribution mentioned in the prophecies of Jacob, over all, the recipients of the curses and the retribution still received a blessing by the fact that they will still inherit the land of promise and that they are still included in the chosen family. And being in the chosen family carries a lot of privileges with it. That's why verse 28 still says: "he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing."
2 "Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.
3 "Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.
4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel, Because you went up to your father's bed; Then you defiled it -He went up to my couch.
5 "Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place.
6 Let not my soul enter their council; Let not my honor be united to their assembly; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; And their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob And scatter them in Israel.
8 "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's children shall bow down before you.
9 Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
11 Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey's colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk.
13 "Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; He shall become a haven for ships, And his border shall adjoin Sidon.
14 "Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens;
15 He saw that rest was good, And that the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, And became a band of slaves.
16 "Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse's heels So that its rider shall fall backward.
18 I have waited for your salvation, O LORD!
19 "Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last.
20 "Bread from Asher shall be rich, And he shall yield royal dainties.
21 "Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words.
22 "Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall.
23 The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him.
24 But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
25 By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.
27 "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil."
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers here that God (in this case through the prophecies of Jacob) planned the future. They are to realize and learn that their future, as prophesied here by Jacob, is not in Egypt. They will dwell in the land of promise. Again, this should encourage them to go on to the land of Canaan.
They should learn too that God will determine their destinies and their enjoyment of the blessings in the land according to their faithfulness as revealed by their personal characters. That God hitches their courses according to their character and conduct as shown here in this chapter. This should encourage them to be faithful to God in obeying Him.
Even though there are curses and retribution mentioned in the prophecies of Jacob, over all, the recipients of the curses and the retribution still received a blessing by the fact that they will still inherit the land of promise and that they are still included in the chosen family. And being in the chosen family carries a lot of privileges with it. That's why verse 28 still says: "he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing."
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Ge 48:21 Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
22 "Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow."
Again, this is to encourage Moses' original readers that the land they are about to possess is the land of their fathers (Abraham and Isaac). And so, they must not be tempted to go back to Egypt.
It is also a guide in dividing the land later on. That Shechem is to be given to Joseph and his descendants. Shechem is the territory which Jacob took from the hand of the Amorite. In Israel's history, Manasseh, later on, took possession of the land.
22 "Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow."
Again, this is to encourage Moses' original readers that the land they are about to possess is the land of their fathers (Abraham and Isaac). And so, they must not be tempted to go back to Egypt.
It is also a guide in dividing the land later on. That Shechem is to be given to Joseph and his descendants. Shechem is the territory which Jacob took from the hand of the Amorite. In Israel's history, Manasseh, later on, took possession of the land.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Ge 48:12 So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth.
13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him.
14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15 And he blessed Joseph, and said: "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."
17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
18 And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."
19 But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations."
20 So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!'" And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
Jacob chose Ephraim to receive the primary blessing over Manasseh. The right hand was the hand that bestows the primary blessing. In verse 20, Jacob mentioned Ephraim first then Manasseh, thus indicating that the former will be greater than the latter. 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!'" And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
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Here Moses is showing his original Israelite readers that God's blessing (at this instance given through the hand of Jacob) is not bestowed on the basis of rights. Rather, God bestows it on the basis of grace. Although Manasseh, as the firstborn, had the right to the primary blessing yet it was given to Ephraim.
Israel should learn that God did not chose them over other people in the world because they had the just claim to His blessings. No, rather, they were chosen solely by the grace of God.
13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him.
14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15 And he blessed Joseph, and said: "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."
17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
18 And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."
19 But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations."
20 So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!'" And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
Jacob chose Ephraim to receive the primary blessing over Manasseh. The right hand was the hand that bestows the primary blessing. In verse 20, Jacob mentioned Ephraim first then Manasseh, thus indicating that the former will be greater than the latter. 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!'" And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
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Here Moses is showing his original Israelite readers that God's blessing (at this instance given through the hand of Jacob) is not bestowed on the basis of rights. Rather, God bestows it on the basis of grace. Although Manasseh, as the firstborn, had the right to the primary blessing yet it was given to Ephraim.
Israel should learn that God did not chose them over other people in the world because they had the just claim to His blessings. No, rather, they were chosen solely by the grace of God.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Ge 48:1 Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, "Indeed your father is sick"; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
2 And Jacob was told, "Look, your son Joseph is coming to you"; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed.
3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me,
4 "and said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.'
5 "And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
6 "Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.
7 "But as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)."
8 Then Israel saw Joseph's sons, and said, "Who are these?"
9 And Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place." And he said, "Please bring them to me, and I will bless them."
10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.
11 And Israel said to Joseph, "I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!"
Here, Moses is showing his original Israelite readers as to why the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh came to inherit a portion of the land of Promise --- Jacob adopted them as his own: "... now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine, as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine...."
Since the two were adopted by Jacob as his own sons, they, therefore, received an equal standing with the children of Israel. Being adopted, they are not to be viewed as minor sons or lesser sons. No, they are sons "as Reuben and Simeon." Reuben and Simeon were the eldest son and the second son of Jacob respectively. As sons of equal standing with the rest, they (Ephraim and Manasseh) too would inherit the land that God promised to Jacob as an eternal possession.
Reuben lost the privileges of being the firstborn. As the firstborn, he should have been the head of the family and an inheritor of a double blessing. Reuben had sexual relations with Jacob's concubine.
Ge 35:22 And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard about it.
Reuben lost the right and the privilege to be the head of the family, it went instead to Judah. From Judah, the Ruler or the great King, the Messiah, would come. Because of the violence of Simeon and Levi (Ge 49:34:25) which caused great shame and distress to their father they too were bypassed in the right and privilege to be head. Instead, it went to the fourth son, Judah.
Reuben instead of receiving a double portion of the land inheritance received only a single portion. One of his portions was given to Joseph which made Joseph an inheritor of two portions. It was then given to Ephraim and Manasseh.
Levi also lost the blessing of receiving a land inheritance. Thus, the tribe of Levi inherited no land later on. As for Simeon, you can read Jacob's curse on him along with Levi in Gen. 49:6-7.
2 And Jacob was told, "Look, your son Joseph is coming to you"; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed.
3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me,
4 "and said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.'
5 "And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
6 "Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.
7 "But as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)."
8 Then Israel saw Joseph's sons, and said, "Who are these?"
9 And Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place." And he said, "Please bring them to me, and I will bless them."
10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.
11 And Israel said to Joseph, "I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!"
Here, Moses is showing his original Israelite readers as to why the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh came to inherit a portion of the land of Promise --- Jacob adopted them as his own: "... now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine, as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine...."
Since the two were adopted by Jacob as his own sons, they, therefore, received an equal standing with the children of Israel. Being adopted, they are not to be viewed as minor sons or lesser sons. No, they are sons "as Reuben and Simeon." Reuben and Simeon were the eldest son and the second son of Jacob respectively. As sons of equal standing with the rest, they (Ephraim and Manasseh) too would inherit the land that God promised to Jacob as an eternal possession.
Reuben lost the privileges of being the firstborn. As the firstborn, he should have been the head of the family and an inheritor of a double blessing. Reuben had sexual relations with Jacob's concubine.
Ge 35:22 And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard about it.
Reuben lost the right and the privilege to be the head of the family, it went instead to Judah. From Judah, the Ruler or the great King, the Messiah, would come. Because of the violence of Simeon and Levi (Ge 49:34:25) which caused great shame and distress to their father they too were bypassed in the right and privilege to be head. Instead, it went to the fourth son, Judah.
Reuben instead of receiving a double portion of the land inheritance received only a single portion. One of his portions was given to Joseph which made Joseph an inheritor of two portions. It was then given to Ephraim and Manasseh.
Levi also lost the blessing of receiving a land inheritance. Thus, the tribe of Levi inherited no land later on. As for Simeon, you can read Jacob's curse on him along with Levi in Gen. 49:6-7.
Monday, February 4, 2019
Ge 47:28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob's life was one hundred and forty-seven years.
29 When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, "Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt,
30 "but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place." And he said, "I will do as you have said."
31 Then he said, "Swear to me." And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.
God promised Jacob that He would return Jacob back to the promise land.
Ge 46:3 So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.
4 "I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes."
Here, Jacob is manifesting his faith in the promises of God. He believed in God that his future inheritance is not the land of Egypt but the land promised to him and his fathers by God, the Promised Land of Canaan. He made sure by making Joseph promise that he would be buried in Canaan not in Egypt. And so, in the custom of the day in making a promise, Jacob made Joseph place his hand under his thigh.
Moses is encouraging his original Israelites readers that their future inheritance is not Egypt but Canaan.
29 When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, "Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt,
30 "but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place." And he said, "I will do as you have said."
31 Then he said, "Swear to me." And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.
God promised Jacob that He would return Jacob back to the promise land.
Ge 46:3 So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.
4 "I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes."
Here, Jacob is manifesting his faith in the promises of God. He believed in God that his future inheritance is not the land of Egypt but the land promised to him and his fathers by God, the Promised Land of Canaan. He made sure by making Joseph promise that he would be buried in Canaan not in Egypt. And so, in the custom of the day in making a promise, Jacob made Joseph place his hand under his thigh.
Moses is encouraging his original Israelites readers that their future inheritance is not Egypt but Canaan.
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Ge 47:27 So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly.
Despite adverse conditions, Israel thrived in Egypt. The rest in Egypt were languishing but Israel was flourishing. This was to show that God's promises to Jacob were in the process of being fulfilled.
Ge 35:11 Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.
Ge 46:3 So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.
Despite adverse conditions, Israel thrived in Egypt. The rest in Egypt were languishing but Israel was flourishing. This was to show that God's promises to Jacob were in the process of being fulfilled.
Ge 35:11 Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.
Ge 46:3 So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.
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