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Page 1 Supplemental Notes: The Twelve Tribes of Israel Chuck Missler © 1996 Koinonia House Inc.

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Page 1

Su

pp

lemen

tal No

tes:

The T

welve

Tribes

of Israel

Chuck Missler

© 1996 K

oinonia House Inc.

Page 3Page 2

Au

dio

Listin

g

Intro

du

ction

Introduction. Cam

p of Israel. The M

azzeroth.

Jud

ah

Background. T

he Sceptre departs.

Levi an

d S

imeo

n

Shechem

. The P

riesthood. Cities of R

efuge.

Joesp

h: E

ph

raim an

d M

anasseh

Story of Joseph. Jacob’s blessing. Joseph as a type.

Reu

ben

, Gad

, Ben

jamin

, and

Dan

The T

ribes. The M

oabite Stone. Jacob’s P

rophecy.

Zeb

ulo

n, Issach

ar, Ash

er, & N

aph

tali

The T

ribes. Sum

mary of the N

ames of the tribes.

Th

e “Ten

Lo

st Trib

es”

The m

yth. British Israelism

. The N

orthern Kingdom

.

Th

e Tw

elve Trib

es To

day

The S

ervitude of the Nation. T

he Holocaust of E

urope.

Th

e Twelve Trib

es

Tap

e 1: Intro

du

ction

Why study the T

welve T

ribes? It reveals the role of Israel in God’s P

lan;w

hich is the missing elem

ent in System

atic Theology.

Israel in th

e Past—

Elected

From

Gen 12 onw

ards, the Biblical m

essage focuses on four uncondi-tional covenants G

od made w

ith Abraham

and his descendants throughIsaac and Jacob. T

he destiny of the entire world is secured through these

convenants! (The only conditional covenant is the M

osaic.)

(The blasphem

y that God has discarded Israel—

and the completion of

these covenants—is prevalent throughout the C

hurch today and is them

ajor misconception underlying the m

isguided policies presently lead-ing the M

iddle East—

and the whole w

orld—to A

rmageddon.)

Ab

raham

ic Co

venan

t - Gen

esis 12:1-3

Seven “I W

ills”:A

nd I will m

ake of thee a great nation,and I w

ill bless thee, (personally)and m

ake thy name great;

and thou shalt be a blessing:A

nd I will bless them

that bless thee, (against anti-Sem

itism)

and curse him that curseth thee:

and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Warning to A

nti-Sem

ites. This curse is still valid at the S

econd Com

ing:Sheep and G

oat Judgment in M

atthew 25:31f. T

he “third party” is Jesus’brothers. (N

ote: The C

hurch cannot be present during the Tribulation,

since in the Church there is no distinction betw

een Jew and G

entile...)S

alvation is of the Jews: John 4:22.

Th

e Palestin

ian C

oven

ant

Promised, G

en 12:7; 13:14-17.T

itle Deed sealed: G

en 15:9-19.N

ote who are the perform

ing parties: only one.

Page 5Page 4

Daniel’s 70 W

eeks. Role in R

evelation (The “70th W

eek” of Daniel). T

heT

wo W

itnesses (Rev 11). T

he 144,000 (Rev 7, 14).

Th

e Kin

gd

om

Pro

mises

[See our audio briefing, The P

rodigal Heirs...]

The R

ole of the 12 Apostles (M

t 19:28; Lk 22:30).

Birth

of th

e Twelve Trib

es

Leah:

Gen 29:32

Reuben

“Behold a son”

Gen 29:33

Simeon

“Heard”

Gen 29:34

Levi

“Joined to”G

en 29:35Judah

“Praise”

Bilhah (R

achel):

Gen 30:6

Dan

“Judge”G

en 30:8N

aphtali“W

restling”

Zilpah (L

eah):

Gen 30:11

Gad

“Troop”

Gen 30:13

Asher

“Happy”

Leah:

Gen 30:18

Issachar“T

here is recompense”

Gen 30:20

Zebulun

“Exalted”

Rachel:

Gen 30:24

Joseph“Y

HW

H has added”

Gen 35:18

Benjam

in“S

on of the right hand”

Th

e So

jou

rn to

Eg

ypt

Nation “born” in E

gypt. Israel is “God’s firstborn” (E

x 4:22); “Firstborn”

[Note: T

en nations in opposition. Only seven in Joshua’s conquests.]

Moses and E

zekiel confirm the covenant. (C

urses just as binding asblessings: D

eut 30:1-8; Ezek 16:59-63.)

[Not conditional: “w

hen” not “if” delineates the consequences andprophetic destiny.]

Am

plified and confirmed: E

zek 36:17-28.

Th

e David

ic Co

venan

t

[Prophesied in the tim

e of the Judges: Book of R

uth, Chapter 4; 2 S

am7:11-16.]

Confirm

ed to Mary: L

uke 1:30-33.

[Throne to be vacant for a period of tim

e: Hos 3:4,5. Y

et future: Ezek 37:21-

28; Acts 1:3-6; A

cts 15:16-18 (q. Am

os 9:8-9).]

Th

e Co

venan

t with

Death

Dan 9:27 [N

ote “bow” or a token of the covenant in R

ev 6:2, Gen 9:6.]

Isa 28:14-22 Note “scoffers,” m

ockers, rather than serious leaders;seeking a m

easure of security rather than the “overflowing scourge”;

“making likes their refuge...”

Th

e New

Co

venan

t

Jer 31:31-34. The unilateral “I W

ill” again.

Partially in force: H

eb 10:14-18. Available to the C

hristian through hisunion w

ith Christ, a son of A

braham and D

avid.Is G

od a liar? Num

23:19; Ezek 36:22.

Paul’s G

reat Discourse: R

omans 9 - 11.

Who is Israel, w

hy are they presently “blinded” and set aside for a time;

and their subsequent destiny prophetically...

Present rejection is not total (R

om 11:1-10), nor final (R

om 11:11-32).

Page 7Page 6

Deuteronom

y:

27B

lessings and cursings33

Blessing of M

oses (Sim

eon omitted. O

rder is geographi-cal: B

enjamin is before Joseph.)

Joshua:

13-22A

llocation of territories. (In four groups to furnish citiesfor four classes of priests.)

Judges:

5S

ong of Deborah. (Judah and S

imeon om

itted.)

1 Chronicles:

2:1,3-8G

enealogies. (Zebulon om

itted; Dan in v.7?)

12,27O

fficers under David (G

ad and Asher om

itted in 1 Chr

27.)

Ezekiel:

48K

ingdom D

ivisions, Millennium

Revelation:

7S

ealing of 12,000 from each tribe. (D

an omitted; see

Revelation C

omm

entary notes.)

Tw

elve Sto

nes

Joshua’s monum

ent(s)B

reastplate of high priestR

evelation 21.

Th

e Mazzero

th

The plan of G

od can be found in the original Hebrew

names of the tw

elveconstellations of the H

ebrew M

azzeroth, or Zodiac. S

ome believe S

ethand E

noch taught their children by means of them

.

= double portion; therefore, receives a double portion of judgm

ent also(D

eut 21:17; cf. Isa 40:1-2; Jer 16:16-18). [For further study, see our audiobriefing, T

he Next H

olocaust.]

43:1-2B

uy a little food (?)43:13,14

Com

mitted issue to G

od!46:1

Offers sacrifices on w

ay to Egypt

46:2-4G

od meets Jacob there for 7th tim

e(28:13; 31; 32:1; 32:24;

35:1; 35:9)47:7

Dignity before P

haraoh (vs Esau).

49:7Pilgrim

age

Heb 11:21; G

en 47:31 never possessed the land; looks forward to

Kingdom

Age.

Listin

gs o

f the T

welve T

ribes

The T

welve T

ribes are listed 20 times in the B

ible, in different orders,according to birth, m

others, numeration, encam

pment, blessing, geog-

raphy, etc.:

Genesis:

29-35O

rigin; natural order of Jacob’s 12 sons46

Entering E

gypt49

Jacob’s Prophetic B

lessing49:1

Multiple fulfillm

entsL

ast Days; Jer 23:19,29; Isa 2:2; N

T F

ulfillments

Exodus:

1E

ntering Egypt (Joseph om

itted, being in Egypt.)

Num

bers:

1:1-15L

eaders (Levi om

itted)1:20-43

1st Census (L

evi omitted)

2O

rder of the camp (O

nly order given three times: 2, 7, 10)

7O

fferings10

Order of M

arch13

Spies (L

evi omitted)

262nd C

ensus (Levi om

itted)34

Dividing the L

and (Eastern tribes om

itted)

Page 9Page 8

There also appears to be a link betw

een the twelve constellations of the

Hebrew

Mazzeroth (“Z

odiac”) and the Tw

elve Tribes. T

he names as w

eknow

them are from

the corruption that occurred in Bab-E

l in Genesis 11.

For a discussion of this fascinating possibility, see our briefing package,

Signs in the Heavens.

Th

e Cam

p o

f Israel

The tabernacle w

as always at the center. T

he tribe of Levi encam

pedaround it. M

oses, Aaron, and the priests to the east; three fam

ilies(M

erari, Kohath, and G

ershon) on the north, south and west side. T

herem

aining twelve tribes w

ere grouped into four camps around the

Levites. (N

ote: the Baker’s D

ozen: 13, not 12.)

[Jacob had twelve sons, each becom

ing the founder of one of the twelve

tribes. How

ever, Joseph was sold into slavery and subsequently

emerged as the prim

e minister of E

gypt. (Gen 41:37-41). In E

gypt, Josephm

arried Asenath and had tw

o sons, Manasseh and E

phraim. W

henJacob and the rest of the fam

ily ultimately cam

e to Egypt, Jacob adopted

his two grandsons as his ow

n (Gen 48).]

Th

e Fo

ur “C

amp

s”

The tw

elve, excluding Levi, w

ere clustered into four “camps” ( N

umbers

2). Judah’s tribal standard was, of course, the lion. R

euben’s ensign was

a man; E

phraim’s the ox; D

an’s, ultimately, the eagle. (T

hese are detailedin the diagram

on the next page)

The four tribal standards m

atch the four faces of the cherubim w

hichsurround the throne of G

od.

Th

e Nu

mb

ering

(Allow

ing for wom

en, children, elderly, some factor, such as 3, w

ouldbring the total to about 2 m

illion.)

Card

inal C

om

pass P

oin

ts

Each of the cam

ps, of three tribes each, were to encam

p on one of thecardinal com

pass directions (N, S

, E, or W

) with respect to the cam

p ofthe L

evites enclosing the tabernacle (Num

2:3, 10, 18, 25). See chart on

the following page.

Page 11Page 10

Gen

eral Backg

rou

nd

Descended from

Jacob’s fourth son (Gen 29:35). T

he name is there

explained as meaning “praised,” as derived from

the root ydh, “topraise.” G

en 49:8 contains a play on this meaning. [In the N

ewT

estament the nam

e is represented by its Hellenized form

Judas(shortened to Jude in Jude 1).]

Goes dow

n into Egypt for grain (G

en 43:1-10; 44:14-34; 46:28).

Persons selected:a.

To num

ber the people (Num

1:7); Strength of, on leaving E

gypt (Num

1:26,27; 2:4);b.

To spy out the land (N

um 13:6);

c.T

o divide the land (Num

34:19).

Place of, in camp and m

arch (Num

2:3,9; 10:14). Encam

ped with its

standard east of the tabernacle (Num

2:3). Enrollm

ent of the military

forces of, at Sinai (Num

1:26,27; 2:4); at Bezek (1 Sam

11:8; 2 Sam 24:9);

in the plain of Moab (N

um 26:22).

Reuben’s forfeited birthright given to Joseph; Judah prevails as

leader (1 Chr 5:1,2; 28:4; Ps 60:7; C

f. Gen 35:22; 49:4).

•L

oyal to the house of David at the tim

e of the revolt of the ten tribes,1 K

gs 12:20.•

Led the first division of Israel in their journeys (N

um 10:14).

•C

omm

issioned of God to lead in the conquest of the prom

ised land(Judg 1:1-3, w

ith verses 4-21).•

Offering of, at dedication (N

um 7:12-17).

•Fam

ilies of (Num

26:19-21).•

Strength of on entering C

anaan (Num

26:22).•

Moses’ benediction upon (D

eut 33:7).•

Made D

avid king (2 Sam 2:1-11; 5:4,5).

The genealogies of Judah’s descendants are found in 1 C

h. 2-4.

Positives

Judah early took a leading role among his brothers, as is show

n by thestory of Joseph w

here he intercedes for Joseph’s life when his brethren

were about to slay him

, and proposes that they sell him to the Ishm

aelites,

Using the w

idth of the camp of L

evi as a basic unit, each “camp” of four

would take w

hatever length it would need so as to not exceed the w

idthof the L

evites. Notice that if the breadth of their cam

p was larger than

that of the Levites, the excess w

ould not be on a cardinal direction (N,

S, E

, or W) from

the Levites. T

hese leads to the aerial view of the C

amp

of Israel, below.T

he Trib

e Of Ju

dah

Intro

du

ction

Royal L

ine: Our L

ord sprang from Judah (M

t 1:3-16; Lk 3:23-33; H

eb7:14).

Revelation 5:6, T

itle of the Redeem

er: “Lion of the T

ribe of Judah.”

Unusual validation of the S

cripture: candorU

nusual prophecy: The S

ceptre Departing.

Page 13Page 12

Th

e Bo

ok o

f Ru

th

Links D

avid with B

ethlehem; predicts D

avid as King in the tim

e of theJudges(!)

Elim

elech and Naom

i from Judah:

Boaz is a type of the goel, kinsm

an-redeemer;

Ruth is a “type” of the G

entile Bride;

10th generation from P

harez results in David (R

uth 4:21ff). (See T

heR

omance of R

edemption audio briefing for a detailed study of this

important book.)

(The reason S

amuel could anoint S

aul from the tribe of B

enjamin is that

ten generations were required before the descendants of an illegitim

ateline could inherit: D

eut 23:2.)

Fu

rther B

ackgro

un

d

Aided Saul in his w

ars (1Sam 11:8; 15:4). A

fter Saul’s rebellion appointedto furnish kings to Israel (1 Sam

13:14; 15:28; 16:6,13; 2 Sam 2:4; 7:16,17).

After S

aul’s death a growing split w

as perpetuated by David’s being

crowned as king in H

ebron over Judah (2 Sam

2:4). Reigned over alone

by David seven and a half years (2 S

am 2:11; 5:5).

The crow

ning of David as king over “all Israel” (2 S

am 5:1-5) m

ade himking of a dual kingdom

in which Judah kept its separate identity.

Certainly during A

bsalom’s rebellion Judah seem

s to have maintained

its neutrality, while the N

followed the rebel.

Officer placed over by D

avid (1Chr 27:18).

Rebuked by D

avid for lukewarm

ness toward him

after Absalom

’s defeat(2 S

am 19:11-15). A

ccused by the other tribes of stealing the heart ofD

avid (2 Sam

19:41-43 20:1,2). Loyal to D

avid at the time of the

insurrection led by Sheba (2 S

am 20:1,2).

With B

enjamin alone, adhered to the house of D

avid (1 Kgs 12:21).

The last tribe carried into captivity (2 K

gs 17:18,20; 25:21).

Gen. 37:26,27.(A

lso, leader in Gen 43:3-10; 44:16-34; 46:28). O

n Gerizim

said “Am

en” to the blessings. Deut 27:12.

Inheritance of, Josh. 15; 18:5; 19:1,9.3. It was bounded on the N

by theportions of D

an and Benjam

in, and ran approximately E

and W from

theN

end of the Dead S

ea, S of Jerusalem

and the Gibeonite tetrapolis to the

Mediterranean. Its W

and E frontiers w

ere the Mediterranean and the

Dead S

ea, and it extended S as far as cultivation perm

itted (cf. Josh 15).

Judah first overran most of the coastal plain, soon to be occupied by the

Philistines (Judg 1:18) but evidently quickly withdrew

from the struggle

(Judg 1:19; 3:3; Josh 11:22; 13:2-3). Since it w

as the best of the landapportioned to him

that Judah voluntarily abandoned to Sim

eon (Josh19:1, 9), it is reasonable to suppose that he hoped to have S

imeon as a

buffer between him

and the unconquered coastal plain.

First and m

ost vigorous in driving out the Canaanites (Judg 1:3-20).

How

ever, the failure to maintain a hold on Jerusalem

(Judg 1:8, 21),com

bined with the existence of the sem

i-independent Gibeonite tetrapolis

(Josh 9; 2 Sam

21:1-2), created a psychological frontier between Judah

and the central tribes.

While Judah provided the first of the judges, O

thniel (Judg 3:9-11), andshared in the early action against B

enjamin (Judg 20:18), he does not

seem even to have been expected to join against Jabin and S

isera (Judg5). A

s a result, when Judah becam

e tributary to the Philistines (Judg

15:11), he appears not to have appealed to the other tribes, nor do theyseem

to have been concerned. The fact of this division seem

s to havebeen generally recognized, for by Saul’s tim

e we find the contingent from

Judah separately enumerated (1 Sam

11:8; 15:4; 17:52; 18:16).

Neg

atives

[Validates the accuracy of the record...]

Achan, a m

ember of the tribe, w

as the cause of the defeat of Israel beforeA

i (Josh 7). This m

ay be the reason for the special task laid on Judah tolead an independent attack on the C

anaanites (Judg 1:1-2).

Incest with T

amar, his daughter-in-law

, Gen. 38:12-26. G

en. 38, thoughthrow

ing light on the beginnings of the tribe of Judah, clearly stands inits present position to contrast Judah’s character w

ith that of Joseph.O

ffspring in the Messianic genealogy...

Page 15Page 14

Lion (R

ev 5:5!)

whelp:

Josh> S

aullion:

David

old lion:S

olomon onw

ards...

10]T

he sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a law

giver from betw

een his feet,until S

hiloh come; and unto him

shall the gathering of the people be.

Tribal rod or staff of office; tribal identity.

Northern K

ingdom destroyed; Judah in land in C

hrist’s day...

Law

giver, John 18:31 “unlawful to put m

an to death...”

11]B

inding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed

his garments in w

ine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

Vine, etc. Judah’s portion in vine grow

ing district in south.

S of S

ongs 1:14; vineyards of En G

edi; city of Judah.

Christ is the vine: Isa 63:1-3; R

ev 19.

Scep

tre Dep

arts from

Jud

ah

The term

“Shiloh” was understood by the early rabbis and T

almudic

authorities as referring to the Messiah:

Targum

Onkelos: “T

he transmission of dom

inion shall not cease fromthe house of Judah, nor the scribe from

his children’s children, forever,until M

essiah comes.”

1

Targum

Pseudo-Jonathan: “K

ings and rulers hall not cease from the

house of Judah..until King M

essiah comes.”

2

Targum

Yerusahlm

i: “Kings shall not cease from

the house ofJudah...until the tim

e of the coming of the K

ing Messiah...to w

hom all the

dominions of the earth shall becom

e subservient.”3

Sceptre = Tribal rod or staff of office; tribal identity. E

ven in their 70-year B

abylonian captivity (606-537 B.C.) the tribes retained their tribal

[Also: N

ame of tw

o exiled priests (Ezra 10:23; N

eh 12:8.4). A B

enjamite

(Neh 11:9.5). A

prince or priest who assisted in the dedication of the w

allsof Jerusalem

(Neh 12:34,36).]

No

tewo

rthy P

eop

le from

Jud

ah

Achan (Josh 7:18)

Elim

elech (Ruth 1:1,2)

Boaz (R

uth 2:1)O

bed (Ruth 4:21)

Jesse (Ruth 4:22; 1S

am 16:1)

David (1Sam

16:1,13)Solom

on (1Kgs 1:32-39)

Elihu (1C

hr 27:18)P

ethahiah (Neh 11:24)

Bezaleel (E

x 31:2; 35:30)N

ahshon (Num

7:12)C

aleb (Num

14:24)A

bsalom (2 Sam

15:1)E

lhanan (2 Sam 21:19; 23:24)

Adonijah (1K

gs 1:5,6)Jonathan (2Sam

21:21)K

ings of Judah (See 1st and 2nd B

ooks of Kings)

Prophecies C

oncerning Judah

Deuteronom

y 33:7

Genesis 49:8-12

8]Judah, thou art he w

hom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck

of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow

down before thee.

1 Chr 5:2: C

hief Ruler, Prince =

nagid (Cf. M

eshiach Nagid, D

an 9:25)

“Praise”: play on his name.

Neck of enem

ies; dominion: D

avid

9]Judah is a lion’s w

help: from the prey, m

y son, thou art gone up: he stoopeddow

n, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him

up?

Page 17Page 16

had departed to Alexandria, to bring this breach of the law

under hisobservation, and to inform

him that A

ranius had acted illegally inassem

bling the Sanhedrin without the R

oman authority.”

8

(This rem

arkable passage not only mentions Jesus and H

is brotherJam

es as historical figures, it also underscores that the authority ofthe Sanhedrin had passed to the R

omans.)

John 18:31 “unlawful to put m

an to death.”

Reactio

n

When the m

embers of the S

anhedrin found themselves deprived of their

right over life and death, they covered their heads with ashes and their

bodies with sackcloth, and bem

oaned, “Woe unto us for the sceptre has

departed from Judah and the M

essiah has not come!”

9

They actually thought that the T

orah, the Word of G

od, had failed!T

hey should have known better. T

he sceptre had, indeed, beenrem

oved from Judah, but Shiloh had com

e. While the Jew

s wept in

the streets of Jerusalem, a young son of a carpenter w

as growing up

in Nazareth. H

e would present H

imself as the M

essiah the King on

the very day that had been predicted by the Angel G

abriel to Daniel

five centuries earlier (Daniel 9:24-27). (See also our briefing package,

Daniel’s 70 W

eeks.)

Endnotes:

1.S

amson H

. Levy, T

he Messiah: A

n Aram

aic Interpretation; The M

essianicE

xegesis of the Targum

, Hebrew

Union C

ollege Jewish Institute of R

eligion,C

incinnati, 1974, p. 2.2.

Ibid, p. 7.3.

Ibid, p. 8.4.

Josh McD

owell, E

vidence that Dem

ands a Verdict, p. 108-168.

5.Josephus, A

ntiquities, 17:13.6.

Jerusalem T

almud, Sanhedrin, folio 24.

7.Josephus, W

ars of the Jews, B

k 2 Ch. 8.

8.Josephus, A

ntiquities of the Jews, 20:9.

9.B

abylonian Talm

ud, Chapter 4, folio 37; also A

ugustin Lem

ann, Jesus beforethe Sanhedrin, 1886, translated by Julius M

agath, NL

#0239683, Lib. of

Congress #15-24973. S

ee also Pugio F

idei, Raym

undus Martini, published by

De V

osin in 1651; re: The F

ifty Third C

hapter of Isaiah According to Jew

ishInterpreters, S.R

. Driver, A

.D. N

eubauer, KT

AV

Publishing House, N

ew Y

ork,1969, P

reface p. iv.

identity. 4 They retained their ow

n logistics, judges, etc. (Ezra 1:5,8).

Even during the next five centuries under the Persian and G

reek Em

pires,they retained their identity.

Backg

rou

nd

In 6-7 A.D., King H

erod’s son and successor, Herod A

rchelaus was

dethroned and banished to Vienna, a city in G

aul. Archelaus w

as thesecond son of H

erod the Great. 5 T

he older son, Herod A

ntipater, was

murdered by H

erod the Great, along w

ith other family m

embers. A

rchelaus’m

other was a S

amaritan (¼

or less of Jewish blood) and w

as neveraccepted.

After the death of H

erod (4 B.C.?), Archelaus w

as placed over Judea as“E

ntharch” by Caesar A

ugustus. Broadly rejected, he w

as removed in

6-7 A.D. He w

as replaced by a Rom

an Procurator nam

ed Caponius.

The legal pow

er of the Sanhedrin w

as imm

ediately restricted andadjudication of capital cases (jus gladii) w

as lost. This w

as normal

Rom

an policy. This transfer of pow

er was recorded in T

he JerusalemT

almud,

“A little m

ore than forty years before the destruction of the Tem

ple,the pow

er of pronouncing capital sentences was taken aw

ay from the

Jews.”

6

by Josephus, Wars of the Jew

s:

“And now

Archelaus’ part of Judea w

as reduced into a province, andC

aponius, one of the equestrian order of the Rom

ans, was sent as a

procurator, having the power of life and death put into his hands by

Caesar”. 7

Also, Josephus, A

ntiquities of the Jews

“After the death of the procurator Festus, w

hen Albinus w

as about tosucceed him

, the high priest Ananius considered it a favorable

opportunity to assemble the Sanhedrin. H

e therefore caused James,

the brother of Jesus, who w

as called Christ, and several others, to

appear before this hastily assembled council, and pronounced upon

them the sentence of death by stoning. A

ll the wise m

en and strictobservers of the law

who w

ere at Jerusalem expressed their

disapprobation of this act... Some even w

ent to Albinus him

self, who

Page 19Page 18

the tribal figures in Num

1 of males from

20 years upwards. N

o indicationis given how

this happened. Levi seem

s to have had only three sons,G

ershon, Kohath and M

erari, all born before he went dow

n with Jacob

to Egypt.

Families, as num

bered:

a.O

f Gershon. N

um 3:18,21,22. G

ershonites and their duties, Num

3:18-26; 4:23-26; 10:17. Ruling chief over the G

ershonites was the

second son of the ruling high priest (Num

4:28).

b.O

f Kohath. N

um 3:19,27,28. K

ohathites, consisting of the families

of the Am

ramites, Izeharites, H

ebronites, Uzzielites (N

um 3:27; 4:18-

20). Of the A

mram

ites, Aaron and his fam

ily were set apart as priests,

Ex 28:1; 29:9; N

um 3:38; 8:1-14; 17; 18:1; the rem

aining families

appointed to take charge of the ark, table, lampstand, altars, and

vessels of the sanctuary, the hangings, and all the service, Num

3:27-32; 4:2-15. The chief over the K

ohathites was the oldest son of

the ruling high priest (Num

3:32; 1 Chr 9:20).

c. O

f Merari. N

u 3:20,33,34. Merarites, N

um 3:20,33-37; 4:31-33; 7:8;

10:17; 1 Chr 6:19,29,30; 23:21-23. T

he chief over the Merarites w

asthe second son of the ruling high priest (N

um 4:33).

Exem

pt from enrollm

ent for military duty, N

um 1:47-54, w

ith 1 Chr 12:26.

Subordinate to the sons of A

aron (Num

3:9; 8:19; 18:6).

Th

e Priesth

oo

d

Set apart as m

inisters of religion (Num

1:47-54; 3:6-16; 16:9; 26:57-62;D

eut 10:8; 1 Chr 15:2). S

ubstituted in the place of the firstborn (Num

3:12,41-45; 8:14,16-18; 18:6). Zeal against idolatry a cause of their

appointment (E

x 32:26-28; Deut 33:9,10; M

al 2:4,5). Consecration of, N

um8:6-21 (C

f. Exodus 29 and L

eviticus 8).

Initially restricted to the descendants of Aaron (N

um 3:9; 8:19). L

ater,the sons of Z

adok (1 Chr 6:8, 53; 24:3; 27:17), a descendant of A

aronthrough E

leazar (Ezek 43:19). H

owever, H

igh priest bore all 12 tribes onhis breastplate.

Entered on their service at tw

enty-five years of age (Num

8:24). Age

when inducted into office (N

um 4:3,30,47; 8:23-26; 1 C

hr 23:3,24,27; Ezra

3:8); when retired from

office (Num

4:3,47; 8:25,26). Num

bered as

Th

e Levites

Backg

rou

nd

Descended from

Jacob’s third son (Gen 29:34; H

eb 7:9,10). Son of Jacob,G

en 29:34; 35:23; 1 Chr 2:1. [T

he name (in H

ebrew ywIle ) is linked w

ith theroot “to join,” and a play upon this m

eaning is found in Num

18:2, 4.]

Sh

echem

Avenges the seduction of D

inah (Gen. 34; 49:5-7).

The only detail of his life know

n to us, apart from those events com

mon

to all Jacob’s sons, is his treacherous attack on Shechem

in company

with Sim

eon (Gen 34:25-26). T

he two w

ere specially concerned becauseD

inah was their full sister. T

he two lads could carry out the m

assacre with

the help of their father’s slaves.

It has almost universally been taken for granted that G

en 49:5-7 refersto this incident, but this is m

ost doubtful. There is no validity in the

versional variation in the last clause of v. 6 represented by AV, “they

digged down a w

all”; the Heb. “they houghed an ox” (R

V) is seemingly

contradicted by Gen 34:28. It is better to take the tenses in v. 6 as “perfects

of experience” and render, “For in their anger they slay m

en, and in theirw

antonness they hamstring oxen” ( R

SV). T

hey are cursed for a life ofviolence and cruelty in w

hich Shechem

was m

erely an early and out-standing exam

ple. Later history w

as to show that the loyalty of L

evi’sdescendants to Y

ahweh could turn the curse to a blessing, and their

division and scattering in Israel was as his representatives.

Some: Sim

eon and Levi, it is probable, w

ere most active in the w

rongdone to Joseph, to w

hich some think Jacob has here som

e reference;for in their anger they w

ould have slain that man.

Th

e Trib

e of L

evi

Originally consisted for three fam

ilies or divisions (Num

3:17; 1Chr 6:16-

48). Not num

bered with Israel (N

um 1:47-49). N

umbered separately after

the people from a m

onth old (Num

3:14-16,39). The total census figure

in Num

3:22, 28, 34 of males from

a month upw

ard is strikingly below all

Page 21Page 20

ing captives (Num

31:30,42-47). Tithes w

ithheld from (N

eh 13:10-13; Mal

3:10). Pensioned (2 C

hr 31:16-18). Ow

ned lands (Deut 18:8, w

ith 1 Kgs

2:26). Land allotted to, by E

zekiel (Ezek 48:13,14). E

nrollment of, at Sinai

(Num

1:47-49; 2:33; 3:14-39; 4:2,3; 26:57-62; 1 Chr 23:3-5).

Sed

ition

of K

orah

Sedition am

ong, led by Korah, D

athan, Abiram

, and On, on account of

jealousy toward M

oses and Aaron (N

um 16, w

ith 4:19,20).

Punished w

ith death for encroaching on the priestly office (Num

18:3).P

unishment of K

orah and others of, for offering incense (Num

16:1-35).

Korah w

as the ringleader: he formed and headed the faction; therefore

it is called the gainsaying of Korah (Jude 11). H

e was a cousin to M

oses;they w

ere brothers’ children, yet the nearness of the relation could notrestrain him

from being insolent and rude to M

oses. Think it not strange

if a man’s foes be those of his ow

n house. With him

joined Dathan and

Abiram

, chief men of the tribe of R

euben, the eldest son of Jacob.P

robably Korah w

as disgusted both at the preferment of A

aron to thepriesthood and the constituting of E

lizaphan to the head of the Kohathites

(Ch. 3:30); and perhaps the R

eubenites were angry that the tribe of Judah

had the first post of honor in the camp. O

n is mentioned (v. 1) as one of

the heads of the faction, but never after in the whole story, either

because, as some think, he repented and left them

, or because he did notm

ake himself so rem

arkable as Dathan and A

biram did. T

he Kohathites

encamped on the sam

e side of the tabernacle that the Reubenites did,

which perhaps gave K

orah an opportunity of drawing them

in, whence

the Jews say, “W

oe to the wicked m

an, and woe to his neighbor, w

hois in danger of being infected by him

.”

Levitical C

ities

48 cities were allotted to the L

evites by Moses and Joshua (N

um 35:1-

8; Josh 21). Not receiving any part of the land of C

anaan for theirinheritance (N

um 18:20-24; 26:62; D

eut 18:1,2; Josh 18:7; “the Lord w

astheir inheritance,” D

eut 10:9).

To com

pensate, they received tithes of Israelites for support (Num

18:21)and 48 cities, four from

each of the 12 tribes. This w

as apparently todisperse the L

evites throughout the land to enable them, as official

representatives of the faith, to instruct the people in the law and in the

worship of Y

HW

H (N

um 35:1-5; L

ev 23:32-34).

ministers at thirty (N

um 4:3, 23-49). T

hey had charge of the tabernaclein cam

p and on the march (N

um 1:50-53; 3:6-9,21-37; 4:1-15,17-49; 8:19,22;

18:3-6) and of the temple (1 C

hr 9:27-29; 23:2-32; Ezra 8:24-34). B

ore theark of the covenant (D

eut. 10:8; 1 Chr 15:2,26,27). M

inistered before theark (1 C

hr. 16:4).

Custodians and adm

inistrators of the tithes and other offerings (1 Chr

9:26-29; 26:28; 29:8; 2 Chr 24:5,11; 31:11-19; 34:9; E

zra 8:29,30,33; Neh

12:44). Prepared the consecrated bread (1 C

hr 23:28,29). Assisted the

priests in preparing the sacrifice (2 Chr 29:12-36; 2 C

hr 35:1-18). Killed the

passover for the children of the captivity (Ezra 6:20,21).

Lodged in the cham

bers of the temple (1 C

hr 9:27,33; Ezek 40:44). W

hilein attendance lodged around the tem

ple (1 Chr 9:27). R

esided also invillages outside of Jerusalem

(Neh 12:29).

Teachers of the law

(Deut 33:10; 2 C

hr 17:8,9; 30:22; 35:3; Neh 8:7-13; M

al2:6,7). W

ere judges (Deut 17:9; 1 C

hr 23:4; 26:29; 2 Chr 19:8-11; N

eh 11:16).W

ere scribes of the sacred books. Pronounced the blessings of the law

in the responsive service at Mount G

erizim (D

eut 27:12; Josh 8:33).

Were overseers in building and the repairs of the tem

ple (1 Chr 23:2-4;

Ezra 3:8,9).

Guarded king’s person and house in tim

es of danger (2 Kgs 11:5-9; 2 C

hr23:5-7).

Were m

usicians of the temple service. S

upervised weights and m

ea-sures (1 C

hr 23:29).

[How

ever, some non-L

evites performed priestly functions on occasion:

the son of Micah an E

phraimite (Judg 17:5); D

avid’s sons (2 Sam

8:18);G

ideon (Judg 6:26); and Manoah of D

an (Judg 13:19).]

In lieu of landed inheritance, forty-eight cities with suburbs w

ereassigned to them

(Num

35:2-8, with N

um 18:24; 26:62; D

eut 10:9;12:12,18,19; 14:27-29; 18:1-8; Josh 13:14; 14:3; 18:7; 1 C

hr 6:54-81; 13:2;2 C

hr 23:2; Ezek 34:1-5). A

ssigned to, by families (Josh 21:4-40). Suburbs

of their cities were inalienable for debt (L

ev 25:32-34).

Tithes and other offerings (N

um 18:24,26-32; D

eut 18:1-8; 26:11-13; Josh13:14; N

eh 10:38,39; 12:44,47). Bound to give a tenth of their tithes to the

priests (Num

18:26-32). Firstfruits ( Neh 12:44,47). Spoils of w

ar, includ-

Page 23Page 22

Ram

oth: heights;W

e dwell in the heights, even though

Golan: exile...

...we are exiles, pilgrim

s, strangers to this world.

Lesson: H

ave you fled to Him

? Unless you have, you aren’t saved.

Pro

ph

ecies

Prophecies respecting G

enesis 49:5,7; Deuteronom

y 33:8-11.

Gen

esis 49

5]S

imeon and L

evi are brethren: instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

Simeon and L

evi. [Note: M

oses might have preferred to have left this out:

he was of L

evi!]

Instruments of cruelty (34:25); Sim

eon ringleader in sale of Joseph; hadhim

bound. (42:24) Judah solicits his aid in Canaan (Judg 1:3; 1 C

hr4:42,43).

Levi: w

orshipping calf, 3000 slain by Levi (E

x 32:27,28). Phineas, grand-son of A

aron, stays plague, Num

25:6-13; cancelled curse, securesblessing.

7]C

ursed be their anger, for it was fierce: and their w

rath, for it was cruel: I w

illdivide them

in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

“Divided and scattered”: S

imeon not given separate territory under

Joshua (19:1-8) but with Judah.

Levites: 48 cities throughout other tribes (N

um 35:8; Josh 14:4, 21).

Jacob’s prophecy regarding, Gen. 49:5-7: “C

ursed be their anger.” He

does not curse their persons, but their lusts.

Note:

1.A

nger is the cause and original of a great deal of sin, and exposesus to the curse of G

od, and his judgment (M

t 5:22).

Of the 48, the priests received 13 (Josh 21:4), and six w

ere cities of refuge.[T

wo lists (Josh 21 and 1 C

hr 6:54-81) do not always agree. N

ames m

ayhave changed over the years; possibly new

ones replaced old.]

Cities o

f Refu

ge

Num

35:11-30. (No state police force.)

No help for a m

urderer (Gen 9:6; E

x 20:1-17; 21:12-13). First m

urderer:S

atan (John 8:44). Avenger of B

lood (Goel); (C

f. Bedoin’s today...)

Cities of R

efuge: available to all (sojourners also); sanctified (set aside).A

lways open; w

ays, bridges, repaired each spring (Deut 19:3).

Typ

e of C

hrist

(Heb 6:16-20) [A

cts 3:12-18; Luke 23:34; 1 C

or 2:7-8]W

ages of sin is death, Rom

6:23;G

od’s appointed refuge, Acts 4:12;

Easy reach; “w

ay,” Deut 19:3;

Open to all, R

ev 22:17;D

oors never locked;S

tocked with provisions;

No other help available (H

eb 10:28-29)U

ntil the death of the High P

riest (Heb 7:23-27)

Differences:

Only innocent saved; w

e know w

e’re guilty!C

hrist more available (John 6:37; R

ev 3:20).

Nam

es of th

e Cities o

f Refu

ge: (Jo

sh 20:7-8)

Kedesh: righteousness;

Never can be accused again.

Shechem: shoulder

Like a shepherd, H

e carries us.

Hebron: fellow

shipW

e enter into fellowship w

ith Him

Bezer: fortress; strong

He is our fortress; w

e are safe.

Page 25Page 24

Melch

izedek

Gen 14:18-20: K

ing of Salem and priest of E

l Elyon (Y

HW

H). A

brahambrings tithes after defeat of C

hedorlaomer et al. R

eceives, in turn, breadand w

ine.

Salem

is identified with Jerusalem

in Ps 76:2 and early T

ell el-Ararna

letters (14th century B.C.). A

lso, Targum

im, and the G

enesis Apocryphon.

Scripture equates El E

lyon with Y

HW

H. A

braham equates M

elchizedek’sG

od as the same as his ow

n. Publicly declares M

elchizedek as hisspiritual superior.

Psalm

110:4: Davidic king proclaim

ed by divine oath. David’s conquest

of Jerusalem (c.1000 B.C.) m

ade David’s house heirs to M

elchizedek’sdynasty of priest-kings. O

ne greater than David, w

hom he called L

ord,w

as in view. [N

ote: Ps 110:1 used to confuse P

harisees in Mt 22:44.]

Hebrew

s 5:6-11; 6:20-7:28: Dem

onstrates, pointing to Melchizedek as

a “type” of Christ, that C

hrist thus supersedes the Aaronic priesthood

(7:1-3):

1)M

elchizedek is greater than Abraham

, the father of Levi,

receiving tithes from him

(v.4-10);2)

David predicted that the order of M

elchizedek would

replace the Levitical priesthood (v.11-19);

3)the divine oath behind it (v.20-22);

4)because of perm

anence (v.23-25).

Caveat: A

ttempts to identify M

elchizedek with the patriarch S

hem, an

angel, the Holy G

host, or the Messiah, are irreconcilable w

ith theargum

ent of Hebrew

s. It is an essential part of this argument that

Melchizedek is given no pedigree and that he w

as a man m

ade like untothe S

on of God.

Th

e Trib

e Of S

imeo

n

Jacob’s second son by Leah (G

en 29:33; 35:23; Ex 1:1,2; 1 C

hr 2:1). With

Levi, he avenges upon the S

hechemites the seduction of D

inah (Gen 34;

49:5-7). Jacob’s denunciation of (Gen 34:30; 49:5-7).

Goes dow

n into Egypt to buy grain; is bound by Joseph, and detained

(Gen 42:24,36; 43:23). S

imeon held hostage until B

enjamin could be

2.W

e ought always, in the expressions of our zeal, carefully to

distinguish between the sinner and the sin, so as not to love nor

bless the sin for the sake of the person, nor to hate nor curse theperson for the sake of the sin.

A token of displeasure w

hich he foretells their posterity should lie underfor this: I w

ill divide them. T

he Levites w

ere scattered throughout all thetribes, and S

imeon’s lot lay not together, and w

as so strait that many of

the tribe were forced to disperse them

selves in quest of settlements and

subsistence. This curse w

as afterwards turned into a blessing to the

Levites; but the S

imeonites, for Z

imri’s sin (N

um. 25:14), had it bound

on. Note, S

hameful dispersions are the just punishm

ent of sinful unionsand confederacies.

The curse of Jacob on L

evi (Gen 34:25ff; and G

en 49:5ff) was turned into

a blessing by Moses (E

x 32:29; Deut 33:8,9). O

ther prophecies concern-ing (Jer 33:18; E

zek 44:10-14; Mal 3:3); of their repentance of the

crucifixion of the Messiah (Z

ech 12:10-13). John’s vision concerning(R

ev. 7:7).

Org

anizatio

n: “C

ou

rses”

David:

•N

umbered them

first from thirty years old (1 C

hr 23:2-3).•

Divided them

into four classes (1 Chr 23:4-6).

•B

y his last words had them

numbered from

twenty years old (1 C

hr23:24,27).

•M

ade them serve from

twenty on account of the lightness of their

duties (1 Chr 23:26,28-32).

•Subdivided into 24 courses (1 C

hr 23:6; 25:8-31). Made them

attendin courses (2 C

hr 8:14; 31:17). Served in courses after captivity (Ezra

6:18). [Thus, associated w

ith the 24 elders in Revelation...]

•H

ad chiefs or officers over them (N

um 3:24,30,35; 1 C

hr 15:4-10; 2 Chr

35:9; Ezra 8:29).

•W

ere all under control of the high priest’s deputy (Num

3:32; 1 Chr

9:20). •

Degraded from

the Levitical office by Jeroboam

(2 Chr 11:13-17; 13:9-

11). Loyal to the ruler (2 K

gs 11:7-11; 2 Chr 23:7). Interm

arry with

Canaanites (E

zra 9:1,2; 10:23,24).•

List of those w

ho returned from captivity (E

zra 2:40-63; 7:7; 8:16-20;N

eh 7:43-73; 12). Sealed the covenant with N

ehemiah (N

eh 10:9-28).

Page 27Page 26

Josep

h

Th

e Sto

ry of Jo

seph

Birth (G

en 30:24). Joseph is a jussive form of the verb #sy;, “to add”; the

name #sE/y m

eans “may he (G

od) add (sons)”; Cf. G

en 30:24.

He w

as handsome (G

en 39:6). Joseph is presented as an obedient 17-year-old son w

ho brought back a bad report about his half brothers (hedid not bring a bad report about his full brother B

enjamin!) T

houghdoing this has never been popular, it show

s that Joseph was faithful as

a servant. Naturally, his brothers hated him

for this.

The lad w

as also honored by Jacob who gave him

a richly ornamented

robe, probably a multicolored tunic, but possibly a long sleeved robe.

This seem

s to signify that Jacob favored him above the rest (w

ith theintent of granting him

all or a larger portion of the inheritance; Gen 33:2;

37:3,4,35; 48:22; 1 Chr 5:2; John 4:5). F

or Joseph was the firstborn of

Rachel, Jacob’s loved w

ife (Gen 30:22-24). H

e thus excites the jealousyof his brethren (G

en 37:4,11,18-28; Ps 105:17; A

cts 7:9).

[Yet Jacob should have rem

embered w

hat parental favoritism does to a

family. It had separated him

from his loving m

other (Gen 27:1-28:5), and

it would separate Joseph from

Jacob.]

Josep

h’s D

reams (G

en 37:5-11)

Dream

s: God confirm

ed Jacob’s choice of his faithful son by two

dreams. G

od’s revelation was given in different form

s in the Old

Testam

ent. God seem

s to use dreams w

hen His people w

ere leaving oroutside the land, that is, in the lands of pagans. In a dream

God had

announced to Abraham

the Egyptian bondage in the first place (G

en15:13); in a dream

God prom

ised protection and prosperity for Jacob inhis sojourn w

ith Laban (G

en 28:12, 15); and by two dream

s God predicted

that Joseph would rule over his fam

ily.

The brothers hated Joseph all the m

ore (Gen 37:5, 8) and w

ere jealous ofhim

, but Jacob pondered the matter (v. 11). H

e knew how

God w

orks; hew

as well aw

are that God could select the younger to rule over the elder,

and that God could declare H

is choice in advance by an oracle or a dream.

brought. He chose him

for the hostage probably because he remem

beredhim

to have been his most bitter enem

y, or because he observed him now

to be least humbled and concerned; he bound him

before their eyes toaffect them

all; or perhaps it is intimated that, though he bound him

with

some severity before them

, yet afterwards, w

hen they were gone, he took

off his bonds; or simply because he w

as the oldest after Reuben.

[Reuben w

as not held because of his kindness to Joseph (Gen 37:21) or

because he was the eldest and Joseph didn’t w

ant a struggle among the

others for leadership.]

His sons (G

en 46:10; Ex 6:15; 1 C

hr 4:24-37). Descendants of (N

um 26:12-

14).

Th

e Trib

e

Lost its independence early. C

omparison of the census in N

um 1 and 26

shows that although the nation lost only 2,000 in the w

ildernessw

anderings (603,000 to 601,000), the tribe of Sim

eon lost over 27,000,over 50%

. (59,300 to 22,100). There w

ere no smaller tribes. [T

he man

Phineas killed at B

aal-Peor (25:14) w

as the head of a Sim

eonite clan. Ifthe S

imeonites w

ere leaders of this apostasy, the resulting plague may

have rested especially on that tribe.]

Perhaps of this w

eakness, the Sim

eonite tribe was not accorded a

separate inheritance in the land (Josh 19:1-9) but simply given certain

southern villages within Judah (Josh 19:2-9; 15:20-63). M

ilitary enroll-m

ent of, at Sinai (Num

1:22,23; 2:13); in the plains of Moab (N

um 26:14).

Place of, in cam

p and march (encam

ped under the standard of Reuben

south of the tabernacle, Num

2:12; 10:18,19). Inheritance allotted to (Josh19:1-9; Judg 1:3-17; 1 C

hr 4:24-43). United w

ith Judah in expelling theC

anaanites from their inheritance (Judg 1:3,17). Stood on M

ount Gerizim

to bless at the time of the rehearsal of the law

(Deut 27:12). Joined w

iththe people of Judah and B

enjamin in the renew

al of the passover (2 Chr

15:9 vs. 1-15). Idolatry of (2 Chr 34:6). Fam

ilies of (Num

26:12-13).

Pro

ph

ecies

Gen 49:5-7 (w

ith Levi).

Page 29Page 28

Gen 37:25-28: Judah then prom

pted his brothers to sell Joseph topassing Ishm

aelites on their way from

Gilead to E

gypt. Ishmaelites w

eredescendants of A

braham by H

agar (16:15) and the Midianites (37:28)

descended from A

braham by his concubine K

eturah (25:2). (The term

Ishmaelites becam

e a general designation for desert tribes, so thatM

idianite traders were also know

n as Ishmaelites.) Joseph w

as treatedharshly by his brothers; but being sold for 20 shekels (8 ounces of silver)and taken to E

gypt, he was preserved alive.

Gen 37:29-35: R

etribution for Jacob’s deception of Isaac appearsagain. (T

he first time w

as with the substitution of L

eah for Rachel). T

histim

e it is by his own sons! T

he sons dipped Joseph’s tunic in goat’sblood to deceive the patriarch into thinking that Joseph w

as dead,devoured by a ferocious anim

al. Jacob mourned greatly over the loss

of his beloved son (tearing one’s clothes and wearing sackcloth w

eresigns of grief and m

ourning; cf. 44:13; Job 1:20; 16:15) and refused to becom

forted.

Gen 37:36: T

his is a story of hatred and deception. The brothers tried

to improve their lot w

ith their father by wicked m

eans. Jacob himself had

attempted som

ething similar w

ith his father. The brothers w

ould have tolearn, how

ever, as did Jacob, that God does not continue to give H

isblessings to those w

ho do such things. Their use of goat’s blood is

ironic, for the skins of a goat were used by Jacob to deceive his father

(27:16). Jacob’s sin of years before had come back to haunt him

. The

brothers’ attitude would also have to be changed by G

od, or there would

be no nation.

Here then is the beginning of the suffering of Joseph, the obedient

servant. God w

ould test his character through the things he suffered, sothat he could then be exalted. (Included is a list of over 100 w

ays thatJoseph w

as a “type” of Christ. S

ee page 45.)

Th

e Co

rrup

tion

of Ju

dah

’s Fam

ily (Gen

38)

Gen 38:1-5: Judah, w

ho had suggested that the brothers sell Josephto the Ishm

aelites (Gen 37:26-27), then left and stayed in A

dullum (about

15 miles northw

est of Hebron) and m

arried a Canaanite w

oman. T

hey hadthree sons, E

r, Onan, and S

helah. This m

arriage to a Canaanite alm

ostruined Judah’s fam

ily.

[This account of assim

ilation with the people of the land helps one

understand why G

od settled His young nation in the safety of E

gypt for

The scene of the first dream

was agricultural (v. 7). T

here may be som

ehint hereof the m

anner in which Joseph’s authority over his brothers

would be achieved (cf. 42:1-3). H

is sheaf of grain was upright w

hile theirsheaves bow

ed down to his. T

he scene of the second dream w

as celestial(v. 9). T

he sun, the moon, and 11 stars bow

ed down to him

. (Joseph’sfather, the sun; his m

other, the moon; his 11 brothers, the stars, v. 10).

(These sym

bols identify Israel as the wom

an in Revelation 12.)

These dream

s, then, symbolically anticipated the elevation of Joseph

over the whole house of Jacob. S

ensing that Joseph was to be elevated

to prominence over them

, the envy and hatred of his brothers ispredictable. R

ather than recognize God’s choice, his brothers set on a

course to destroy him.

[Their actions, though prom

pted by the belief that they should lead,show

s why they should not have led.]

Th

e Sellin

g o

f Josep

h

Gen 37:12-17: T

he occasion for selling Joseph came w

hen he obedi-ently w

ent to his brothers near Dothan (v. 17) to inquire about their

welfare. In spite of the hatred Joseph knew

they held for him, he com

pliedw

ith his father’s wishes. F

rom Jacob’s hom

e in the Valley of H

ebron (v.14) north to Shechem

(v. 12) was about 50 m

iles, and Dothan w

as another15 m

iles north.

[One m

ay wonder if they had taken their flocks to D

othan with the hidden

agenda of checking out the land of Shechem

, whose ruler had raped their

sister Dinah (C

hapter 34).]

Gen 37:18-24: T

he brothers devised a plot to kill their dreamer in order

to prevent his dreams from

being fulfilled. Before, they plotted to kill

many S

hechemites in revenge for their sister (G

en 34:24-29); now, by

contrast, they plotted to kill their own brother!

Reuben, trying to gain an opportunity to restore Joseph to Jacob,

persuaded his brothers not to comm

it such a crime. R

euben suggestedthey throw

Joseph alive into a cistern. Then R

euben thought he couldgo rescue him

later. So the brothers stripped the lad of his tunic and threwhim

into a dry cistern to die.

Page 31Page 30

Gen 39:11-20a: P

otiphar’s wife, hum

iliated by Joseph’s refusal of her,fabricated a lie to accuse Joseph of assaulting her. B

eware a w

oman

scorned! She show

ed to her household servants and then to Potiphar

the garment that Joseph left w

hen he fled from her persistent advances.

This w

as the second time Joseph’s clothing w

as used to bring a falsereport about him

(cf. Gen 37:31-33). In both cases he had been serving

faithfully. But in both cases Joseph ended up in bondage. [P

otipharprobably suspected she w

as lying, or he would have had Joseph put to

death.]

Gen 39:20b-23: Joseph had prospered under G

od in Potiphar’s house

and was put in charge, and here again he prospered under G

od and was

put in charge. Four tim

es, this chapter affirms, the L

OR

D was w

ith Joseph(vv. 2-3, 21, 23).

This story is sim

ilar to the advice given frequently in Proverbs by K

ingS

olomon. It is folly to yield to the tem

ptations of a flattering wom

an orm

an and ruin all prospects of a life of service to God. T

he way of w

isdomis to consider the cost of sin. Joseph w

ould not throw aw

ay God’s

blessings for the pleasures of sin. God w

ould ultimately honor him

asH

e had promised.

Th

e Priso

ners’ D

reams In

terpreted

(Gen

40)

“Whose feet they hurt w

ith fetters: he was laid in iron”: P

s 105:18. Yet

Joseph did not lose faith in God’s prom

ise as is evidenced by hisw

illingness to interpret dreams. H

e apparently was still convinced that

God’s revelation in his tw

o previous dreams (G

en 37:5-7, 9) would be

fulfilled.

Gen 40:1-8: In prison tw

o servants of Pharaoh—his chief cupbearer and

his chief baker—each had a troubling dream

the same night. Joseph

noticed their sadness and agreed to interpret their dreams.

Gen 40:9-15: Joseph interpreted the dream

s of the two servants of

Pharaoh. The chief cupbearer’s dream

had a favorable interpretation. His

dream reflected his profession, but w

ith accelerated activity. The dream

of the three vine branches of ripening grapes signified that Pharaoh

would lift up the head of this m

an, that is, restore him to service w

ithinthree days. T

o this, Joseph added the request that the man rem

ember him

and seek his release from prison.

its growth.] A

gain Jacob’s family experienced deception —

this time by

his Canaanite daughter-in-law

!

Gen 38:24-26: T

amar had w

on the right to be the mother of Judah’s

children, though in a deceitful way. H

er action was desperate and risky.

Gen 38:27-30: T

his final part of the story provides the significance ofthe w

hole account. God gave T

amar tw

ins, and the line of Judahcontinued because of her. B

ut in the birth of the boys an unusualsituation occurred, paralleling the births of Jacob and E

sau.

After one tw

in’s hand came out the other m

ade a breach and was born

first, so he was rightly nam

ed Perez (“breach”). T

hen the second twin

was nam

ed Zerah (“scarlet”) because of the scarlet thread the m

idwife

tied on his wrist. It is as if the oracle concerning Jacob’s ruling over his

older brother (Gen 27:29) w

as being relived in the line of Judah.

What w

as so significant was the connection w

ith Judah’s dealing with

Joseph (Gen 37:26-28). H

e and his brothers sold their younger brotherinto E

gypt, thinking they could thwart G

od’s design that the elderbrothers w

ould serve the younger Joseph. Yet in Judah’s ow

n family,

despite his attempts to hinder T

amar’s m

arriage, God’s w

ill worked out

in a poignant confirmation of the principle that the elder w

ould serve theyounger.

The line of prom

ise would carry on through P

erez (cf. Mt 1:3), for G

od’sprogram

cannot so easily be set aside.

Josep

h’s T

emp

tation

by P

otip

har’s W

ife

Gen 39:1-6a: Joseph had prospered under G

od and had become the

attendant or steward over P

otiphar’s household. Potiphar w

as captainof the guard for Pharaoh. [T

his Pharaoh was probably Sesostris II (1897-

1879 B.C.).] Joseph’s presence was also the m

eans of God’s blessing on

Potiphar.

Gen 39:6b-10: Y

et God tested Joseph w

ith Potiphar’s w

ife to see if hew

as obedient. When she tem

pted handsome Joseph, he refused to go

to bed with her for that w

ould be a sin against both God and his m

aster.H

e then deliberately and wisely sought to avoid her daily advances by

refusing even to be around her. If one is to fulfill God’s plan, he cannot

sin against the God w

ho will bring it about.

Page 33Page 32

Babylon also w

ould be unable to interpret a king’s dream, and G

od would

use another Hebrew

slave, Daniel, to show

that no matter how

powerful

a nation might be, it is still not beyond G

od’s sovereign control (Dan 2).

Gen 41:9-27: Joseph w

as summ

oned from prison w

hen the cupbearerrem

embered that Joseph w

as gifted in interpreting dreams. Y

et when

Joseph stood before Pharaoh (shaved, as w

as the Egyptian custom

, andin a fresh change of clothes) he declared that the interpretation w

as with

God alone (cf. 40:8). A

fter Pharaoh recounted both dream

s (Gen 41:17-

24; cf. vv. 1-8), Joseph reiterated this conviction as he explained that God

was m

aking known to P

haraoh what H

e was about to do (vv. 25-27).

Gen 41:28-32: B

oth dreams predicted that seven year’s of plenty w

ouldbe follow

ed by seven years of severe famine. F

urthermore, Joseph

explained that because the dream cam

e in two versions it signified that

it was of G

od, and would be carried out soon. D

uring God’s dealings w

ithhim

several things must have been on Joseph’s m

ind:

his own tw

o dreams (G

en 37:5-7, 9),his tw

o imprisonm

ents (Gen 37:36; 39:20),

the two dream

ers in prison (Gen 40:5-23),

and nowP

haraoh’s two dream

s.

Gen 41:33-36: G

od’s revelation demanded a response. S

o Josephadvised P

haraoh to choose a wise m

an who w

ould oversee storing 20percent of the grain during each of the years of plenty for the com

ingyears of fam

ine. [The book of P

roverbs teaches that wisely planning

ahead is a basic principle of practical living.]

Gen 41:37-40: T

he man w

hom P

haraoh recognized as capable for sucha task w

as Joseph in whom

was the S

pirit of God.

Centuries later D

aniel was chosen to be the third highest ruler in B

abylonfor the sam

e reason (Dan. 5:7, 16). Joseph had been faithful over all the

little things God sent him

; now he w

ould become ruler over all the land

of Egypt under P

haraoh.

Th

e Ph

aroah

’s Sig

net

Gen 41:41-46: T

he signet ring Pharaoh gave Joseph w

as a ring with a

seal used for signing documents. P

haraoh also dressed Joseph in linenclothes and a gold neck chain, m

ade him second in com

mand to Pharaoh,

Gen 40:16-19: T

he dream of the baker w

as not favorable. His dream

alsoreflected his profession, but in it birds w

ere eating the bread he was

carrying in three baskets on his head. To the disappointm

ent of thebaker, Joseph explained that P

haraoh would also lift up his head w

ithinthree days, but it w

ould be execution by hanging after which birds w

ouldeat his flesh. [It is interesting that these dream

s included the elements

of bread and wine. T

his thread seems to begin w

ith Melchizedek in G

en14 and continues to the L

ord’s Supper.]

Gen 40:20-23: T

he interpretations proved to be true, for in three daysP

haraoh on his birthday restored the cupbearer but executed the baker.Joseph, how

ever, was forgotten in prison for tw

o years.

The cupbearer forgot him

, but God did not. In this hope Joseph had a

persistent faith. His faith w

as not destroyed by his circumstances.

Josep

h’s In

terpretatio

n o

f Ph

araoh

’s Dream

s(G

en 41:1-40)

God then used tw

o dreams to elevate Joseph from

the misery of prison

to the splendor of the court. Joseph had proven himself faithful to G

odand therefore fit for service.

Gen 41:1-8: Pharaoh’s tw

o dreams caused him

great distress, especiallysince none of the w

ise men of E

gypt could explain them (v. 8). G

od usedan Israelite slave to confound the w

isdom of E

gypt. Later in the days of

Moses another P

haraoh would be at the m

ercy of God’s pow

er. Later

yet, Daniel w

ould enjoy a parallel career with N

ebuchadnezzar.

Egyptian coloring is evident in these dream

s. Cow

s like to stand half-subm

erged in the Nile am

ong its reeds in refuge from the heat and the

flies. They then com

e up out of the water for pasture. T

he troubling partof the first dream

was that seven ugly and gaunt cow

s came up and

devoured the seven fat cows.

Th

e Seco

nd

Dream

The second dream

carried a similar m

essage: seven plump ears of grain

on a single stalk were sw

allowed up by seven thin and scorched ears of

grain that sprouted after them. T

he magicians belonged to a guild expert

in handling the ritual books of magic and priestcraft. H

owever, they

could not interpret Pharaoh’s dream

s. A later guild of w

ise men in

Page 35Page 34

to light, but the brothers’ characteristics were know

n to the old man.

Perhaps they w

ould harm B

enjamin as w

ell.

Gen 42:6-17: R

ecognizing his brothers, Joseph tested them by accusing

them four tim

es of being spies (vv. 9, 12, 14, 16). He w

as handling themroughly (vv. 7, 30), but underneath his severity w

as affection, as the laterreunion m

akes clear. Ironically the brothers were speaking to a person

they thought was dead (one is no m

ore; v. 13).

Their presence in E

gypt confirmed the truth of his dream

s, but not theirfulfillm

ent. Joseph knew that all the fam

ily must com

e to Egypt under his

rulership. He dem

anded that one of them bring their little brother as proof

that they were not spies. R

etaining them in prison w

as an interesting turnof events, since the brothers had previously put Joseph in a “cistern-prison.”

Gen 42:18-24: A

fter a three-day custody of the brothers, Joseph alteredhis plan and suggested keeping only one in prison w

hile the other ninereturned. H

e retained Sim

eon (v. 24) while the others returned hom

e toC

anaan with grain. If they w

ould not return with their youngest brother,

Simeon w

ould be killed.

A taste of retribution began to aw

aken feelings in the brothers, feelingsthat Joseph’s cries for m

ercy (v. 21) and Jacob’s tears (37:34-35) hadfailed to aw

aken. They sensed that having to bring B

enjamin back to

Egypt against the w

ishes of their father would be punishm

ent for theirhaving sold Joseph. S

ince Jacob was still distressed, now

they were in

distress. As they spoke, they w

ere unaware that Joseph understood

them for he w

as using an interpreter. Seeing their sense of rem

orsetouched Joseph and he turned aw

ay and wept (cf. 43:30; 45:2, 14; 50:1,

17).

Gen 42:25-28: A

s a further means of striking the fear of G

od (cf. vv. 18,28, 35) into his brothers, Joseph had their silver (w

ith which they had

purchased grain) put into their sacks. Whether he m

eant the money to

be discovered on the way hom

e or at home, its initial shock w

as effective.T

he question, What is this that G

od has done to us? was, as far as it w

ent,a fruitful reaction to trouble. T

hey apparently felt that Joseph would

accuse them of theft, w

hich would support his contention that they w

erespies.

Gen 42:29-38: W

hen they arrived home in C

anaan, the nine brotherstold Jacob w

hat had happened. Jacob, grieved because he thought

and had him ride in the second chariot so all the people could do hom

ageto him

. As a token of Joseph’s new

status, Pharaoh gave him

a wife,

Asenath, from

the priestly family of O

n (a city which w

as a center of sunw

orship seven miles north of C

airo and also known as H

eliopolis). He

also gave Joseph an Egyptian nam

e, Zaphenath-P

aneah (“Revealer of

Secrets”). Joseph w

as 30 at the time of his installm

ent, 13 years after hew

as sold by his brothers (cf. 37:2). Joseph’s position gave him oppor-

tunity to travel extensively across Egypt.

(Ps 105:16-22 speaks of Joseph’s im

prisonment, release, and rise to

power.)

Gen 41:47-52: Pharaoh’s dream

s were then fulfilled. T

he land producedabundant, even im

measurable crops for seven years, and Joseph gath-

ered them into storage in the E

gyptian cities, exercising absoluteauthority throughout the land. ( H

e sells the stores of food to the peopleof E

gypt, exacting of them all their m

oney, flocks and herds, lands andlives, G

en 47:13-26.)

In spite of his success, he did not abandon his Israelite heritage. He gave

his two sons characteristically H

ebrew nam

es. Manasseh (forget)

signified that God had m

ade him forget the m

isery of his separation fromhis fam

ily. Ephraim

(fruitful) signified that God had m

ade him fruitful in

the land of Egypt (G

en 49:22ff).

Gen 41:53-57: Joseph’s w

isdom bore fruit, for the seven good years

were indeed follow

ed by seven years of severe famine, and the E

gyp-tians and people in other countries as w

ell went to buy grain from

thestorehouses throughout E

gypt. At last Joseph w

as in power in E

gypt.G

od’s revelation to him by dream

s was being fulfilled.

Th

e Mo

ve to E

gyp

t (Gen

42:1- 47:27)

The follow

ing narratives show that G

od used the famine to bring Israel

into Egypt under the rulership of Joseph. T

he nation would rem

ain theresom

e 400 years, as God had prophesied to A

bram (15:13).

Th

e First V

isit of th

e Bro

thers to

Eg

ypt (G

en 42)

Gen 42:1-5: T

he famine w

as widespread; it w

as in Canaan too. S

o Jacobsent his sons dow

n to Egypt to buy food—

all his sons except Benjam

in,for he did not w

ant to lose Rachel’s other son. H

is refusal to send thislad reveals w

hat Jacob had come to suspect. Joseph’s fate had not com

e

Page 37Page 36

Gen 43:15-30: T

he brothers hurried to Egypt. W

hen they arrived, theyw

ere taken to Joseph’s house. They w

ere frightened, thinking they were

going to be captured. When they told Joseph’s stew

ard about the silverthey found in their sacks w

hen returning from their first trip, the stew

ardtold them

not to be afraid because their God had given them

that money.

Perhaps Joseph had talked w

ith the steward about the true G

od.

Sim

eon was returned to them

(v. 23), and a noon meal w

as prepared forJoseph’s 11 guests. W

hen they presented their gifts to Joseph theybow

ed down before him

in fulfillment of Joseph’s dream

(Gen 37:7).

Joseph, seeing his brother Benjam

in, could not hold back his tears of joy.B

enjamin, of course, w

as his full brother; the others were half brothers.

As before w

hen he talked with the 10 (G

en 42:24), he went aside and w

ept.

Gen 43:31-34: A

t the dinner, Joseph demonstrated som

ething ominous

to them. T

he mysterious accuracy of the seating (from

the firstborn tothe youngest) w

ould increase their uneasy sense of exposure to divineintervention.

Yet in all the events of this visit the brothers w

ere confronted with

gracious dealings from G

od through this “Egyptian” (vv. 16, 27, 29, 34).

The chapter is a foretaste of future things for, as Joseph said later (G

en45:5), G

od sent him dow

n before them to provide for them

in the midst

of famine.

Th

e Testin

g o

f Josep

h (G

en 44)

Gen 44:1-13: Joseph, already brilliantly successful in creating tensions

during their two visits, now

produced his master stroke. H

e tested theirconcern for B

enjamin in order to get them

to recognize their evil. If theyfailed this test, if they had no com

passion for this second son of Rachel,

then they would have no part in the fulfillm

ent of the promises. G

od couldstart over again and m

ake Joseph into a great nation if the others provedunw

orthy (cf. Ex 32:10).

The test involved the m

en’s silver in their sacks (as had been done onthe first return trip) and placing Joseph’s ow

n silver cup in Benjam

in’ssack and then pursuing them

to arrest Benjam

in. When the stew

ardcaught up w

ith them and accused them

of theft, he deliberately createdtension am

ong them by opening the sack of the oldest first and ending

with the youngest. H

e knew, of course, that the silver cup w

as inB

enjamin’s sack. T

he sudden threat to Benjam

in was like a sw

ord thrustthrough their hearts (cf. S

olomon’s plan, 1 K

ings 3:16-28). All the

another son was dead (Sim

eon is no more), refused to let B

enjamin return.

Reuben, the eldest, sought to assure his father that he w

ould bringB

enjamin back. T

his is ironic since Reuben had failed to prevent the loss

of Joseph (Gen 37:21-22). B

ut Jacob refused to let Benjam

in go. He said

if something happened to his youngest, he w

ould sorrow the rest of his

days, just as he had said when he heard of Joseph’s “death” (G

en 37:35).

Joseph’s tests were im

portant in God’s plan to bless the seed of

Abraham

. God planned to bring the fam

ily to Egypt so that it w

ould growthere into a great nation. B

ut it was necessary that the people w

hoentered E

gypt be faithful to the Lord. It w

as necessary that the brothersbe tested before they could participate in G

od’s blessing. Joseph’sprodding had to be subtle; the brothers m

ust perceive the hand of God

moving against them

so that they would acknow

ledge their crime against

Joseph and their previous unbelief in his dreams. B

ut one test was not

enough; there must be tw

o.

Th

e Seco

nd

Visit o

f the B

roth

ers to E

gyp

t (Gen

43)

Gen 43:1-7: T

he famine continued and Jacob’s fam

ily needed more

grain. This tim

e, however, B

enjamin had to go w

ith them to E

gypt. Judahrem

inded his father that without B

enjamin their long trip to E

gypt would

be in vain. Jacob was, of course, reluctant; his scolding (w

hy did youtell the m

an you had another brother?) was an effort to escape the

decision he dreaded to make. Y

et he must release B

enjamin so they could

return to Egypt. O

therwise they w

ould all die from starvation.

Gen 43:8-14: Judah broke the deadlock w

ith a warm

ly personal initia-tive, offering to take the blam

e if Benjam

in were not returned. Judah

(Jacob’s fourth son; Gen 29:31-35) succeeded w

here Reuben had failed

(Gen 42:37), and B

enjamin w

ent down to E

gypt with his brothers.

Interestingly Judah was the one w

ho had come up w

ith the plan to sellJoseph to E

gypt (Gen 37:26-27). N

ow he had to negotiate w

ith his fatherin order to get B

enjamin to see Joseph.

Jacob suggested that they take some of their best products to the m

anas a gift, including balm

, honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and

almonds. A

pparently these delicacies were not available in E

gypt (cf.G

en 37:25). They also took double the am

ount of silver, returning what

they had found in their money pouches before. Jacob resigned him

selfto the high risk involved in possibly losing a third son—

first, Joseph;then S

imeon; and now

perhaps Benjam

in too.

Page 39Page 38

through as the basis for reconciliation. No doubt Joseph had consoled

himself m

any times w

ith this principle of faith. He w

ho is spiritual canperceive the hand of G

od in every event, and therefore is able to forgivethose w

ho wrong him

.

Gen 45:9-13: Joseph then instructed his brothers to hurry back w

ithoutdelay (cf. quickly in v. 13 and cf. G

en 43:15) to Jacob and inform him

ofJoseph’s pow

er (as “ruler of all Egypt,” G

en 45:8, and lord of all Egypt,

v. 9) and honor in all the land of Egypt (vv. 9, 13).

The w

hole family m

ust move to E

gypt and live in the region of Goshen,

a fertile area in the Nile D

elta (cf. comm

ents on 47:1-12), to dwell under

Joseph’s rule, because God had prepared the w

ay through all thecircum

stances.

Gen 45:14-15: F

inally the brothers were reunited, first Joseph and

Benjam

in, then all of them. T

hose were em

otion-filled mom

ents, filledw

ith weeping (cf. G

en 42:24; 43:30; 45:2) and then conversation. Their

previous hatred and jealousy of Joseph (Gen 37:4, 8, 11) w

as now gone.

Th

e Mo

ving

of th

e Fam

ily (Gen

45:16 - 17:12)

Gen 45:16-24: Instructions w

ere given to the brothers to bring Jacob’sentire fam

ily to Egypt. P

haraoh himself instructed them

to return,offering them

the best of the land of Egypt, providing carts for transport-

ing the family m

embers back (cf. G

en 46:5), and promising them

the bestof all E

gypt.

Joseph gave his brothers elaborate provisions for their journey, includ-ing clothing, food and, for Jacob, the best things of E

gypt. As they left,

Joseph told his brothers not to quarrel on the way. T

his was not a tim

efor accusations and recrim

inations. It was a tim

e for joyful reunion. Yet

he knew that they could fall out on the w

ay home.

Th

e Ro

yal Invitatio

n

Gen 45:25-28: A

t first Jacob was stunned w

ith unbelief at his sons’report that Joseph w

as alive. But then, hearing their story and seeing

what all Joseph had sent him

, Jacob was convinced and im

mediately

decided to make the m

ove and see his son.

This royal invitation to Jacob, the old patriarch near the end of hope, and

to the 10 brothers burdened with guilt, w

as a turning point in their lives

conditions were present for another betrayal w

hen Benjam

in was

accused. Yet this tim

e their response shows how

well the chastening had

done its work. T

hey tore their clothes in grief (cf. Job 1:20), a responsew

hich they had earlier caused their father to make over Joseph’s loss

(Gen. 37:34).

Gen 44:14-17: T

he brothers returned and bowed again before Joseph

(v. 14; cf. 37:7; 43:26, 28). Joseph probably did not actually use divinationin discovering their treachery (G

en 44:5, 15). He m

ay have simply referred

to it to enhance his brothers’ awe of him

. Judah, again the spokesman,

confessed that God had found out their iniquity and declared that they

were all Joseph’s slaves. B

ut Joseph announced that as the steward had

said (v. 10), only the “guilty” one would be his slave. T

he others couldreturn hom

e.

Gen 44:18-34: Judah interceded for the boy; his lengthy plea to be

imprisoned in place of B

enjamin is am

ong the finest and most m

oving ofall petitions. It dem

onstrated his concern for his father who w

ould surelydie if B

enjamin did not return w

ith them (vv. 31, 34; cf. G

en 42:38).

Thus the brothers dem

onstrated that they had repented of their sinagainst their brother Joseph (“G

od has uncovered your servants’ guilt,”G

en 44:16). Also they dem

onstrated concern for their father and theiryoungest brother B

enjamin. So Joseph then (G

en 45:1-15) made him

selfknow

n to them and brought them

and their families to live in E

gypt where

there was food (G

en 45:16-47:12).

Th

e Reco

nciliatio

n o

f the B

roth

ers (Gen

45:1-15)

Gen 45:1-8: W

ith a burst of emotion, Joseph revealed him

self to hisbrothers. T

his (v. 2) was the third of five tim

es he wept over his brothers

(Gen 42:24; 43:30; 45:14; 50:17; cf. 50:1). T

hey were stunned by the new

s,unable to speak for fear that Joseph m

ight kill them. In this passage

strong feelings and sound spiritual judgment and argum

ent complete the

work of reconciliation w

hich till now had called for severe testing. It had

been the task for a wise m

an, and over an extended period of time Joseph

accomplished the task m

arvelously.

Joseph explained that God had sovereignly brought him

to Egypt to

prepare for their deliverance from fam

ine. His w

ords form a classic

statement on providential control. G

od sent me ahead of you (G

en 45:5).It w

as not you who sent m

e here, but God (v. 8; cf. v. 9). T

he certaintythat G

od’s will, not m

an’s, is the controlling reality in every event shined

Page 41Page 40

Joseph and his two sons, already in E

gypt (v. 20) -

5——

Those w

ho went to E

gypt with Jacob (v. 26)

66Joseph, M

anasseh, Ephraim

, Jacob (v. 27) + 4—

—Jacob and his progeny in E

gypt (v. 27)70

It is from these 70 (w

hich included Joseph’s two sons born in E

gypt, vv.20, 27; cf. 41:50-52) that the nation of Israel w

ould grow.

[Cf. 70 nations from

Noah in G

en 10.]

[Another ostensible discrepancy occurs in S

tephen’s discourse in Acts

7:14. Stephen stated that 75 persons w

ere in Jacob’s family, but the

Hebrew

text has “70” in both Genesis 46:27 and E

xodus 1:5. In both placesthe S

eptuagint has 75. It is comm

only said that Stephen, a G

reek-speaking Jew

, would have used the Septuagint and therefore w

as making

only an “honest” mistake.]

This difficulty, how

ever, can be resolved in other ways. O

ne of the most

widely accepted solutions is to recognize that the H

ebrew text includes

Jacob, Joseph, and Joseph’s two sons, E

phraim and M

anasseh (a totalof 70), but that the S

eptuagint omits Jacob and Joseph but includes

Joseph’s seven grandchildren (mentioned in 1 C

hr 7:14-15, 20-25). This

is supported by the Hebrew

in Genesis 46:8-26 enum

erating 66 names,

omitting Jacob, Joseph, and Joseph’s tw

o sons. Another solution is that

the Septuagint’s 75 includes the 66 plus the 9 w

ives of Jacob’s 12 sons(Judah’s and S

imeon’s w

ives had died and Joseph’s wife w

as in Egypt).

Gen 46:28-34: F

inally, after 22 years Joseph and Jacob were reunited.

Once again Joseph w

ept (cf. 42:24; 43:30; 45:2, 14-15) and understand-ably so. T

he last time Joseph saw

his father was w

hen Joseph was 17 (G

en37:2). Jacob w

as satisfied to see his son alive, for he was the one

designated as the heir, the one whom

God had chosen to rule over the

family. So this w

as more than a fam

ily reunion; it was a confirm

ation thatG

od’s promised blessing w

as intact.

Joseph encouraged them to stress before P

haraoh that they were cattle

raisers, not sheepherders, because the Egyptians detested the latter.

Joseph, as usual, was eager not to upset E

gyptian custom and prefer-

ence (cf. 41:14; 43:32). How

ever, five of the brothers did not respond with

the same diplom

acy (Gen 47:3).

and a fulfillment of G

od’s prediction (Gen 15:13-16) that they w

ould gointo isolation in a foreign country and m

ultiply without losing their

identity.

Th

e Retu

rn to

Eg

ypt

Gen 46:1-7: Y

ears before, Abram

had gone to Egypt during a fam

ine inC

anaan (Gen 12:10). N

ow A

bram’s grandson Jacob and 11 great-

grandchildren (not counting Joseph who w

as already there) were

moving there. G

od comforted Jacob in his m

ove to Egypt.

Leaving H

ebron (cf. Gen 37:14) his first stop w

as Beersheba, w

here hesacrificed to the G

od of Isaac. Beersheba w

as where Isaac had lived and

where Jacob left to escape E

sau’s anger (Gen 28:10).

Then Jacob received a vision from

the Lord in the night. T

he Lord

reiterated the promise that H

e would m

ake his family a great nation there

in Egypt, and H

e also stated that He w

ould bring that nation back again.G

od had told Isaac not to go to Egypt (G

en 26:2), but now H

e told Jacobto go. T

his vision, which com

forted the patriarch, would also encourage

the nation of Israel when M

oses would exhort them

to leave the land ofE

gypt and return to Canaan to receive G

od’s promises.

Th

e Differen

ce in N

um

bers A

ccou

nted

Gen 46:8-27: Included in the account of the m

ove to Egypt is a listing

of Jacob’s descendants. In verse 26 the number of descendants is said

to be 66, whereas the num

ber in verse 27 is 70. The first num

ber representsthose w

ho traveled with Jacob to E

gypt, and the second number includes

the children and grandchildren already in Egypt. T

he following tabula-

tion shows how

these two figures are determ

ined:

Leah’s children and grandchildren (v. 15)

33Z

ilpah’s children and grandchildren (v. 18)16

Rachel’s children and grandchildren (v. 22)

14B

ilhah’s children and grandchildren (v. 25) 770

Dinah (v. 15)

+ 1—

—71

Er and O

nan (who died in C

anaan; v. 12); plus

Page 43Page 42

(Heb 11:21). It w

as his reaching out for the continuation of God’s prom

isein the face of death. Ironically this is the very thing he had onceaccom

plished by deception (Gen 27). O

nce more the blessing w

ould begiven to the younger, but this tim

e there was not schem

ing or bitterness.It w

as an act of faith.

Gen 47:28-31: Jacob lived in E

gypt 17 years (cf. v. 9) to the age of 147.(A

braham died at the age of 175 [G

en 25:7-8] and Isaac at 180 [Gen 35:28].)

At the end of his life Jacob exhorted Joseph to sw

ear that he would bury

him w

here his fathers had been buried (cf. Gen 49:29-33). H

e referred, ofcourse, to the C

ave of Machpelah w

hich had been purchased byA

braham (G

en 23). Wanting Joseph to affirm

that he would carry through

on his promise, Jacob asked his son to put his hand under Jacob’s thigh

(cf. comm

ents on this custom at G

en 24:1-9). Even as he neared death

Jacob (here called Israel) worshiped.

Gen 48:1-4: Jacob, ill but sitting up in bed, rehearsed how

God A

lmighty

had appeared to him at L

uz, which Jacob renam

ed Bethel, and had

promised him

the blessing of an innumerable people in the land as an

everlasting possession (cf. 28:10-22). The w

ords of this promise had

provided the patriarch with hope through all his pilgrim

age, just as theyw

ould quicken hope in the nation that sprang from him

.

Gen 48:5-7: Jacob gave the birthright to Joseph by elevating E

phraimand M

anasseh, Joseph’s sons (Gen 41:51-52), to the rank of firstborn

sons, thus giving a double portion to Joseph. They thus replaced

Reuben and S

imeon, Jacob’s first tw

o sons, born to Leah (cf. 1 C

hr 5:1-2). T

he recognition of Joseph’s sons would have an effect on the

apportioning of the land of promise years later in the days of Joshua

(Josh 16-17). Jacob’s elevation of the sons of Joseph was prom

pted byhis recollection of R

achel, his favorite wife, w

ho died in the land ofC

anaan (cf. Gen 35:16-20).

Gen 48:8-14: W

hen Joseph presented his two sons to the aged

patriarch, the blessing was pronounced. L

ike Isaac, Jacob gave thisblessing w

hen his eyesight was failing. B

ut in the blessing Israel crossedhis hands so that his right hand w

as on Ephraim

’s head and his left onM

anasseh’s, even though Manasseh, the firstborn, w

ould normally

have been blessed with the right hand. Jacob’s decision w

as in spite ofJoseph’s direction.

For four consecutive generations this pattern w

as followed:

Gen 47:1-12: P

haroah gave Jacob’s family the best part of the land,

namely, G

oshen (cf. Gen 45:10), even giving som

e of the brothersoversight of his ow

n livestock (Gen 47:6). [G

oshen is not referred to inancient E

gyptian writings, but the nam

e it bore in later times w

as thedistrict of R

ameses (v. 11; cf. E

x 1:11). This, plus the fact that it w

as fertileand near to Joseph at court, suggests that it w

as near the eastern partof the N

ile Delta.]

When Jacob w

as presented before Pharaoh, the patriarch acknow

ledgedhis troubled life of 130 years. T

o him it had been a pilgrim

age. When Jacob

both entered and left, he blessed Pharaoh. It is interesting to think of the

Israelites in a foreign land, a country with a different culture, in w

hichthe patriarch w

ished God’s blessing on the P

haraoh!

Th

e Wisd

om

of Jo

seph

’s Ru

le (Gen

47:13-27)

Gen 47:13-27: Joseph proved to be a w

ise administrator in the land of E

gypt,so that under his authority the people w

ere saved from starvation and

Pharaoh prospered. [The ruler by now

was Sesostris III (1878-1843 B.C.).]

In selling food to the people during the famine that w

as severe, Josephaccepted m

oney and livestock (horses, sheep, goats, cattle, and don-keys) as paym

ent, and finally the entire land of Egypt itself except the

land of the priests. Once the land belonged to P

haraoh Joseph instructedthe people to plant seed, w

hich he gave them. H

is only stipulation was

that Pharaoh m

ust receive a fifth of all the produce. In a word, the people

survived but they (except the priests) were in bondage to P

haraoh.H

owever, in the land of G

oshen the Israelites prospered and multiplied

greatly.

So G

od blessed His people according to the prom

ises He m

ade toA

braham. T

hey were fast becom

ing a great nation. Moreover, G

odblessed P

haraoh because he had blessed the seed of Abraham

with the

best of Egypt. L

ater in the time of M

oses, when another P

haraohoppressed Israel, G

od dealt harshly with the E

gyptians. In this finalsection of the book the narratives look to the future of A

braham’s seed.

Th

e Blessin

g o

f Ep

hraim

and

Man

asseh(G

en 47:28 - 48:22)

Out of Jacob’s long career, the w

riter of the Book of H

ebrews selected

this blessing of Joseph’s sons by the patriarch as his great act of faith

Page 45Page 44

Jacob

’s Blessin

g

Gen 49:22-26: T

his oracle treats Joseph more lavishly than any of the

others, for here the main blessing lay (cf. 1 C

hr 5:1-2). Jacob took up theprom

ise of fruitfulness from the nam

e of Joseph’s son Ephraim

(which

means fruitful) and lavished the prom

ise of victory (Gen 49:23-24a) and

prosperity (v. 25b) on Joseph’s two tribes.

Victory in battle w

as experienced by Joshua, Deborah, and S

amuel, all

of the tribe of Ephraim

, and by Gideon and Jephthah, both of M

anasseh’stribe. In these verses are several m

arvelous titles for God—

the Mighty

One of Jacob the S

hepherd (cf. Gen 48:15), the R

ock of Israel yourfather’s the A

lmighty O

ne who ensures blessings from

the heavensabove (i.e., rain for crops) from

the below (i.e., stream

s and wells for

water), and from

the breast and wom

b (i.e., abundant offspring). Jacobbestow

ed on Joseph the greater blessings because he was the prince

among his brothers (cf. G

en 41:41).

Joseph mourns the death of his father (G

en 50:1-14). Exacts a pledge from

his brethren to convey his remains to C

anaan (Gen 50:24,25; H

eb 11:22,w

ith Ex 13:19; Josh 24:32; A

cts 7:16). Death of (G

en 50:22-26).

His C

haracter: Kindness of heart (G

en 40:7,8). His integrity (G

en 39:7-12); hum

ility (Gen 41:16; 45:7-9); w

isdom (G

en 41:33-57); piety (Gen

41:51,52); faith (Gen 45:5-8). W

as a prophet (Gen 41:38,39; 50:25; E

x13:19). G

od’s providence with (G

en 39:2-5; Ps 105:17-22). His sons both

blessed Joseph (Deut 33:13-17). D

escendants of (Gen 46:20; N

um 26:28-

37). See below

a list of over 100 ways in w

hich Joseph is a “type” orforeshadow

ing of Jesus Christ.

JOS

EP

H A

S A

TY

PE

OF

CH

RIS

T(A

fter A.W

. Pink; see bibliography)

Genesis

Ty

pe

Fulfillment

1)30:24

Meaning of his nam

e: Joseph (“adding”)Jn 12:24; 14:3

41:45Z

aphnathpaaneah (“Revealer of S

ecrets”)L

k 2:34, 35(H

eart of God, Jn 1:18; H

eart of brethren)

2)37:2

Occupation: S

hepherdP

s 23(A

bel, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, D

avid...)

3)37:2

Opposition to evil

Jn 7:7

Isaac over Ishmael,

Jacob over Esau,

Joseph over Reuben, and now

Ephraim

over Manasseh.

Gen 48:15-20: In his blessing on Joseph, Jacob used a threefold

invocation of God (v. 15):

a) T

he God w

ho was in covenant w

ith his fathers Abraham

and Isaac(a fact that steadied Jacob’s faith m

any times, G

en 28:13; 31:5, 42;32:9; 46:3);

b)T

he One w

ho had been his Shepherd (cf. Gen 49:24; E

x 6:6; Ps 23:1;Isa 59:20) all the w

ay, and;

c)T

he Angel (cf. com

ments on G

en 16:7) who delivered him

from all

harm.

The H

ebrew w

ord, translated “delivered,” expressed the protection andreclam

ation Jacob experienced from trouble. W

ith these remarkable

descriptions of God, Jacob prayed for G

od’s gracious blessing on theboys. H

ere one catches a glimpse of Jacob’s faith.

When Joseph saw

that his father was blessing E

phraim over M

anasseh,he protested. B

ut Jacob’s words, I know

, my son, I know

, expressed theconfidence of his faith: he w

as blessing according to the divine plan, notaccording to norm

al custom. H

e had learned that in spite of what m

anattem

pted to do God had blessed him

, the younger. This he now

carriedforw

ard to Joseph’s sons. Years later E

phraim becam

e a leading tribe inthe N

orthern Kingdom

, much superior to the tribe of M

anasseh, as Jacobhad predicted.

Gen 48:21-22: C

onvinced that God w

ould take them back to the land of

promise, Jacob said that a double portion belonged to Joseph.

The N

AS

B rendering of verse 22a is preferred: “A

nd I give you oneportion m

ore than your brothers” (cf. NIV

marg.). T

he Hebrew

word for

“portion” is !k<v] , a wordplay on the nam

e of the town S

hechem. L

aterJoseph w

as buried in Shechem

(Josh 24:32) as a sign that he possessedthis bequeathed land. Jacob apparently had conquered this portion ofland from

the Am

orites (hill-country Canaanites), though this is the only

mention of such a conquest in the B

ible, and had dug a well there (cf.

Sychar, John 4:4-5).

Page 47Page 46

16)37:15-16

Becam

e a wanderer in the field

Mt 13:38

(No place to lay his head)

Jn 7:53; 8:1

17)37:17

Seeks until he finds his brethren

Mk 9:8

(in Dothan =

law, custom

)

18)37:18

Conspired against

Mt 12:14

19)37:19-20

Words disbelieved

Mt 27:39-43

Jn 3:18, 36

20)37:23

Insulted; strippedM

t 27:27, 28Jn 19:23

21)37:24

Cast into a pit (no w

ater)Z

ech 9:11M

t 12:40

22)37:28

Bodily lifted up out of the pit

I Cor 15

23)37:25-27

Hypocrisy m

ingled with hatred

Mt 27:35, 36

(Brothers heard cries: 42:21)

Jn 18:28

24)37:28

Sold (Judah negotiates bargain)

Zech 11:12, 13(Judas =

Anglicized G

reek equivalent)M

t 26:14-16

25)37:31-32

Blood presented to father

Heb 9:12, 23

Sin offering. C

f. Deception of Isaac

Chapter 38: In C

anaan.C

hapter 39: In Egypt.

Cf. H

os 11:1M

t 2:15

26)39:1

Becom

es a servantP

hil 2:6, 7B

ondservant (Ex 21:5,6)

Ps 40

(ears digged)

27)39:2, 3

Prospers as a servant

Ps 1:3

Isa 53:10;52:13

28)39:4

Master w

as well pleased w

ith himJn 8:29

29)39:5

Made a blessing for others

30)39:6

A goodly person, w

ell favoredM

t 27:54

4)37:3

His father’s love

Mt 3:17

(Solom

on: Prov 8:22,30)

Mt 17:5

Son:Jn 10:17

Nam

e:P

hil 2:9R

ev 3:21

5)37:3

Relation to his father’s age

Jn 17:5Jesus: S

on of Father’s E

ternityC

ol 2:91 T

im 3:16

Micah 5:2

6)37:3

Coat of m

any colors (distinction)Judg 5:30

Long robe w

ith sleeves2 S

am 13:18

7)37:4

Hatred of his brethren

Jn 1:11B

ecause of Who H

e Was

Jn 5:18; 6:41;10:30,31;1C

or 16:22;P

s 2:128)

37:4,5,8H

ated because of his words

Jn 7:7; 8:40

9)37:11

Prophetic future

Isa 9:6, 7L

k 1:31-33

10) 37:7, 9F

uture sovereignty foretoldM

t 26:64E

arthly & H

eavenlyR

ev 12:l, 52 P

et 3:4

11)37:4, 11

Envied by his brethren

Mt 27:17, 18

Mk 12:6, 7

Jn 12:18, 19A

cts 7:9

12)37:13

Sent forth by his father

1 Jn 4:10H

eb 10:7

13)37:14

Seeks w

elfare of his brethrenJn 1:11

Definite object of m

issionM

t 15:24Jn 3:17R

om 15:8

14)37:14

Sent forth from

the vale of Hebron

Phil 2:6, 7

Servant; fellow

ship, comm

union

15)37:14

Cam

e to Shechem

Gal 4:4

Shoulder, saddleback

(divide waters: Jordan and M

editerranean)P

lace of sin (34:25-30)

Page 49Page 48

46)41:25-36

Warnings of D

anger: urged provisionsM

t 24 & 25

:32D

oubling: Verily, V

erily; Am

en, Am

enG

al 1:8,9

47)41:33-36

Wonderful C

ounselorC

ol 2:3“D

iscrete”: only here in OT

[Diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel,

inform, instruct, have intelligence, know

,look w

ell to, mark, perceive, be prudent,

regard, skill, teach, think; to get, give orhave understanding; view

, deal wisely...]

48)41:37-39

Counsel com

mended to officers

Mt 7:28, 29

Mt 13:54

Jn 7:46

49)41:39, 40

Exalted and set over all E

gypt1 P

et 3:22R

ev 5, 20

50)41:40-43

Seated on the throne of another

Rev 3:21

[Distinction betw

een Father &

Son’s thrones]

51)41:38

Exalted because of personal w

orthinessand service

Phil 2:6-9

52)41:42

Invested in positional insigniaA

cts 5:31H

eb 2:9R

ev 1:13

53)41:43

Authority and glory publicly ow

nedA

cts 2:36P

hil 2:10

54)41:45

Received a new

name

Phil 2:9, 10

Mt 1:21

Rev 3:12

55)41:45

Has a w

ife (Gentile) given to him

Rev 19:7, 8

Tam

ar - Canaanite

Rahab - A

morite

Ruth - M

oabiteB

athsheba- Hittite

56)41.45

Marriage arranged by P

haraohM

t 22:2(C

f Jer 3:14,20; Ezek 16:3, 31,32; Jer 2:3)

Jer 31:31-34T

wo sons:

“forgetting” N. K

ingdom, past

Ezek 16:62, 63 “fruitful” S

. Kingdom

, futureH

os 2:19-23Isa 54:5-8

31)39:7-12

Sorely tem

pted, yet sinned notL

uke 4In E

gypt (world). 2 T

im 2:22

Ps 105:19

32)39:16-19

Falsely accused

Mt 16:59, 60

33)39:19

No defense presented

Isa 53:7

34)39:20

Cast into prison, w

ithout verdictJn 18:38

35)S

uffers though innocentA

cts 7:9,10Ps 105:17, 18Isa 53:7-9

36)39:20

Suffers at the hands of G

entilesA

cts 4:26, 27

37)39:21

Won respect of his jailor

Lk 23:47

Potiphar =

Captain of the guard

38) 40:1-3N

umbered w

ith the transgressors(T

wo)

Isa 53:12

39)40:13, 19

Means of blessing to one;

Gen 49:10-12

judgment to the other

Gal 3:13

3 days; hung on tree as cursed

40)40:8

Know

ledge of future from G

odJn 12:49

Every believer obligated to set forth

1 Jn 1:3the truth he has

1 Pet 4:11

41)40:20-22

Predictions cam

e trueM

t 5:18

42)40:14

Desired to be rem

embered

Lk 22:19

This do in rem

embrance of m

e..

43)41:14

Delivered from

prison, in due time

Jn 20:6, 7 :20

Pharaoh’s birthday; 3rd day

Acts 2:24

2 Cor 1:9

44)45:7-9

Delivered by the hand of G

odA

cts 2:24, 322 years later: patience

Acts 10:40

45)45:16, 25

Seen as a R

evealer of Secrets

Jn 12:4945:28

[Whole counsel of G

od, Acts 20:27]

Jn 8:28Isa 46:10; A

mos 3:7

Jn 17:8R

ev 1:1

Page 51Page 50

70)42:17-19

Made know

n to them a w

ay of deliveranceA

cts 2:21-4142:24

through substitution

71)42:25

Made provision for his brethren

while they w

ere in a strange landJer 30:11E

zek 11:16

72)45:1

Made know

n to his brethren at the second time

Acts 7:13

Isa 65:1[A

lways at 2nd tim

e:]M

osesE

x 2:11,12; Ex 2:14

Lk 19:14

JoshuaN

um 13; D

eut 34:9D

avid1 S

am 17:17-18; 1 S

am 17:28

73)44:16

Brethren confess their guilt in the sight of G

odEzek 20:42, 43H

os 5:15[Israel to repent before H

e returns]A

cts 3:19, 20

74)45:3

Brethren w

ere initially troubled in his presenceZ

ech 12:10

75)45:4, 5

Dem

onstrated marvelous grace

Zech 13:1

45:15Isa 54:7, 8

76)45:1-2

Revealed as a m

an of compassion

Jn 11:35W

ept seven times:

When brethren confessed

42:24W

hen he beheld Benjam

in43:30

When he m

ade himself know

n45:1, 2

When brethren reconciled

45:15O

ver his father, Jacob46:29

At the death of his father

50:1W

hen his love was questioned

50:15-17

77)45:1

Revealed to Judah &

brethren before restof Jacob’s household

Zech 12:7

78)45:18

Jacob then sent forIsa 66:20

79)45:9, 13

Brethren go forth to proclaim

his gloryIsa 66:19M

icah 5:7

80)46:29

Goes forth in his chariot to m

eet JacobIsa 66:15

81)47:27

Settles brethren in land of their ow

n47:6

(The best land)

Ezek 48

57)41:46

Thirty years old w

hen began work

Lk 3:23

58)41:46

Went forth on his m

ission fromP

haraoh’s presenceL

k 3:22

59)41:46

Service w

as active and itinerantM

t 4:23M

t 9:35

60)41:47-49

Exaltation follow

ed by season of plenty2 C

or 6:2Jn 12:24

61)41:53

Exaltation follow

ed by season of famine

Rom

11:25[7 years Jacob’s T

rouble: Jer 30:7; Dan 12:1;

Mk 13:19, 20; Isa 55:6; Jer 8:20; A

mos 8:11,

12; Isa 55:6; Jer 8:20; Rev 3:10]

62)41:55

Dispensing to a perishing w

orldJn 14:6R

om 11:11

63)41:55

Alone dispenses the B

read of Life

Acts 4:12

Jn 6:26-59Jn 14:6

64)41:57

A S

aviour to all peoplesJn 3:16

[Every tribe...]

Rev 5:9

65)41:49

Unlim

ited resources to meet the need

Eph 1:7; 2:7;

3:8C

ol. 2:9R

om 10:12

Disp

ensatio

nally C

on

sidered

66)42:1-3, 5

Brethren driven out of ow

n landG

en 15:13D

eut 28:63-68

67)42:6, 8

Unknow

n & unrecognized by brethren

Jn 1:11[20 years later]

Rom

11:25

68)42:7

Brethren seen &

recognizedJer 16:17H

os 5:3P

s 103:14

69)42:7, 17

Brethren punished

Hos 9:17

[v13: thought dead, but still in family]

Mt 23:38,39

[Sim

eon ringleader? Gen 49:15]

Mt 23:35,36

Page 53Page 52

98)45:15

Gives proof that he is fully reconciled to them

Rom

8:31-39

99)45:16

Joy shared by othersR

ev 5:9-13

100) 45:9-13B

rethren now go forth seeking others

(“Haste” tw

ice)A

cts 1:8

101) 45:24A

dmonition as they go forth

II Tim

. 2:24

Ep

hraim

Second son of Joseph (Gen 41:52). A

dopted by Jacob (Gen 48:5). B

lessedbefore M

anasseh.

Prophecies concerning (Gen 49:25,26; Isa 7; 9:18-21; 11:13; 28:1; Jer 31;

Hos 5:14; Z

ech 9:10; 10:7. Blessed by M

oses (Deut. 33:13-17).

Descendants of (N

um 26:35-37; 1 C

hr 7:20-27). Mourns for his sons (1

Chr 7:21,22.2).

The leading tribe of the kingdom

of Israel (Isa 7:2-17; Jer 31:9,20). Later,

sometim

es used as a synecdoche for the Northern K

ingdom (2 C

hr 17:2;25:6,7; Isa 7:8,9; 11:12,13; 17:3; Jer 31:18,20; H

os 4:17; 5:3,5; 6:4,10; 8:11;12:14).

In the order of the tribes in the wilderness encam

pment, the standard of

Ephraim

’s camp w

as on the W side (N

um 2:18,24; 10:22). From

the tribeof E

phraim, E

lishama w

as to stand with M

oses (Num

1:10) and Joshuathe son of N

un, one of the spies, was descended from

Ephraim

(Num

13:8). He w

as chosen with E

leazar the priest to divide the land (Num

34:17). Ephraim

is also included in the blessing of Moses.

Under the leadership of Joshua, E

phraim w

ith the other tribes receivedits inheritance, w

hich is described in Joshua 16:5-9; 17:9,10,15-18; 1 Chr

7:28,29.

The territory m

ay be roughly identified as follows. P

roceeding W from

Gilgal w

e come to B

ethel, then to lower B

eth-horon, W to G

ezer, then Nto L

od and W tow

ards the sea, N to the Q

anah river and then E to

Tappuah, Janobah, T

aanath-shiloh to Ataroth, then S

to Nasrath and

Gilgal. F

ail to expel the Canaanites (Josh 16:10).

82)50:18-19

Brethren prostrate them

selves before himIsa 9:6,7;25:9

As a representative of G

odP

hil 2:10,11

Evan

gelically C

on

sidered

83)42:5

Brethren dw

elt in a land of famine...

Jn 6:33, 3542:2

That w

e may live and not die...

84)42:3

Brethren w

ished to pay for what they rec’d.

Gal 2:16

85)42:7-11

Brethren assum

e a self-righteous attitudebefore the lord of E

gyptG

al 2:20, 21

86)42:17

Cast into prison 3 days

Isa 42:6, 7Isa 61:1P

s 142:7

87)42:21

Sm

itten of conscienceJn 8:9

(Cf. E

x 9:27, Ezra 9:6; P

s 40:12, Dan 5:6)

88)42:25

Makes know

n that deliverance is by graceE

ph 2:8, 9

89)42:26

Enjoys a brief respite

90)42:27-28

Superficial peace disturbed

Heb 12:6-11

(Replenished: 43:1, 2)

91)43:11,15

Brethren continue to m

anifest legal spiritG

al 3:3(D

oubled the money)

Lk 14:17

92)43:16

Brethren dine w

ith him and m

ake merry

43:33, 34M

t 13:20, 21

93)44:1, 2

Joseph determined to bring his brethren

into the lightJn 1:4, 7-9II P

et 3:9

94)44:4, 16

Brethren take their true place before G

odI Jn 1:7-9

95)45:1

Makes him

self known (alone)

I Cor. 13:12

96)45:4, 7

Invites brethren to come near to him

Mt 11:28-30

97)45:10, 11

Brethren told of full provision for them

Phil 4:19

Page 55Page 54

2:9). Revolt from

house of David (1 K

gs 12:25; 2 Chr 10:16). Som

e of tribejoin Judah under A

sa (2 Chr 15:9). [S

ee also our notes concerning the“T

en Lost T

ribes.”]

Chastise A

haz and Judah (2 Chr 28:7). Join H

ezekiah in reinstituting thepassover (2 C

hr 30:18). Join in the destruction of idolatrous forms in

Jerusalem (2 C

hr 31:1). Subm

it to the scepter of Josiah (2 Chr 34:1-6).

Envied by other tribes (Isa 11:13; Jer 7:15; E

zek 37:16,19; Hos 13:1).

Reallotm

ent of territory to, by Ezekiel, E

zek 48:5.

Ma

na

ss

eh

(“Making to forget”): Son of Joseph and A

senath (Gen 41:50,51; 46:20);

adopted by Jacob on his deathbed (Gen 48:1,5-20).

Prophecy concerning (Gen 49:25,26).

Enum

eration of (Num

1:34,35; 26:29-34). Place of, in cam

p and march

(Num

2:18,20; 10:22,23). Blessing of M

oses on (Deut 33:13-17).

After the crossing of Jordan and the settlem

ent in the land, Joshuaperm

itted the half-tribe of Manasseh, together w

ith Reuben and G

ad, toreturn to the conquered territory of Sihon, king of H

eshbon, and Og, king

of Bashan (N

um 32:33).

Inheritance of one-half of tribe east of Jordan: Num

32:33,39-42. One-half

of tribe west of Jordan (Josh 16:9; 17:5-11). T

he E lot of the half-tribe of

Manasseh covered part of G

ilead and all of Bashan (D

eut 3:13).

The W

half of the tribe was granted good land N

of Ephraim

, and S of

Zebulun and Issachar (Josh 17:1-12). T

his W part w

as divided into tenportions: five to those fam

ilies having male descendants, and five to

Manasseh’s sixth fam

ily; i.e. the posterity of Hepher, all fem

ales anddaughters of Z

elophehad (Josh 17:3). W M

anasseh included a chain ofC

anaanite fortresses and strong cities, among w

hich were M

egiddo,T

aanach, Ibleam and B

ethshan. These they failed to conquer but

compelled their inhabitants eventually to pay tribute.

The eastern half assist in the conquest of the country w

est of the Jordan(D

eut 3:18-20; Josh 1:12-15; 4:12,13). Joined the other eastern tribes inerecting a m

onument to testify to the unity of all Israel; m

isunderstood;m

ake satisfactory explanation (Josh 22).

From

the beginning, the tribe of Ephraim

occupied a position of prestigeand significance. It com

plained to Gideon that he had not called it to fight

against the Midianites. H

is reply reveals the superior position ofE

phraim. “Is not the gleaning of the grapes of E

phraim better than the

vintage of Abiezer?” (Judg 8:2). T

he men of E

phraim com

plained againin sim

ilar terms to Jephthah, and this led to w

ar between the E

phraimites

and the Gileadites.

The prestige of E

phraim kept it from

looking with favour upon Judah.

After the death of S

aul, Abner, S

aul’s captain, made E

shbaal king overthe N

tribes, including Ephraim

. Because of the P

hilistine domination,

however, E

shbaal’s authority was effectively lim

ited to Transjordan. H

ereigned for tw

o years, but Judah followed D

avid (2 Sam

2:8ff.). After

Eshbaal’s death the N

tribes invited David to becom

e their king.

Later D

avid learned that Israel followed after A

bsalom. T

he N tribes

never did desire to yield to David’s reign, but D

avid grew continually

greater and stronger. Under S

olomon the S

kingdom reached the

pinnacle of splendour and prosperity. Nevertheless, even at this tim

e,there w

as discontent in the N (1 K

gs 11:26ff.).

Rehoboam

’s folly provided the necessary pretext, and the N revolted,

renouncing all claim to the prom

ises made to D

avid (1 Kgs 12:16).

Nevertheless, G

od continued to send his prophets to the N kingdom

, andone of the characteristics of the M

essianic kingdom is to be the healing

of the tragic schism introduced by Jeroboam

the son of Nebat (cf. H

os1:11; Isa 11:13). E

ven when exile has overtaken the S

as well as the N

kingdom, E

phraim retains a special place: “I am

a father to Israel, andE

phraim is m

y firstborn” (Jer 31:9).

En

try of Id

ol W

orsh

ip

Jeroboam set up a golden calf in B

eth-el (1 Kgs 12:29). W

orshiped Baal

(Hos 13:1). S

in of, remem

bered by God (H

os 13:12). Thus, R

evelation7:8.3: E

lliptical reference by mentioning “Joseph” having already in-

cluded Manasseh. C

f. Notes on D

an...

Miscellan

eou

s No

tes

Take B

eth-el in battle (Judg 1:22-25). Criticizing G

ideon for not summ

on-ing them

to join the war against the M

idianites (Judg 8:1). Join Gideon

against the Midianites (Judg 7:24,25). T

heir jealousy of Jephthah (Judg12:1). D

efeated by Him

( Judg 12:4-6). Receive Ish-bosheth as king (2 Sam

Page 57Page 56

Jacob

’s Pro

ph

ecy

In the blessing of the sons of Jacob (Gen 49:2-4). R

euben is recognizedlegally as the firstborn, although in actual fact the double-portion w

hichw

ent with the birthright (D

eut 21:17) was sym

bolically bequeathed toJoseph, through his tw

o sons, Ephraim

and Manasseh. T

his legalrecognition as firstborn is upheld in 1 C

hr 5:1, where w

e are told that thebirthright belonged to Joseph de facto but not de jure, for “he [Joseph]is not to be enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright” (cf.G

esenius, Heb. G

ram. 28 p. 349, § 114k). So it is that in G

en 46:8; Ex 6:14;

Num

26:5; Reuben retains his status as firstborn

“Thou w

entest up to thy father’s bed.” It was forty years ago that he

had been guilty of this sin, yet now it is rem

embered against him

.

“Unstable as w

ater, you shall not excel, have preeminence” (dry up like

a stream in sum

mer). Instability is the ruin of m

en’s excellency. No judge,

prophet, nor prince, is found of that tribe, nor any person of renown

except Dathan and A

biram, w

ho were noted for their im

pious rebellionagainst M

oses. That tribe, as not aim

ing to excel, unfortunately chosea settlem

ent on the other side Jordan. Only cattle-loving (N

um 32:1-5;

Judg 5:15,16).

Mt. E

bal to curse (vs. Mt. G

erasim to bless) D

eut 27:12,13.

Prophecy of M

oses “Let his m

en be few” (33:6):

1st numbering (N

um 1:21)

46,5002nd num

bering (Num

26:7)43,730

most others increased

The tribe of R

euben was involved in the rebellion in the w

ilderness (Num

16:1). The tribe w

as linked with G

ad and occupied territory E of Jordan.

In the N it w

as contiguous with G

ad, in the S it w

as bounded by theA

rnon.

The tribe’s pursuits w

ould be mainly pastoral, but those to the W

ofJordan w

ere mainly agricultural. T

his may have led to a separation of

interests, for Reuben took no part in repelling the attack of S

isera (Judg5:15f.). In the tim

e of Saul they united with G

ad and Manasseh in an attack

on the Hagarites, apparently a nom

ad people (1 Chr 5:10, 19f).

Though the lot of M

anasseh and Ephraim

, the tribe of Joseph, was large,

they lodged a complaint w

ith Joshua for more land. In reply he advised

them to show

their worth by clearing the unclaim

ed forest areas (Josh17:14-18). G

olan, a city of Bashan, in E

Manasseh, w

as one of the six“cities of refuge” (Josh 20:8; 21:27; 1 C

hr 6:71).

The tribe w

as renowned for its valour; am

ong its heroes was G

ideon inthe W

(Judg 6:15), and Jephthah in the E (Judg 11:1). S

ome of the tribe

of Manasseh deserted to D

avid at Ziklag (1 C

hr 12:19-20), and also ralliedto his support at H

ebron (v. 31). Manassites w

ere among those deported

to Assyria by T

iglath-pileser (1 Chr 5:18-26).

Affiliate w

ith the Jews in the reign of H

ezekiah ( 2 Chr 30). Incorporated

into kingdom of Judah (2 C

hr 15:9; 34:6,7). Reallotm

ent of territory to, byE

zekiel (Ezek 48:4).

Rem

arkable persons of the tribe of Manasseh: D

aughters of Zelophehad

(Num

27:1-7); Gideon (Judg 6:15); A

bimelech (Judg 9:1); Jotham

(Judg9:5,7,21). Jair (Judg 10:3). Jephthah (Judg 11:1). B

arzillai (2 Sam 17:27).

Also, E

lijah (1 Kgs 17:1). (T

ishbite = ? T

ishbe was identified w

ith the siteof L

istib in the mountains of north G

ilead.)

Reu

ben

, Gad

, Ben

jamin

, and

Dan

Reu

ben

The firstborn of Jacob by L

eah (Gen 29:32). T

he name is connected w

iththe phrase, “the L

ord has looked upon my affliction.”

Reuben had som

e admirable qualities in his character; unfortunately,

they were offset by his incestuous act w

ith Bilhah, his father’s concu-

bine (Gen 35:22; 1 C

hr 5:1,2).

It was R

euben who advised his brothers not to kill Joseph, and returned

to the pit to release him (G

en 37:21, 29). Later he accused them

of bringingcalam

ity upon themselves, w

hen they were held in the E

gypt. court assuspected spies (G

en 42:22). Again, it w

as Reuben w

ho offered his own

two sons as sufficient guarantee for the safety of B

enjamin (G

en 42:37).R

euben had four sons before the descent into Egypt (G

en 46:9; Ex 6:14;

1 Chr 5:3-6; N

um 16:1.)

Page 59Page 58

(including Ataroth) and sheepfolds to safeguard their fam

ilies andlivestock (N

um 32:34-38, cf. 26-27) w

hile preparing to help their brethren,a prom

ise of help duly kept (Josh 22:1-8). Petition for their portion of landE

. of the Jordan, Boundaries of territory (Josh 13:24-28; 1 C

hr 5:11).

As tribal territory, R

euben and Gad received the A

morite kingdom

ofS

ihon: Reuben had the land from

Aroer on the A

rnon river, N to a line

running from the Jordan’s m

outh E to the region of H

eshbon (Josh 13:15-23). N

of this line, Gad had all S

Gilead, from

the Jordan valley E as far as

the S-to-N

course of the upper Jabbok (the border with A

mm

on), and Ngenerally as far as the E

-to-W course of the low

er Jabbok, but with tw

oextensions beyond this: first, all the Jordan valley on the E

side of Jordanriver (form

erly Sihon’s) betw

een the Dead S

ea and the Sea of G

alilee (orC

hinneroth), and second, across the NE

angle of the river Jabbok toinclude the district of M

ahanaim and a fertile tract flanking the E

side ofN

Gilead N

over Jebel Kafkafa to strategic R

amothgilead at m

odern Tell

Ram

ith, 32 km N

E of Jerash (cf. Josh 13:24-28). H

eshbon was assigned

as a Levitical city out of the territory of G

ad (Josh 21:38-39).

Then cam

e the incident of the altar of witness (Josh 22:9-34).

The G

adites shared the troubles of Transjordanian Israel generally in the

judges’ period (e.g. Judg 10-12). In Saul’s day the wooded G

ileadite hillsof G

ad offered a place-of refuge (1 Sam 13:7), and G

adites among others

joined the fugitive David and supported his becom

ing king (1 Chr 12:1,

8-15, 37-38). Gadites likew

ise shared in, and were subject to, D

avid’sadm

inistration (2 Sam 23:36; 24:5; 1 C

hr 26:32).

Mo

abite S

ton

e

On his M

oabite Stone, roughly 840/830 B

C, King M

esha mentions that

the Gadites had long dw

elt in the land of Ataroth. Just after this, w

ithinJehu of Israel’s reign, H

azael of Dam

ascus smote all G

ilead, Gad included

(2 Kgs 10:32-33). In the 8th century B

C Gadite settlem

ent apparentlyextended N

E into B

ashan (1 Chr 5:11-17), until T

iglath-pileser III carriedthe T

ransjordanians into exile (2 Kgs 15:29; 1 C

hr 5:25-26). Then the

Am

monites again invaded G

ad (Jer 49:1-6).

Gad is assigned the southernm

ost zone in Ezekiel’s vision of the tribal

portions (48:27-28).

Th

e Mo

abite S

ton

e

Though there is m

ention of Gad on the M

oabite Stone, there is none of

Reuben, and thus it appears that at that tim

e, c. 830 BC, they had lost their

importance as w

arriors. How

ever, they were never forgotten by their

brethren as a place is reserved for the tribe of Reuben in E

zekiel’sallocations of Israel (E

zek 48:7, 31), and they are numbered am

ong the144,000, sealed out of (alm

ost) every tribe of the children of Israel, in theR

ev. 7:5.

GadT

he seventh son of Jacob, his first by Leah’s m

aid Zilpah (G

en 30:10-11;35:26; E

x 1:4).

His nam

e means “good fortune.” A

lso, marauding or plundering:

“troop”; wandering, w

ild, unsettled existence (Cf. to “G

ad about”)[cognate: “com

panies” of 2 Kgs 5:2; “bands” of 2 K

gs 24:2]

Jacob promised G

ad’s descendants a troubled life, but foretold that theyw

ould hit back (Gen 49:19). T

hey recur later in Moses’ blessing (D

eut33:20-21).

Th

e Trib

e of G

ad

Gad him

self already had seven sons when Jacob and his fam

ily enteredE

gypt (Gen 46:16); the tribe in M

oses’ time had seven clans (N

um 26:15-

18), was com

manded and represented by one E

liasaph (Num

1:14; 2:14;7:42; 10:20), and supplied a spy for exploration of C

anaan (Num

13:15).E

numeration of, at S

inai (Num

1:14,24,25); in the plains of Moab (N

um26:15-18); in the reign of Jotham

(1 Chr 5:11-17). P

lace of, in camp and

march (N

um 2:10,14,16).

When Israel reached the plains of M

oab, Reuben, G

ad and half-M

anasseh sought permission to settle in T

ransjordan, which they

desired as their share in the promised land, because G

ilead was so

suitable for their considerable livestock. (Wealth of, in cattle, and spoils,

Josh 22:8; Num

32:1).

To this M

oses agreed, on condition that they first help their fellow-

Israelites to establish themselves in W

Palestine (N

um 32:1-5; D

eut3:12,16,17; 29:8). T

he Gadites and R

eubenites then hastily repaired cities

Page 61Page 60

a major factor in bringing about the eventual surrender of Joseph’s

brothers (Gen 42:4, 38; 44:1-34).

Th

e Trib

e of B

enjam

in

[Much detail is given of B

enjaminite genealogies, though they appear

incomplete. T

en families are enum

erated in Gen 46:21, but the C

hroniclernam

es only three clans (1 Chr 7:6ff.), of w

hich Jediael does not appearas such in the P

entateuch. The pre-invasion reckoning of “fathers”

houses’ is given in Num

26:38ff.; for details recorded under the Monar-

chy, see 1 Chr 8.]

The tribe occupied a strip of land in the passes betw

een Mt E

phraim and

the hills of Judah. The boundary w

ith Judah is clearly defined (Josh18:15ff.; cf. 15:5ff.) and passed S

of Jerusalem, w

hich however becam

ea Jebusite tow

n until David captured it. T

hence it ran to Kiriath-jearim

,at one tim

e in Benjam

in (Josh 18:28; RS

V “and” follows L

XX, but the text

is unclear). Josh 15:9 supports this, while identifying w

ith Baalah of

Judah. (Some consider this a gloss, but it is repeated in Josh 15:60; 18:14;

Judg 18:12; 1 Chr 13:6; cf. 1 C

hr 2:50ff.)

The N

border ran from Jericho to the N

of Ophrah, then roughly S

W to

the ridges S of B

eth Horon, leaving L

uz in Ephraim

(but perhapsoriginally not the sanctuary of B

ethel; Jos. 18:13). Under the D

ividedM

onarchy, “Ephraim

” (i.e. the N kingdom

) occupied Bethel and part of

E B

enjamin, but the border fluctuated; cf. 2 C

hr 13:9. The W

border isgiven as a straight line from

Beth-horon to K

iriath-jearim, but there w

assettlem

ent farther W (1 C

hr 8:12f.).

Jacob

’s Pro

ph

ecy

“Benjam

in is a ravenous wolf” (G

en 49:27). The tribe earned a high

reputation for bravery and skill in war, and w

as noted for its slingers with

their traditional left-handed action (Judg 3:15; 20:16). Know

n as fero-cious: Judg 19:16; 2 Sam

2:15,16; 1 Chr 8:40; 12:2; 2 C

hr 17:17).

Notable heroes include: E

hud, who delivered Israel from

the Moabites,

was of B

enjamin; so also w

ere Saul, the first king (1 S

am 9:1), Q

ueenE

sther (Esther 2:5) and the apostle P

aul (Rom

11:1). (Both “S

aul’s”).

Lying right in the path of P

hilistine expansion, the tribe played its chiefpart in Israelite history under S

aul’s leadership, and on the whole

Jacob

’s Pro

ph

ecy: Gen

49:19

Jacob alludes to his name, w

hich can also signify a troop, foresees thecharacter of that tribe, that it should be a w

arlike tribe, and so we find (1

Chr 12:8); the G

adites were m

en of war fit for the battle. H

e foresees thatthe situation of that tribe on the other side Jordan w

ould expose it to theincursions of its neighbours, the M

oabites and Am

monites; and, that

they might not be proud of their strength and valour, he foretells that the

troops of their enemies should, in m

any skirmishes, overcom

e them; yet,

that they might not be discouraged by their defeats, he assures them

thatthey should overcom

e at the last, which w

as fulfilled when, in Saul’s tim

eand D

avid’s, the Moabites and A

mm

onites were w

holly subdued: see1 C

hr 5:18, etc.

Mo

ses’ Blessin

g: D

eut 33:20,21

Sought inheritance before C

anaan divided; Land of G

ilead (Deut 3:12-

15).

“Enlargeth G

ad” (1 Chr 5:16; S

ahron not in Judah 13:24-28); exposed toA

mm

onites and Midianites: w

arfare.

First to be carried into captivity (1 Chr 5:26; Judg 11:4-6, 11,12; 1 Sam

11:1).

End-tim

e: Gad shall overcom

e (Jer 49:1-2; Zeph 2:8-9).

[Note: A

lso the name of a prophet or seer, a contem

porary of Saul and

David. H

e advised David to leave M

oab for Judah (1 Sam

22:5). Later,

God through G

ad offered a choice of three possible punishments to

David after his census, and then com

manded that D

avid build an altaron A

raunah’s threshing-floor (2 Sam

24:10ff.; 1 Chr 21). G

ad helpedD

avid and Nathan in organizing m

usic for eventual use in the temple (2

Chr 29:25), and w

rote a history of David’s reign (1 C

hr 29:29). This w

asalso the nam

e of a pagan deity worshipped by the C

anaanites as the godof F

ortune for whom

they “prepare a table” (Isa 65:11, RV, A

V mg.).]

Ben

jamin

The youngest son of Jacob, called “son of the right hand” by his father,

though his mother R

achel, dying in childbirth, called him “son of m

ysorrow

” (Gen 35:18, 24). A

fter Joseph’s disappearance, he took firstplace in his father’s affections as the surviving son of R

achel; and was

Page 63Page 62

of a national (idolatrous) sanctuary by Jeroboam I (1 K

gs 12:29f.), andso rem

ained until “the captivity of the land” under Tiglath-pileser III.

Some m

embers of the tribe, how

ever, remained in their earlier settlem

ent,w

ith the Philistines as their W

neighbours; it is in this region that thestories of S

amson, a D

anite hero, have their setting (Judg 13:1ff.). It ispossibly the rem

nant of the tribe that stayed in its first home that is

described in Deborah’s song (Judg 5:17). T

he S rem

nant appears to havebeen absorbed ultim

ately in Judah; the N D

anites were deported by

Tiglath-pileser III in 732 B

C (2 Kgs 15:29).

The aggressive qualities of the D

anites are celebrated in the benedic-tions of G

en 49:16f and Deut 33:22.

Jacob

s’s Pro

ph

ecy

Gen 49:16-18: E

vil predicted. Follow

ing “serpent” is verse 49:18:“salvation” (cf. G

en 3:15)!

Dan is m

issing from the list of tribes in R

evelation. Irenaeus (Adv. H

aer.5. 30. 2) explains the om

ission by saying that antichrist is to come from

the tribe of Dan—

a belief which he bases on Jer 8:16, L

XX (“from

Dan

shall we hear the noise of his sw

ift horses”).

Ed

itorial D

erision

?

Nam

es of his sons omitted in genealogies: G

en 46:23; Num

26:42.(H

ushim?, S

huham? =

“pit digger.”)

1 Chr 1-10; R

ev 7: Nam

e blotted out!? Mentioned last: N

um 10:25; Josh

19:47-49; 1 Chr 27:16-22.

Deut 33:22:

Judg 18: Cruel and crafty attack on L

aish; Dan “leaped” from

Bashan and

Mt. H

ermon.

* * *

remained loyal to him

, though a number cam

e over to David in his exile

(1 Chr 12:2-7, 29). Indeed, the feud w

as remem

bered long after (2 Sam 16:5;

20:1). Such clan loyalty w

as evident in their disastrous resistance to thenational dem

and for justice in the matter of the L

evite’s concubine (Judg20-21) m

any years before the Monarchy (20:26f).

With the capital established at Jerusalem

, Benjam

in was draw

n closer toJudah (1 C

hr 8:28), and after the division Rehoboam

retained its alle-giance (1 K

gs 12:21; 2 Chr 11; note 1 K

gs. 11:32, “for the sake ofJerusalem

”). There w

ere two “B

enjamin” gates in the city, one in the

Tem

ple (Jer 20:2), the other perhaps the same as the “sheep gate” in the

N city w

all (Jer 37:13; Zec 14:10). D

espite the varying fortunes of war,

Benjam

in remained part of Judah (1 K

gs. 15:16ff.; 2 Kgs 14:11ff.; cf. 2 K

gs23:8, “G

eba”). From

the Restoration, the distinction is confined to

personal genealogy (cf. Neh 7 w

ith 11:7ff.). In the vision of Ezekiel, the

portion of Benjam

in lies just S of the city (E

zek 48:22ff.).

Da

n

The elder of the tw

o sons borne to him by R

achel’s maidservant B

ilhah(G

en 30:1-6).

Gen 30:1-6; L

ow B

irth; Oldest of 4 sons of concubines. E

vil report byJoseph ( 37:2).

Th

e Trib

e of D

an

Its first settlement lay betw

een the territories of Ephraim

, Benjam

in andJudah (Josh 19:40ff). Pressed back into the hill-country by the A

morites,

who them

selves were being pressed from

the W by the P

hilistines andother sea peoples w

ho had occupied the Mediterranean seaboard, the

majority of the D

anites migrated N

to find a new hom

e near the sourceof the Jordan (Josh 19:47; Judg 1:34; 18:1ff.). A

northern city, Laish (Judg

18:29; called Leshem

in Josh 19:47), near one of the sources of Jordan,w

as named D

an (modern T

ell el-Qadi or T

ell Dan). It w

as the most N

Israelite city, hence the phrase “from D

an to Beersheba” (e.g. Judg 20:1).

First to fall into idolatry (Judg 18:30; G

olden Calves: 1 K

gs12:28,29..Jeroboam

2 Kgs 10:29. .. until Jehu.) T

he shrine establishedhere under the priesthood of M

oses’ grandson Jonathan and hisdescendants (Judg 18:30) w

as elevated (along with B

ethel) to the status

Page 65Page 64

Nap

htali

Gen 49: 21:

“Hind let loose” escapes hunters; sent, sent forth. R

aven,dove let loose by N

oah .

Barak (“lightning”) in Judges 4:6 sent forth by D

eborah; onslaught onT

abor. Hosts of S

isera scattered (Judg 4:14). Men after him

.

“Sent” Judg 5:15:

defenseless on floor of valley (Judg 5:8);defenseless and deserted (Judg 15:8);G

od set them free.

NT

Zebulon =

First 30 years...

Naphtali: C

apernaum, B

ethsaida, Chorazin...

Th

e NA

ME

S (S

um

mary)

Reuben is connected w

ith the phrase, “the Lord has looked upon m

yaffliction.” T

hat this meaning w

as attached to the name is clear from

theother nam

es in this section:

Simeon

(Heard). . . the L

ord has heard, God hears m

e

Levi (A

ttached). . . my husband . . . w

ill be attached, joined

Judah (Praise). . . I w

ill praise the Lord

Dan (Judge). . . “G

od has judged me,” etc.

Gad

Granted good fortune

Asher

Happy am

I

Naphtali

my w

restling

Manasseh

making m

e to forget

Issacharpurchased m

e

Zebulun

dwelling

Zeb

ulo

n, Issach

ar, Ash

er, Nap

htali

Zeb

ulo

n

Gen 49:13: [Jacob skips from

4th to 10th son. Looks tow

ard Christ!]

Positive:

Deborah’s song

Judg 5:18D

avid1 C

hr 12:33, 40M

osesD

eut 33: 18,19

Seafaring tribe? Josh 19:10,11 (w

/Naphtali) S

ea of Galilee (M

t 4:15).E

leven Apostles “rejoice in going out.” H

aven of ships: Galilee =

haven;John 12:1.

Issachar

Gen 49:14: A

ss = honorable anim

al (Judg 10:4; 12:14; Deut 17:6) [N

ohorses until S

olomon]

Only Judah and D

an stronger; 64,300 (Num

26:25); to 87,000 (1 Chr 7:5).

Ash

er

Gen 49: 20: S

ettled in northern part: Phoenicia (L

and of the Palm

s). Mt.

Lebenon to M

ed. Incl. Tyre &

Sidon. Josh 19:24-31.

“Royal D

ainties”w

orkmen and m

aterials to David; 2 S

am 5:11

...and Solom

on; 1 Kgs 5:1-10

kept Passover under H

ezekiah (in contrast ot others);2 C

hr 30:1,10,11

“Bread shall be fat”

Elijah (fam

ine) widow

to sustain; 1 Kgs17:9.

Zarephath in S

idon (Luk 4:26) in A

sher; Josh 19:28.

NT:

Anna, the prophetess (of Jesus); L

uke 2:36-38.P

aul refreshed in Sidon; A

cts 27:3.

Page 67Page 66

mighty”), began publishing a series of pam

phlets. He w

as later confinedby the governm

ent in an asylum for the crim

inally insane (1795-1806). Alater w

riter, Edw

ard Hine, published the best selling F

orty-Seven Iden-

tifications of the British N

ation with the L

ost Ten T

ribes of Israel (1871),by w

hich time A

nglo-Israelism had crystallized into an organized m

ove-m

ent. The B

ritish Israel World Federation, w

ith headquarters in London,

claims hundreds of thousands of supporters; A

kindred organization inthe U

.S., the Anglo-Saxon Federation of A

merica, exploited anti-Sem

itismin order to further its claim

s. Anglo-Israelism

has become part of the

doctrine of a number of pseudo-C

hristian sects, including the Morm

onC

hurch.

Misco

ncep

tion

s

The m

yth of the “Ten L

ost Tribes” is the basis for “B

ritish-Israelism” and

similar legends, but has no real B

iblical basis. A m

isconception fromm

isreading of passages such as 2 Kgs 17:7-23, 2 C

hr 6:6-11, etc. The

“tribal” terms refer to geography as m

uch as the tribes themselves.

When the A

ssyrians conquered the northern kingdom (w

hich includedrem

nants of all 12 tribes) they scattered their captives throughout theirem

pire, and repopulated the area with captives from

elsewhere. T

hus,the descendants w

ere the “Sam

aritans” who w

ere considered “half-Jew

s.” (Cf. P

entecost, Acts 2,: 12 tribes. E

pistles of James, 1 P

eter: “to12 tribes.”)

Th

e Faith

ful V

oted

with

Th

eir Feet

Before the A

ssyrian captivity, substantial numbers from

the northerntribes had identified them

selves with the house of D

avid (1 Kgs 12:16-

20; 2 Chr 11:16-17). T

he rebellion of Jeroboam, and subsequent crises,

caused many to repudiate the northern kingdom

and unite with the

southern kingdom in a com

mon alliance to the house of D

avid and tow

orship the Lord (2 C

hr 19:4; 30:1, 10-11, 25-26; 34:5-7, 22; 35:17-18; etc.).

Confirm

ations

930 B.C., Jeroboam ruled the N

orther Kingdom

from his capital in Sam

aria(R

ead 1 Kgs 11:43-12:33). W

hen Jeroboam turned the northern kingdom

to idolatry, the Levites (and others w

ho desired to remain faithful)

migrated south to R

ehoboam (2 C

hr 11:14-17).

Horrified that Jeroboam

set up a rival religion, with golden calf w

orshipat B

ethel and Dan, m

any northerners moved south, know

ing that the

Josephw

ill add to me

Benjam

inS

on of His right hand

Rev 7: I w

ill praise the Lord, (for) H

e has looked on my affliction (and)

granted good fortune. Happy am

I (because) my w

restling (is) making

me forget. G

od hears me; H

e has purchased me a dw

elling (and) He w

illadd to m

e the Son of H

is right hand.

Th

e “Lo

st 10 Tribes”

Th

e Myth

There is a w

idely circulated legend that ten of the tribes, after theA

ssyrian captivity, were “lost”: that they w

andered off to Europe and

are now represented by som

e of the current nations there. Accom

pany-ing som

e of the legends of the so-called “10 Lost T

ribes” are aspersionson the present S

tate of Israel and the people being regathered in theL

and. These various theories are by their nature anti-S

emitic because

they deny the Jewish people their proper place in the plan of G

od.

British

Israelism

The A

nglo-Israel theory maintains that the E

nglish and their ethnickinfolk throughout the w

orld are descended from the “L

ost Tribes” of

Israel. This is based on bizarre and linguistic assum

ptions that thechurch is som

ehow the “N

ew Israel.” B

ased on legends such as Josephof A

rimathea establishing an E

nglish church predating that of Rom

e; thebelief that B

ritish monarchs seated at their coronation on the S

tone ofS

cone, are thus in fact consecrated by the patriarch Jacob’s stone ofB

ethel; and the old Puritan idea that the B

ritish have refought Israel’sbattles against G

od’s enemies. Includes the belief that the Japhetic

Cym

ri, or Cim

merians are the ancient B

ritons (Berit-Ish, or “M

en of theC

ovenant”) and the Saxons, “Isaac’s S

ons,” while the w

anderings of the“lost” tribe of D

an are traced from D

nieper to Denm

ark and those of theG

adites, from G

otland to Cam

bria.

Anglo-Israelism

’s first manifesto w

as issued by the Puritan M

ember of

Parliam

ent John Sadler, author of R

ights of the Kingdom

(1649), but them

ovement began to gather force only at the end of the 18th century,

when R

ichard Brothers, a false prophet (claim

ing descendancy fromJam

es the brother of Jesus, thus the self-styled “Nephew

of the Al-

Page 69Page 68

at that time range from

400,000 to 500,000; less than 1/20th were

deported—m

ostly the leadership from around the capital, S

amaria.

Th

e Bab

ylon

ians T

ake Over

When the northern kingdom

went into captivity (722 B.C.), all 12 tribes

were also represented in the south. W

hen the Babylonians took the

southern kingdom into captivity (586 B.C.), m

embers of all 12 tribes of

Israel were involved. Isaiah, prophesying to Judah, refers to them

as the“H

ouse of Jacob, which are called by the nam

e of Israel...” (Isa 48:1. cf.vv12-14.).

The northern kingdom

was taken by A

ssyria as slaves, which w

ere avaluable com

modity. (It is difficult to view

them as careless enough to

let them w

ander off to Europe.) W

hen the Babylonians take over

Assyria, the descendants of the “10 tribes” w

ere probably againcom

mingled w

ith the captives of Judah.

Co

mm

ing

led T

ermin

olo

gy

After the B

abylonian captivity, the terms Jew

and Israelite are usedinterchangeably. E

zra calls the returning remnant Jew

s 8 times and Israel

40 times. (E

zra speaks of “all Israel”: Ezra 2:70; 3:11; 8:35; 10:25, et al.)

Nehem

iah calls them Jew

s 11 times, Israel 22 tim

es. Nehem

iah speaks of“all Israel” being back in the land (N

eh 12:47). The rem

nant who returned

from B

abylon is represented as the nation (Mal 1:1, et al).

New

Testam

ent T

estimo

ny

The sam

e is true in the New

Testam

ent. Our L

ord is said to have offeredH

imself to the nation, “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (M

t 10:5-6; 15:24). O

ther tribes than Judah are mentioned specifically in the N

Tas being represented in the land (M

t 4:13,15; Lk 2:36; A

cts 4:36; Phil 3:5;“the tw

elve tribes” Acts 26:7; Jam

es 1:1). Anna knew

her tribal identityfrom

the tribe of Asher (L

k 2:30). Paul knew

he was of the tribe of

Benjam

in—a “Jew

” and an “Israelite”—R

om 11:1.

The N

ew T

estament speaks of Israel 75 tim

es and uses the word “Jew

”174 tim

es (Acts 21:39; 22:3; R

om 11:1; 2 C

or 11:22; Phil 3:5, etc.). [Gal 6:16

is often misunderstood by failing to note the kai before “the Israel of

God,” contrasting them

to the Gentiles. S

ee Arnold F

ruchtenbaum’s

only place acceptable to God w

as the Tem

ple on Mt. M

oriah (Deut 12:5-

7; 16:2-6; Isa 18:7). Those w

ho favored idolatry, migrated north to

Jeroboam.

Later, w

hen Asa reigned as king in the south, another great com

panycam

e from the north (2 C

hr 15:9).

Years after the deportation by A

ssyria, King H

ezekiah of Judah issueda call to all Israel to com

e and worship in Jerusalem

and celebratePassover (2 C

hr 30:5-6, 10-11, 21).

80 years later, King Josiah of Judah also issued a call and an offering for

the temple cam

e back from “M

anasseh and Ephraim

and all the remnant

of Israel...” (2 Chr 34:9).

Eventually all 12 tribes w

ere represented in the south. God even

addresses the 12 tribes in the south: “Speak unto R

ehoboam the son of

Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and B

enjamin...”(2 C

hr11:3).

[The “tribe of Judah” (2 K

gs 17:18, et al) is used idiomatically for the

Southern K

ingdom (C

f. 1 Kgs 11:13,32, etc.) (W

hen encountering thetribal designations, it is im

portant to distinguish between the territories

allocated to the tribes and the people themselves.)]

Th

e No

rthern

Kin

gd

om

Falls

724 B.C.: Shalm

aneser V besieged S

amaria, three years. K

ing Hoshea of

Israel attempted to revolt against paying A

ssyrians annual tributem

oney; A treaty w

ith Pharaoh of E

gypt did not help (2 Kgs 18:2).

Samaria, Jeroboam

’s capital, fell in 722 B.C.; Sargon II seized power in 721

B.C. Assyrians pulled dow

n towers, took 27,290 captive; placed an

Assyrian ruler over the city; looted it of 50 royal chariots, and other item

s,etc. T

he Assyrians im

plemented their infam

ous policy of mixing con-

quered peoples to keep them from

organizing a revolt. Israelite captivesw

ere mixed w

ith Persians and others; and strangers from

far-off landsw

ere resettled in Sam

aria. The resulting m

ixed, quasi-Jewish popula-

tions resulted in “Sam

aritans” ( John 4:20-22). (Fall: 2 K

ings 17.)

Not all of the northern kingdom

was deported. A

rchaeologists haveuncovered annals of the A

ssyrian Sargon, in w

hich he tells that hecarried aw

ay only 27,290 people and 50 chariots (Biblical A

rchaeolo-gist, V

I, 1943, p.58). Estim

ates of the population of the northern kingdom

Page 71Page 70

The “bow

” of Rev 6:2

The M

agog Invasion:T

he role of IslamT

he Role of R

ussia

For an in-depth study of E

zekiel 38 and 39, see The M

agog Invasionbriefing package.

“My people” of E

x 38 implies post-rapture placem

ent!

Th

e Twelve Trib

es Tod

ay

Israel today spans 40 miles, including the “W

est Bank” (vs. the A

rablands, 540 tim

es this size!) They w

ant to reduce Israel to only 10 miles

wide!?

Their historical right to their hom

eland was recognized by international

consensus at the beginning of this century; yet they now find the

legitimacy of that com

mitm

ent scorned and eroded; why?

Israel has been shrunk to 1/5 the size of the homeland originally prom

isedto the Jew

ish people.

Israel is the only democracy in the M

iddle East, yet is the focus of

Western criticism

of the kind never directed to any of the surroundingA

rab tyrannies; why?

Israel: Pro

ph

etic Miracle

1)L

and confirmed to A

brahamG

en 15:8ff...to Isaac

Gen 26:3-5

...to JacobG

en 28:13-15...to descendants forever

Lev 25:46; Josh 14:9; etc.

2)H

istory confirms that G

od brought them into this Prom

ised Land (E

x6:7,8; D

eut 7:6; 14:2, etc.).

3)T

hey were w

arned that if they practiced the idolatry and imm

oralityof the heathen tribes, they w

ould be cast out as well (D

eut 28:63; 1K

gs 9:7; 2 Chr 7:20 etc.).

book on Israelology: The M

issing Link in System

atic Theology (pp.

690-699).]

Th

e Day o

f Pen

tecost/F

east of S

havo

ut

Peter cries “Y

e men of Judea” (A

cts 2:14) and “ye men of Israel...”(A

cts2:22), and “A

ll the house of Israel..” (Acts 2:36).

Reg

athered

as On

e

Ezekiel 36 and 37: D

ry Bones V

ision declares that Judah (Jews) and Israel

(10 tribes) shall be joined as one in the regathering. (Ezek 37:16-17, 21-

22). This is true today. [T

he total physical descendants were not the

people to whom

the promises w

ere made (R

om 9:4-7).]

An

ti-Sem

itism

Accom

panying some of the legends of the so-called “10 L

ost Tribes” are

aspersions on the present State of Israel and the people being regathered

in the Land. T

hese various theories such as “British Israelism

” are bytheir nature anti-S

emitic because they deny the Jew

ish people theirproper place in the plan of G

od.

Israel is being regathered just as God has announced (E

zek 36, 37; Isa11:11, et al.) T

here is yet to come an event that w

ill awake them

to realizethat the G

od of Abraham

, Isaac, and Jacob once again has His hand upon

them (E

zek 38, 39). I believe it that it may happen at any m

oment.

The T

hrone of David w

as promised to the S

on of Mary (L

k 1:32). His

taking possession of it is the subject of the countdown in R

evelation.A

nd it increasingly appears that it is on the near horizon. Maranatha!

Th

e Interval o

f Blin

dn

ess (Lk 19:44; R

om

11:25)

Jerusalem: a cup of trem

bling.

The T

hird Tem

ple. (For an in-depth study do see T

he Com

ing Tem

plebriefing package).

Key to prophecy: M

atthew 24:15

Destiny for desecration

The C

ovenant with H

ell

Page 73Page 72

On M

ay 14, 1948, David B

en Gurion, citing the book of E

zekiel as hisauthority, proclaim

ed Israel as the new Jew

ish homeland. T

he nationIsrael w

as reestablished on the very completion of this interval from

theend of the “S

ervitude of the Nation” under B

abylon.

What a “coincidence.”

Th

e Deso

lation

s of Jeru

salem

If one starts with the third siege of N

ebuchadnezzar, which began the

“Desolations of Jerusalem

” in 587 B.C., the seventy years of desolationsended in 518 B.C. W

ith August 16, 518 B.C. as the com

pletion of thedesolations of Jerusalem

, then

-518 y 8 m 16 d

1 (N

o “year 0”)2483 y 9 m

21 d--------------------1967 y 6 m

7 d =June 7, 1967.

On June 7, 1967, as a consequence of the “S

ix Day W

ar,” the Old C

ityof Jerusalem

fell under Israeli control for the first time since Jesus’

prediction:

“...Jerusalem w

ill be trampled on by the G

entiles until the times of the

Gentiles are fulfilled” (L

uke 21:24).

Israel regained Jerusalem at the very com

pletion of this same interval

since the “Desolations of Jerusalem

” under Babylon. W

hat a “coinci-dence.” (T

he rabbis say that “coincidence is not a kosher word.”)

Th

e Un

recog

nized

Mesh

iach N

agid

[Cf. D

aniel’s 70 Weeks briefing package; D

an 9:24-27; Luke 19:28-44:

Blindness declared “...until...” (R

om 11:25). S

ee also, From

Here T

oE

ternity briefing package.]

The D

iaspora: that they would be scattered throughout the w

hole earth(D

eut 28:64; cf 1 Kgs 9:7; N

eh 1:8; Am

os 9:9; Zech 7:14 etc.). T

hat God

would not let them

be destroyed, but would preserve them

as anidentifiable ethnic, national group (Jer 30:11; 31:35-37; etc.).

...against all odds; all pressure to assimilate; etc.

Th

e Servitu

de o

f the N

ation

(in B

abylo

n)

2 Chr 36:21 (2 C

hron 7:19,20; Jer 9:13-16; 44:2-17, etc.).

Nebuchadnezzar’s T

hree Sieges. F

alse prophet’s insistence vs. God’s

warnings. T

he Desolations of Jerusalem

.

Ezekiel’s 430 years

There is a puzzling prophecy in the book of E

zekiel that speaks of 430years of judgm

ent pronounced upon Israel (Ezek 4:1-8). S

eventy yearsare clearly accounted for by the B

abylonian Captivity. B

ut that leaves360 years that do not seem

to fit any specific interpretation of history.

There are also passages in L

eviticus that indicate that if Israel doesn’tobey the first tim

e God w

ill multiply her punishm

ent by seven (Lev. 26:18,

21, 24, 28). 360 years times 7 equals 2520 years.

In previous articles we’ve pointed out that the B

ible seems to deal in 360

day years (See D

aniel’s Seventy Weeks). C

onverting the 2520 years360

results in 2483 years365 plus 9 m

onths and 21 days:

2483 years365

906,295 daysplus, for leap years

614 days9 m

onths 270 days

21 days 21 days

2520 years360

907,200 days

But w

here does one apply this interval?

Th

e Servitu

de o

f the N

ation

If one starts with the first siege of N

ebuchadnezzar, which began the

“Servitude of the N

ation” in 606 B.C., the seventy years of servitudeended in 537 B

.C. W

ith July 23, 537 B.C.. as the release from servitude,

then

-537 y 7 m 23 d

1 (N

o “year 0”)2483 y 9 m

21 d—

——

——

——

——

—1948 y 5 m

14 d =M

ay 14, 1948

Page 75Page 74

10)a L

evite of the sons of Asaph w

ho played a musical instrum

ent atthe dedication of the w

all of Jerusalem.

A G

lobal Hernia? A

Goblet of S

taggering: Zech 12:2,3.

• The N

ext Step? [F

or an in-depth study do see The N

ext Holocaust.]

• Ezekiel 38, 39? [F

or a complete study see T

he Magog Invasion.]

• Destiny? [F

or a study contrasting the church and Israel review our

briefing package, The P

rodigal Heirs.]

Bib

liog

raph

y

Bible, T

he King Jam

es Version, (C

ambridge: C

ambridge) 1769.

Encylopedia Judaica, copyright by K

eter Publishing H

ouse Jerusalem L

td., Israel.F

ruchtenbaum, A

rnold, Israelology: The M

issing Link in System

atic Theology, A

rielM

inistries Press, T

ustin, CA

, 1989.H

unt, Dave, A

Cup of T

rembling, H

arvest House, E

ugene OR

1995.L

ewis, D

avid Allen, C

an Israel Survive in a Hostile W

orld?, New

Leaf P

ress, Green

Forest A

R, 1994.

Netanyahu, B

enjamin, A

Place A

mong the N

ations, Bantam

Books, N

Y 1993.

Pink, A

.W., G

leanings from G

enesis, Moody B

ible Institute of Chicago, 1922.

Sw

anson, James (editor), N

ew N

ave’s Topical B

ible, Logos R

esearch System

s, Inc.,O

ak Harbor, W

A, 1994.

Walvoord, John F

., and Zuck, R

oy B., T

he Bible K

nowledge C

omm

entary, Scripture

Press P

ublications, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 1983, 1985.

Bib

liog

raph

y Fo

r Cam

p o

f Israel

Fruchtenbaum

, Arnold G

., Israelology: the Missing L

ink in Systematic T

heology,A

riel Press, T

ustin CA

, 1989M

issler, Chuck, E

xpositional Com

mentaries on G

enesis, Revelation, K

oinoniaH

ouse, Coeur d’A

lene, ID, 1995.

Missler, C

huck, Briefing P

ackages: The N

ext Holocaust, Signs in the H

eavens, The

Prodigal H

eirs, The R

omance of R

edemption (R

uth), Daniel’s Seventy W

eeks,T

he Com

ing Tem

ple, From

Here to E

ternity, Koinonia H

ouse, Coeur d’A

lene,ID

, copyrighted individually.

Th

e Ho

locau

st of E

uro

pe

In the Torah: D

euteronomy. W

ould be brought back into their land (Jer30:10; 31:8-12; E

zek 36:24, 35-38; etc.). The (Second) R

egathering: Isaiah11:11; 43:6; Jer 31:8; E

zekiel 37.

“Peace, P

eace” where there is no peace; T

he False P

remise; T

he Age of

Deceit (D

an 8:25).

The C

omm

itment of G

od (Ezek 36:19f).

Ytzak R

abinE

nd of Zionism

?G

en 15:17S

himon P

eres“D

ivided; broken”D

an 5:28B

ibi Netanyahu

“Given of G

od”

05418 {neth-an-yaw’}or {neth-an-yaw

’-hoo} from 05414 and 03050; n pr

m A

V - N

ethaniah 20; 20.

Nethaniah = “given of Jehovah”:

1)son of E

lishama of the royal fam

ily of Judah and father of Ishmael

who m

urdered Gedaliah.

2)father of Jehudi.

3)a L

evite, one of the 4 sons of Asaph the m

instrel.4)

a Levite in the reign of king Jehoshaphat of Judah.

Also, C

f.: 05417 {neth-an-ale’} from 05414 and 0410; n pr m

AV

-N

ethaneel 14; 14.

Nethaneel = “given of G

od”:1)

son of Zuar and a chief of the tribe of Issachar at the exodus.

2)the 4th son of Jesse and a brother of D

avid.3)

a priest in the reign of David w

ho blew the trum

pet before the arkw

hen it was brought from

the house of Obed-edom

.4)

a representative of the priestly family of Jedaiah in the tim

e ofJoiakim

.5)

a priest of the family of P

ashur who had a foreign w

ife in the time of

Ezra.

6)a L

evite, father of Shem

aiah the scribe in the reign of David.

7)a L

evite, son of Obed-edom

.8)

a chief of the Levites in the reign of king Josiah of Judah.

9)a prince of Judah in the reign of king Jehoshaphat of Judah w

ho was

sent by the king to teach in the cities of the kingdom.

Page 76

Ab

ou

t Th

e Co

ver Desig

n(o

n th

e tape cassette vo

lum

es)

Th

e “Fro

nt” co

ver:

The G

reek border: “I am A

lpha and Om

ega, the beginning and theending, saith the L

ord, which is, and w

hich was, and w

hich is to come,

the Alm

ighty (Revelation 1:8).” T

he center design element sym

bolizesthe W

ord of God Incarnate, illum

inated by the Holy S

pirit.

Th

e “Back” co

ver: (the “fro

nt” to

the Jew

ish read

er)

The H

ebrew border: “H

ear O Israel: T

he Lord our G

od is one Lord:

and thou shalt love the LO

RD

thy God w

ith all thine heart, and with

all thy soul, and with all thy m

ight (from the S

h’ma, D

eut 6:4-5).”

The center design represents the B

urning Bush, m

ade up of Hebrew

letters which proclaim

“the Eternal O

ne cannot lie.”

Th

e Sp

ine:

The spine includes a M

enorah from the O

ld Testam

ent, a Maranatha

Dove suggesting the N

ew T

estament, and the K

oinonia House logo

at the base.

Koinonia H

ouseP.O. Box D

Coeur d�Alene Idaho83816-0347

(208) 773-6310www.khouse.org

ISB

N 1-880532-24-7