![]() In John 4:5, 6 the tract of land which Jacob presented to Joseph’s descendants is identified as being near Sychar. Joseph was ultimately buried in the vicinity of Shechem ( Josh 24:32). Since Jacob identifies this portion or ridge of land as being obtained by conquest, the possibility exists that this adventure by Jacob is noted only here in the Biblical account. If so this may have been referred to by Stephen ( Acts 7:16). Abraham may have previously purchased some land at this place when he erected an altar at Shechem after arriving in Canaan ( 12:7, 8). Jacob did purchase some land from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father ( 33:19). This could hardly refer to the involvement of Simeon and Levi with Shechem which displeased Jacob exceedingly ( ch. Although Jacob was about to die in Egypt, he expressed before Ephraim the firm belief that future generations would realize and experience the fulfillment of the promises to possess the land of Canaan.Įphraim and Manasseh were allotted a particular plot of real estate in Canaan which is described as “one portion ( shekem, shoulder).which I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow” ( 48:22). Jacob gave the blessing in the name of the God before whom Abraham and Isaac walked, and the God who had shepherded Jacob throughout his whole lifetime. To Jacob there had been confirmed by divine revelation the promise that his descendants would be multiplied and that they would inherit the land of Canaan. Overruling Joseph’s objections Jacob placed his right hand on Ephraim and alloted to him a greater blessing and prosperity than he did to Manasseh.Įphraim, with Manasseh and Joseph, had imparted to him verbally the essence of the revelation God had made to the patriarchs, especially to Jacob. Joseph, who had been considered dead by Jacob, now had a double representation.Įphraim was chosen by Jacob for the greater blessing even though he was not the first-born son of Joseph. By adopting Manasseh and Ephraim as his own sons there were three tribal representatives of Rachel-Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. ![]() Jacob’s favorite wife had been Rachel whose son Joseph had been favored above all other sons until he was sold as a slave to Potiphar in Egypt. In this way Ephraim had opportunity to learn of the patriarchal promises and blessings directly from Jacob.Īfter Jacob exacted an oath from Joseph that he would bury him in Canaan ( 47:27-31), Jacob adopted the two sons of Joseph as his own. The mother of these sons of Joseph was Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On ( Gen 41:50-52).Įphraim was born during the seven years of plenty so that his boyhood years overlapped with the last seventeen years of Jacob who had migrated to Egypt during the years of plenty. EPHRAIM ē’ frĭ əm ( אֶפְרָ֑יִם, LXX Εφραιμ meaning doubly fruitful), the younger of two sons born to Joseph in Egypt.
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