61.0 The Sons of Jacob
by Hubert F. Sturges, , www.144000.cc, October 2009
Topics:
Manasseh and Ephraim
Jacob’s Twelve Sons
Twelve Tribes of Revelation Seven
The Hebrew Ensigns
Manasseh and Ephraim
When Israel (Jacob) had reached the ripe old age of 147 years, he had been in Egypt for seventeen years. He was sick and he could not see. He knew that his time of departure was near. He called first for Joseph who came with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. He claimed these two boys as his own sons, in effect taking them into his own family, and giving them blessings equal to those given to all his others.
Joseph took both boys, Manasseh toward Jacob’s right hand and Ephraim towards his left. Jacob even though blind, crossed his arms and laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head and his left on Manasseh’s. He refused to change even over Joseph’s objections. He spoke his blessing:
"He was the Angel who saved me from all my troubles. Now I pray that he will bless these boys. May my name be known through these boys, and may the names of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac be known through them. May they have many descendants on the earth" (Genesis 48:16, NCV).
Jacobs Twelve Sons
Jacob then calls his sons to his bedside to give each one his blessing and his prophecy of "that which shall befall you in the last days." See Genesis 49:1-27.
Reuben, my first son, you are my strength. Your birth showed I could be a father. You have the highest position among my sons, and you are the most powerful. But you are uncontrolled like water, so you will no longer lead your brothers, because you had relations with my slave girl.
Simeon and Levi are brothers who used their swords to do violence. I will not join their secret talks, and I will not meet with them to plan evil. They killed men because they were angry (Genesis 34:25) and they crippled oxen just for fun. May their anger be cursed, because it is too violent. May their violence be cursed, because it is too cruel. I will divide them up among the tribes of Jacob and scatter them through all the tribes of Israel.
(The tribe of Simeon was not able to subjugate their inheritance, and found land in Judah. Levi as a tribe of priests received no inheritance, but were scattered as priests and teachers throughout Israel)
Judah, your brothers will praise you. You will grab your enemies by the neck and your brothers will bow down to you. Like a young lion who has returned from killing, he stretches out and lies down to rest, and no one is brave enough to wake him.
Someone from Judah will always be on the throne. Judah will rule until Shiloh (the Messiah) comes and the nations will obey him.
He has wealth and can afford to use wine to wash his clothes and the best wine to wash his robes. He is strong and in good health with eyes dark like the color of wine and teeth as white as milk.
Zebulun will live near the sea. His shore will be a safe place for ships, and his land will reach as far as Sidon.
Issachar is like a strong boned donkey lying down between two saddlebags. When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor.
Dan shall judge his own people as one of the tribes of Israel (Samson, a Danite, judged Israel 20 years). Dan will be like a snake by the side of the road that bites a horse's leg and the rider is thrown off backward.
(Children of Dan were not able to subjugate their inheritance. After searching the land, they robbed Micah of his personal priest and his instruments of worship, and going to the far north they destroyed Laish, a peaceful Sidonian village to make a place for them to settle down.)
Gad on the east side of Jordan was subject to attack from surrounding nations, but was usually able to defeat them and drive them away.
Asher's land, along the coast of what is now Lebanon, was renowned for fertile land, growing food fit for a king.
Naphtali was given land inland, along the west coast of the Sea of Galilee, was as an hind, bearing beautiful fawns. Shunem reportedly known for beautiful women, was in the land of Issachar, not far from Naphtali.
Joseph is a fruitful bough that produces much fruit, a healthy vine watered by a spring, whose branches grow over the wall. Archers (his brothers) attack him violently and shoot at him angrily, but he aims his bow well. His arms are made strong. He gets his power from the Mighty God of Jacob and his strength from the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.
(Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh are each counted as sons of Jacob, and are each one of the larger tribes of Israel.)
Benjamin is like a hungry wolf. In the morning he eats what he has caught, and in the evening he divides what he has taken.
(Evil men of Gibeah torture and kill a woman visitor. The tribe of Benjamin refuse to find and deliver the evil men, and precipitate a war with the rest of Israel. Many lives are lost on both sides, and eventually only 600 men are left of all of Benjamin. See Judges 20.)
These characterizations, the blessings and prophecies given by their patriarch Jacob, are adapted from Genesis 49:3-27, NCV.
Twelve Tribes of Revelation Seven
Revelation chapter seven describes the 144,000 as consisting of 12,000 of each of the tribes of Israel. Are these ethnic Jews? I believe not. Revelation is a book of symbols, and at the time of writing, the nation of Israel was no longer the chosen people of God. Galatians 3:29 says "If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." This and other verses point to the Christian Church as receiving the privileges and responsibilities of the Covenant.
The tribes listed in Revelation seven are:
Judah - celebrated; Praise, give thanks, confess (to)
Reuben - see (look, behold) ye a son
Gad - to invade, overcome
Asher - blessed, happy
Naphtali - my wrestling, struggle
Manasseh - causing to forget
Simeon - hearing; hearken, obey
Levi - attached
Issachar - he will bring (bear) a reward, wages
Zebulun - habitation; dwell with me
Joseph - let him add, increase
Benjamin - son of the right hand
(Ephraim - fruitful)
(Dan - judge, plead the cause)
Significant here is that Joseph is listed instead of the tribe of Ephraim and Dan is absent. Note that the character of each tribe is described. It is because of these characters that the list is important. These characters are all represented in the 144,000. It is also an assurance that God will save people of all types, and that He has a place for each one.
The Hebrew ensigns:
During the Exodus the Hebrew camp had the following formal arrangement; and the marching order as they moved through the Sinai desert: (See Numbers chapter two.)
On the east under the ensign of a lion, were JUDAH, Issachar and Zebulun led the march.
On the south under the ensign of a man, were REUBEN, Simeon and Gad followed second.
The Sanctuary was in the center surrounded by the tribe of Levi.
On the west under the ensign of an ox, EPHRAIM, Manasseh and Benjamin came next.
On the north under the ensign of an eagle, DAN, Asher and Naphtali were the rearguard.
References:
Numbers 2:3; Gen. 49:8-10 lion (east – Judah)
Numbers 2:10 man (south – Reuben)
Numbers 2:18; Jer. 31:18-20 ox, unruly calf (west – Ephraim)
Ezekiel 1:10 lists the four faces but does not identify them
Revelation 4:7 tells about four beasts and names them, but not who they represent.
Revelation 5:8 just talks about four beasts.
This is what Lambert Dolphin says: http://ldolphin.org/camp.html
"These four primary tribal standards--the lion, the man, the ox, and the eagle--are the same as the four faces of the cherubim (Ezekiel 1:10, 10:14, Rev. 4:7). Each time we encounter a view of the throne of God, we notice these strange living creatures, somehow associated with the protection of His throne, His holiness, etc.
"It would seem that the camp of Israel--with the tabernacle in the middle--seems to be a model of the throne of God: His presence in the center, represented by the tabernacle, encircled by the four faces, all surrounded by His people."
Was there symbolism in these four ensigns? It has been said that each of these pictures designates one aspect of Jesus: LION – king of the Jews; OX – the burden bearer; MAN – Jesus as one of us, a man; EAGLE – divinity. Jesus meets the needs of men and functions on, at least, four different levels. And these are represented in the four Gospels.
Numbers 2:2 Every man .. Shall pitch by his own standard
http://bible.cc/numbers/2-2.htm Enter exactly as shown (rechecked)!It is manifest there were four great standards or ensigns, which here follow, distinguished by their colors or figures; also there were other particular ensigns belonging to each of their fathers houses or families. Far off (from the Tabernacle) - Partly out of reverence to God and his worship, and the portion, allotted to it, and partly for caution, lest their vicinity to it might tempt them to make too near approaches to it. It is supposed they Were at 2000 cubits distance from it, which was the space between the people and the ark; and it is not improbable, because the Levites encamped round about it, between them and the tabernacle.
It is observable, those tribes were placed together, that were nearest of kin to each other. Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun were the three youngest sons of Leah, and Issachar and Zebulun would not grudge to be under Judah, their elder brother. Reuben and Simeon would not be content with their place. Therefore Reuben, Jacob's eldest son, is chief of the next squadron. Simeon doubtless is willing to be under him. And Gad, the son of Leah's handmaid, is fitly added to him, in Levi's room. Ephraim Manasseh, and Benjamin are all the posterity of Rachel. Dan the eldest son of Bilhah leads the rest; to them are added the two younger sons of the handmaids. So much of the wisdom of God appears even in these smaller circumstances!