The Twelve Tribes of Israel

(Chapter 4)

"Manesseh and Ephraim"

 

Joseph was blessed with a double portion, his twin boys Ephraim and Manesseh. Ephraim means doubly fruitful and Manesseh means causing forgetfulness. The two sons of Joseph were born to him in Egypt. When Joseph heard that his father Jacob was sick he took his two sons and went to visit him. On this occasion the failing Jacob said these words to Joseph,

"Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers."

This would cause Jacob to have a total of Fourteen Tribes. It is strange that Jacob should mention other children out of Joseph when actually the records, in as far as I have been able to find, show no other seed except Ephraim and Manesseh. But, if there was to be no other seed out of Joseph, such a statement would have been unnecessary and superfluous.

In Rev. 7 where there were twelve thousand people sealed out of each of the twelve tribes, Joseph and Manasseh are mentioned but not Ephraim nor Dan. Why is this so? Some have supposed that Ephraim was included under Joseph, but if this be so. why then was not Manasseh included the same way and Dan included in the sealing? There is a deeper meaning than that, for here we see the other children mentioned by Jacob

To understand this we must read Gen 48:15-20,

"Then he blessed Joseph and said, "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm --may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth."

"When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head."

Joseph said to him, "No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations." He blessed them that day and said, "In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh."

The reason we do not hear of any other children out of Joseph is because Joseph's other seed was to be called after the name of their brethren (Ephraim and Manasseh) in their inheritance. As a result they have been called Ephraimites and Manassehites throughout the centuries. Today, however, we are finding those who know they are spiritually of Joseph and not of Ephraim nor Manasseh.

Watt's Distinctive Translation says,

"Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt prior to my coming to you, to Egypt, they are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, like Reuben and Simeon, will belong to me, while your offspring which shall be born to you after them will be yours; by the name of their brothers will they be called when they receive their inheritance."

The Septuagint Version adds this bit of light,

 

"And the children which thou shalt beget hereafter, shall be in the name and named after Ephraim and Manasseh"

But as we come now to the time of the sealing, we see God is clarifying who is of Joseph, who is of Ephraim, and who is of Manasseh.

Moses speaks of Joseph being like the head of a firstborn bull and his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh as being the horns of a wild ox in Deut 33:7,

"In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh."

The horns are the projections upon the head of Joseph, but they are not the head. Those of the Tribe of Joseph will come forth with great spiritual understanding at the time of the sealing, whereas Ephraim and Manasseh will remain as horns by which the Josephites accomplish their God-given tasks. Of course, the question will be asked, "Why is not Ephraim mentioned among the sealed ones of Rev. 7?

As I have mention before, Dan is not mentioned there either. This has puzzled all who have studied the Twelve Trives but there are some insights that we can share. In Rev. 11 and Zech. 4 we are faced with the "two witnesses." They are symbolized by two olive trees, two olive branches, and two candlesticks. These are all Israelitish symbols, as you well know, so these must be Israelites that make up this company of the two witnesses.

As two olive trees or two olive branches this must refer to two tribes out of Israel. As I pointed out earlier, with the addition of Ephraim and Manasseh there are fourteen tribes, not twelve, yet there are but 144,000 sealed out of twelve tribes, so the other tribes of Ephraim and Dan must be accounted for.

Where are they? They will be found in the two witness company, or the two anointed ones, as given in Zech. 14. The two anointed ones literally means the two sons of oil. They are the sons of oil but not full sons of God in maturity. They have a double portion of the Spirit of God; they have oil which they EMPTY OUT OF THEMSELVES (Zech.4:12) but they do not have the "Spirit without measure" which cannot be emptied out.

In John 3:34 it is said of Jesus,

"For God giveth not the Spirit without measure unto Him".

This shall also be true of all the sons of God when they come into His fulness. Many have longed and prayed for a double portion of God's Spirit, but this is a limited amount. This is the amount which the two witness company shall possess. According to Rev. 11 this company have only a ministry of judgment, not blessing. Fire even comes out of their mouths to consume the adversaries. This is certainly the work of Dan because his very name means judgment.

It is said of Ephraim that he is a cake not turned and as one who has mixed himself among the people (refused to keep his separated position). According to Hosea 7:8, Ephraim goes through a period of judgment for himself as well as judgment upon others.

Many have tried to make the Two Witnesses to be the sons of God who will be slain and then resurrected. This cannot be true because some must enter into a changed body without having suffered death in the flesh. They have suffered death to self and as a result their bodies of flesh have experienced eternal life. Most will suffer death in the flesh and depart this life, and such are those of Ephraim and Dan. This does not mean that those of Ephraim and Dan have utterly failed God by any means. They are fulfilling that purpose of God for which they have been foreordained. They will lay down their lives and then be raised again and caught up to heaven in the sight of their adversaries.

Ephraim and Manasseh were the seventh and eighth stones on the breastplate of the high priest. Now let's look at Jacob's prophecy regarding Joseph and his descendants in Gen 49:22,

"Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough near a well; whose branches climb over a wall."

There is an interesting play on words here. The word 'BOUGH' is the Hebrew 'BEN' which means 'SON', and the word 'BRANCH' is the Hebrew word 'BATH' meaning 'DAUGHTERS.' This would indicate that Joseph had daughters as well as sons, but daughters are usually not mentioned in the Scriptures. This indicates that Joseph's daughters today are running over every wall that impedes them. They cannot be fenced in nor hampered in their moving forward with God so they simply climb every wall and fence and obstacle to obtain God's best. You cannot fence them in with the doctrines and walls that men set up.

The Hebrew word for 'WELL' in the foregoing verse is 'AYIN' which is translated as 'EYE' 497 times, yet only as 'WELL' only 19 times and as 'FOUNTAIN' 11 times. Joseph is a fruitful son by the eye of spirit of the Spirit of God which is a deep well of living water. The eyes are in the head for sight and vision, this is very appropriate because the blessings rest upon the head of Joseph. It is because of this spiritual sight and the refreshing of its living waters that Joseph's daughters run over the wall.

The word 'WALL' comes from the Hebrew word 'SHUR' which means 'A GOING ABOUT.' Its root meaning is to 'turn or travel about as a harlot or merchant', and with it "to sing". The religious systems have always been known as a harlot and as such they make merchants of the Word of God. They twist and turn it into a wall to hem people in and keep them in their confines while singing their songs of liberty. But Joseph's daughters refuse this and run over all the walls that are built about them. The eye (or well) of spiritual vision because of their position in the Body will not let them remain within the confines or systems of religious organizations or beliefs. May God blessings be on Joseph's daughters!

Jacob said in Gen 23-24.

With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,"

The word 'archers' literally means 'master of arrows'. One who is most adept and experienced at shooting arrows. Who are these archers that sorely grieve Joseph? To understand this we shall have to compare the scripture regarding arrows and their significance.

Ps. 57:4 refers to men having TEETH that are ARROWS. Ps 64:3 speaks of BITTER WORDS being ARROWS. Prov. 26:18-19 alludes to the man who deceived his neighbor in a joking way as one who casts ARROWS. The TONGUE OF DECEIT is likened unto an ARROW in Jer. 9:8. These verses indicate that false accusations, lies, verbal injuries, etc. are symbolized by arrows shot by archers and who knows anything more about this than Joseph? His own brethren were guilty of this to say nothing of being lied about down in Egypt and maligned by a vicious woman until nothing was left for Joseph but a trying time in prison.

The offspring of Joseph will always know what it is to have the arrows of sharp and lying words aimed at them. Many a Joseph have been placed in a prison of unutterable circumstances. But that is not the end of the matter. In spite of this situation, the bow of Joseph abides in strength. Then what does the bow of Joseph refer?

If the arrows of which we have spoken refer to words, then the bow that shoots these words can be nothing other than the thought of the mind and the intent of the heart. The arrows of false words sent out by friend or foe against Joseph were met by another force. The bow of Joseph was the purity of his thought and the chastity of his heart. Joseph had no intention of returning evil for evil by any means. His bow abode in strength which means perennial and enduring. The thought and intent of Joseph's heart and mind was perennially unchanging in his intent of doing good for all concerned. The Mighty One of Jacob strengthened Joseph in holding his bow this way. Those of the tribe of Joseph today are know by the mark of ready forgiveness and a desire to see good pronounced upon all whether worthy of punishment or not.

The next two verses concerning Joseph relate to the various kinds of blessings given him and the place where these blessings rest is upon his head.

"Because of your father's God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb. Your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers."

The blessings as given in these verses fall into four classifications:

1) The blessings of heaven above (literally, heavens--plural)

2) The blessings of the deep (Rotherham gives it as "abyss, a roaring deep")

3) The blessings of the breasts and womb.

4) And the blessings of his father.

Four is the number of world wide coverage, four corners of the world. Every Josephite is known by the desire in his heart for the blessings of God to reach to the farthest ends of the earth. It must be noted these blessings rest on the head of the one who was separated from his brethren. Blessings are wonderful but they must have an object. God has placed these blessings upon the crown of the head of Joseph. This is very significant for the crown of the head is mentioned very little in the scriptures.

The head of an individual is divided into three main parts - the medulla oblongata, cerebellum and cerebrum. The medulla oblongata is at the top of the spinal cord and controls the involuntary muscles, such as those having to do with heart, breathing, and associated functions. The cerebellum is concerned with equilibrium or the body and coordination of voluntary muscles.

The cerebellum is located at the back of the head above the medulla oblongata. The cerebrum is located in the top of the head and is the seat of intelligence. It consists of five lobes, each of which handles special functions as: taste, seeing, hearing, speech, emotions, judgment, intellect, memory, etc. Five is the number of grace and how wonderful we see the grace of God connected with the mind.

Some are interested in the blessings on the medulla oblongata or that which keeps the heart and lungs functioning. In other words, they are interested most in the things of physical life and its comforts. These are just natural blessings. Then, others are interested in the blessing upon the cerebellum so that they are able to act and do things for God by reason of coordinated muscles. This is the place of blessing on ministries. Josephites are always marked by blessings on the Crown of the head which is the God given intellect under the control of the Holy Spirit.

In view of this, it is easy to be seen what part of the spiritual body the Tribe of Joseph represents. . Josephites who have matured, have spiritual understanding and comprehension. You will find here the brain power of the body of Christ. Minds dominated by the Holy Spirit which results in and overflow of intelligence.

Josephites are also masters of dreams which fits into the blessings on the head. These blessings rested on top of the head of Joseph who was separated from his brethren. The word 'separate' is the Hebrew word 'Nazir'. Nazarite was one separated to the Lord for a time during which he drank no strong drink, ate nothing from the vine, touched no dead body, and didn't cut his hair during his vow. Why? The consecration of God is on his HEAD Num. 6:1-17. He was separated from his brethren because of the consecration and blessings of his intellect.

These cannot be forced into intoxicated wine of carnal reasoning. Nor can they be defiled with that which is not filled with life. Dead words, the carnal mind, and inactive truth, is not for Joseph. Joseph loves his brethren and in due time they will comprehend Joseph's unique position among the Tribes.

In these dark days of the world's history shall God's true Josephites arise to be endowed with wisdom and foresight even as the first Joseph was in the darkness of Egypt.

Could the two witnesses we have mentioned before be Moses and Elijah. They appeared with Jesus when He was transfigured on the Mountain before Peter, James and John. They represented the Law and the Prophets. Moses was the lawgiver of the Old Testament at Mount Sinai and he was of the Tribe of Levi. He was born in captivity in the land of Goshen. Exodus 2:1-2 says,

"And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months."

And Exodus 2:10,

"And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water."

He was used of God as a savior or deliverer of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The Tribe of Levi had no inheritance in the promise land as did their brothers, however, God gave them His tithe from all the Tribes. Numbers 18:24 and in Deut 18:1 which says,

"The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them."

Also, each Tribe was commanded to give the Levites cites to live in and pasture land for their livestock. Numbers 35:2 says,

"Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them."

Moses, since he was a Levite, would represent all of the Tribes of Israel. And since he was the lawgiver of the Old Testament he would be a representive ot the Tribe of Dan, which means to judge. Dan was the tenth stone on the high priest's breastplate and the stone is a Beryl stone. The word Beryl means to break or subdue. God has called for the ministry in this hour to break and subdue and punish everything that is not of Him.

Deut. 33:22 says, "Dan is a lion's cub, springing out of Bashan." Ministries that have gone through Dan are wise as serpents and bold as lions. When they spring it is going to be at the enemy. When they claw and when they mangle and when they kill and destroy, it will be against the enemies of God's people. Representing the Tribe of Dan would qualify Moses as one of the two witnesses in Rev 11.

Elijah represented the prophets of the Old Testament. He was born in the city of Tishbe in the land of Gilead. 1 Kings 1:17 says,

"And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word."

Tishbe was located in the territory given to Manasseh on the East side of the Jordan. Elijah, then, was from the Tribe of Manasseh. In Rev 11 it says,

"These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will."

Moses and Elijah were two of the most powerful miracle working men in the Old Testament. Elijah spoke and it didn't rain till the Lord told him to speak again. In 1 Kings 17:1 it says,

"And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word."

Moses turned the water into blood in Egypt in Exodus 7:20,

"And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood."

There is today a ministry that is rising up in the spirit of Moses and Elijah and they are beginning to declare to the Babylonian Harlot Church that there will be no more rain or anointing upon their ministries. As a result, the manna of yesterdays anointing is going to turn to worms and no amount of hype is going to restore it.

Judgment will proceed out of their mouths to destroy the falseness of the harlot system and the dress of the harlot is going to be lifted and all will see her for what she really is. Ministries that continue to refuse to move in step with the Holy Ghost are going to wither and dry up and the wind of the breath of God in the mouth of Elijah and Moses ministries will blow them away. This two witness ministry is for a limited amount of time and when this ministry is over they will die and be brought back to life and will be caught up to be with the Lord. It is important for us to understand that even though they have a double portion anointing it is not a never ending anointing. Many today are longing for a double portion anointing which is great but it will end.

Our goal should be to be in that Manchild Company of Revelation 12 which will be caught up in the Spirit and have the full anointing of the Holy Ghost even as Jesus had and will rule and reign with Him. The Man Child Company will not be witness of the light, they will be the light even as He is the light. There will be no darkness in them and when they speak it will be with His authority. They are greater than the two witnesses because they are Sons of the Most High.

The Lord changed the priesthood when He choose Judah to be the seat of His Lawgiver. Psalms 78:67-68 says,

"Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: but chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved."

Again in Psalms 60:6-8 says,

"God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver "

And out of Judah came The Lion of the Tribe of Judah who is THE LAWGIVER, even the Lord Jesus Christ.