Because the names Jacob and Israel are synonymous, then the way the name Jacob is typically used in the Bible is to represent all the tribes of Israel. But, the mention of Joseph is only to the 2 sons he sired, and who gained tribal status, Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim and Manasseh went on to become the largest tribes along with Judah. But, more, those 2 tribes along with 8 others broke away from Israel-proper to become their own separate kingdom that the Bible calls the Northern Kingdom. This now divided house of Jacob also consisted of a Southern Kingdom called Judah. So, in this passage, Jacob is used to speak of the Kingdom of Judah, and Joseph the Kingdom of Ephraim/Israel. Clearly the 2 kingdoms have come back together as one in order to deal with Edom (the stubble). In fact,
this plays exactly into a famous prophecy in which Ezekiel also speaks of these events of the End Times and Israel’s role in it.
Tom Bradford
21 окт 2024
