Categories: Genesis

Genesis 48

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Genesis 48 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

From Jacob (Israel’s) sons, the 12 tribes would be formed. This can be confusing when you factor in Genesis 48. Jacob brings Joseph’s sons to him and actually adopts them as his own. This means that instead of a “tribe of Joseph” there will be two tribes branching out from Joseph’s two sons – Ephraim and Manasseh.

So, does this mean there are actually 13 tribes? More on that later. Let’s first look at the adoption by Jacob.

Your two sons born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt are now mine. Ephraim and Manasseh belong to me just as Reuben and Simeon do.
Genesis 48:5 HCSB

Ephraim and Manasseh would be elevated to equal status among their uncles. Jacob uses Reuben and Simeon in his example because they were the sons who willingly committed horrific crimes against their father. Reuben, his firstborn, had slept with his concubine. Simeon, the secondborn, had led the rebellion against Shechem murdering every male in the city. In Genesis 49, we will read of how Jacob chooses Joseph to receive the double portion over Reuben. Joseph was now the chosen son and Reuben and Simeon had fallen out of favor.

But this leads us to a problem. How do we reconcile the 12 tribes of Israel if there are actually 13?

Generally speaking, even though there is not a tribe of Joseph, the two nations spanning from his sons can be summarized as the house of Joseph. This is one way to simplify the mathematical inconsistency. However, Ephraim and Manasseh would become their own tribes with their own plots of land. Geographically, since we know there were only 12 plots of land given, one tribe would not receive land.

“The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, will have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They will eat the LORD’s fire offerings; that is their inheritance. 2 Although Levi has no inheritance among his brothers, the LORD is his inheritance, as He promised him.”
Deuteronomy 18:1-2 HCSB

Though the Levites would not receive land, their inheritance would be the Lord and they would be scattered among the tribes. This was also the case before any land was assigned to them. For instance, when the camp was formed with all the tribes having their own space to fill, the Levites stayed inside the ring of those 12 tribes.

This is all interesting and helps to clarify our understanding of Israel’s history. However, the fascinating point to consider is how God has continued to faithfully lead this broken family. His promises have continued despite the stubbornness of sin. God’s plan for this nation could not be thwarted by their fallen nature because as He was growing them numerically, He was also growing them spiritually. As He was growing them nationally, He was growing them individually. His plan would be accomplished and his people would be sanctified.

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