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Week 4, Day 5 — Genesis 47-48

Jeremy Paschall
01/21/24 - Podcast

And now, a minute with the Word…

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin — these are the twelve sons of Jacob (or Israel), from whom would spring the twelve tribes of Israel. When the promised land was later divided among the tribes, Levi’s inheritance was dispersed in 48 cities, scattered amongst the other tribes; but where was the land for the tribe of Joseph? Genesis 48 provides the answer — Jacob said to Joseph, “And now your two sons…are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are” (verse 5). Jacob promoted Ephraim and Manasseh to “sonship” for the purpose of inheritance, making theirs the names by which Joseph’s tribe would henceforth be known.