Journey Through The Scriptures

As the patriarch Jacob was dying, he blessed Manasseh and Ephraim, the two sons of Joseph born to him during his years in Egypt. These two groups were given full status as tribes, and they soon replaced Joseph in the listings of the twelve tribes. The Levites were often omitted from the list of the tribes because they did not have an inheritance of land, and Simeon was omitted from at least one list because this tribe was absorbed by Judah. Manasseh was a war-like and strong tribe from whom both Gideon and Jephthah, judges and warriors in Israel, were descended.

Both tribes were greatly blessed – but because Jacob blessed the younger Ephraim over the firstborn Manasseh, the Ephraimites became dominant in Israel – so much so, in fact, that in later times the name Ephraim became synonymous with Israel herself. Moses’ song of blessing asked God to bless the sons of Joseph materially and militarily. The Ephraimites became very successful, but their prosperity apparently led to spiritual apathy, and the prophet Hosea spoke of the judgment that would befall Ephraim (Hosea 9:13).