I last finished off by establishing that it was Judah who received the “Ruling Authority” and Ephraim who received the “Double Portion Blessing” of the Firstborn Blessing.
However, understand that Joseph was the real inheritor of Jacob’s tribal wealth simply because Joseph was Ephraim’s father.
Let’s rewind the tape all the way back to the closing chapters of Genesis when Jacob was on his deathbed.
During this time, he summoned all his 12 sons to gather around him.
Jacob then told Joseph to come forward and bring his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh with him.
It was at this moment that a revolution of gargantuan proportions was instituted that would change the history of Israel for all time and forever.
Remember Manasseh was Joseph’s firstborn.
So I can imagine Joseph almost had a heart attack when Jacob crossed his arms and put his right hand on Ephraim’s head and his left hand on Manasseh’s head.
Understand that in the Scriptures, the right hand always symbolizes the one who has received the greatest blessing and authority.
That’s why we’re told that Yeshua is seated at the right hand of God the Father in the Heavens.
It’s because the most favored son always sits on the right side of the king or master.
Of David. A psalm.
The LORD says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand until
I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”
-Psalms 110:1
Joseph must have thought his father’s mental faculties were beginning to dull and that he had just made a mistake by placing his right hand on Ephraim.
But Jacob quickly told Joseph not to worry because he knew exactly what he was doing.
Three monumental things occurred with this cross-handed blessing.
FIRST, Ephraim’s status was elevated above Manasseh even though biologically speaking he was the younger son.
SECOND, Joseph lost his two sons and I’m not saying that metaphorically.
Literally, Jacob adopted Joseph’s two children away from him and in that instant, Ephraim and Manasseh transformed from being Jacob’s grandchildren to being his own flesh-and-blood sons.
THIRD, Joseph as a tribal founder was replaced by his two sons.
The tribe of Joseph would cease to exist until the Book of Revelations.
Another interesting result of this cross-handed blessing is that Joseph’s two sons legally became Joseph’s own brothers.
We’ll continue this discussion the next time we meet.
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