We get it. Throughout the Old Testament, the name Ephraim often refers to the ten tribes comprising Israels Northern Kingdom, not just the single tribe named after Josephs son (Ezekiel 37:16; Hosea 5:3). Jesus warns against hypocrisy the greatest threat to Christianity today (Matthew 23:1 23:12). 48:1 After these things Joseph was told, Your father is weakening. So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. Manasseh, being the older boy, he had placed on his fathers right hand side, Ephraim on his left. Judah he-Hasid or R. Moshe Zaltman: Who Proposed that Torah Verses Were Written After the Time of Moses?, Journal of Jewish Studies 66:1 (2015): 97115. 3 Then Jacob said to Joseph . In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh. , 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers. I will make you into a group of nations and I will give this land to your descendants as an everlasting possession. Your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, will be mine just as Reuben and Simeon are. But human beings have a concept of grandchildren, of perpetuation beyond a single generation. Ohio man charged with attempting to burn down church that planned to host drag show events. Joseph put Ephraim on his right, directly across from Jacobs left hand, and put Manasseh on his left side across from Jacobs right hand. THE EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH BLESSING. The Blessings that Jacob gave to Manasseh and Ephraim were blessings for inheritance to the Land of Canaan. Crossing his arms, he put his left hand on the head of Manasseh, the firstborn. Though recorded long after Jacob lived, he would certainly have been familiar with this custom. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Jacob then blesses them directly. 48:5 Now, as for your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, they will be mine. 9 They are the sons God has given me here, Joseph said to his father. In Deuteronomy 21:15-17 we find the law concerning this blessing:15If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and they have borne him children,boththe loved and the unloved, andifthe firstborn son is of her who is unloved,16then it shall be, on the day he bequeaths his possessions to his sons,thathe must not bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved, thetruefirstborn. Tribe of Joseph Split & Symbolism | Who are Ephraim & Manasseh Burleson, TX 76028. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Their Dad had brought them before their grandfather, Jacob, clinging to his knees, one oneach side. I LOVE YOUR OLIVE OIL IM OFF WORK DUE TO SURGERIES AND I CANT AFFORD IT. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Sign up for the Bible Blender newsletter and periodically receive the latest Christian news, Bible study articles, modern-day life lessons, new product announcements, and more. What did Joseph do with Manasseh and Ephraim? The blessing is simple they will carry on Jacobs name and increase greatly in number. They are still precious to God and remain in covenant with Him, though the unsaved Jewsdo not enjoy the full blessing. See, for example, B. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. That will leave half a tribe. The elder would formally query the children to confirm the birth right, then grant the blessing on the recipient. Youre busy. When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, Who are these?. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. Look what itsays in Romans 2:28-29. Correctly guided by Joseph (Genesis 48:13) Ephraim was placed close to the left hand of Jacob. And he sware unto him. Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". So I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 2 Why did Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons? 48:11 Israel said to Joseph, I never expected to see you again, but now God has allowed me to see your children too.. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 8 And Israel beheld Josephs sons, and said, Who are these? Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. 1 Why did Jacob favor Ephraim over Manasseh? 77-85 [Hebrew], and more at length in his book: The Ear Discerns Words: Studies in Ibn Ezras Exegetical Methodology (Ramat Gan: Bar Ilan University Press, 2013) [Hebrew]. script>. He writes and lectures on the J, E, P and D documents, the uniqueness of each, and how they were compiled to create the five-book Torah. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". He was showing us that the Church is adopted as sons and incorporated as part of his family, just as if we were born into it! By crossing his hands, he was giving Ephraim the blessing of the first born instead. 7 But as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)., 8 Then Israel saw Josephs sons, and said, Who are these?, 9 Joseph said to his father, They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place., And he said, Please bring them to me, and I will bless them. 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. 47:31 Jacob said, Swear to me that you will do so. So Joseph gave him his word. You know how shy little toddlers are. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations." (Genesis 48:19) In the blessing Ephraim and Manasseh learn about God's character. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 2 And Jacob was told, "Look, your son Joseph is coming to you"; and Israel [ a]strengthened himself and sat up on the bed. 62 views, 2 likes, 1 loves, 1 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from St. Paul's Lutheran Church & School: St. Paul's Lutheran Church & School was live. In the Torah's account of the end of Jacob's life, we read that Joseph, upon learning that his father is on his deathbed, brings his two sons to visit him (Gen 48:1) and that when Jacob sees them he proceeds to bless them (48:9). May they grow into a multitude on the earth., 48:17 When Joseph saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraims head, it displeased him. As every grandparent knows, the joy of having grandchildren in some respects exceeds the joy of having children is. Throughout the ages, Jewish parents have prayed that their children withstand the temptations of exile, and keep a strong, proud Jewish identity. 3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. Pope Francis Issues Call for Peace on Anniversary of Russias Invasion of Ukraine. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!. The Bible does not mention Josephs other sons of if he had any more sons. Print. also David Weiss Halivni, Peshat and Derash: Plain and Applied Meaning in Rabbinic Exegesis, New York 1991, pp. Joseph named his second-born son "Ephraim" because "God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering" (Genesis 41:52). When Jacob gave his blessing to his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh, he chose to bless the younger Ephraim first, despite Joseph's protests. [20] See, Viezel, R. Then he blessed them: The Angel who delivered me from every evil. why did manasseh get so much land - icsi.com.mx Why are Ephraim and Menashe instead the subjects of this important tradition? The God who has fed me all my life long to this day. Between Holy and Mundane: The Development of the Term Havdalah. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 2122 Israel then said to Joseph, Im about to die. As the story in Genesis 48 progresses, Joseph guides these two boys to Jacob, so that the older boy, Manasseh is to Jacob's right hand and the second born boy, Ephraim is at Jacob's left hand. In the middle of the blessing, Jacob submits information that seems grossly out of place: Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. It does not store any personal data. What happened to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? In doing so, Jacob noted that Ephraim would be greater than Manasseh (Genesis 48:521). [15] For the textual issues see Lange, p. 65. Your email address will not be published. He lived to be 147 years old. You can see it so clearly in the story of the blessings over these two boys, Ephraim and Manasseh. As the elder, he naturally assumed his father would bestow the first-born blessing on him and a lesser blessing on the younger. Print. 48:8-22 - Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh. So Joseph brought his sons near to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. As believers, we are all first born. Notice that, even in speaking of the two boys, Jacob mentions the name of the younger before that of the elder. They will become power nations. Ephraim was the son of Joseph and Asenath and the younger brother of Manasseh (Gen. 41:50-52). It records the conversations between Jacob and Joseph. As the elder, he naturally assumed his father would bestow the first-born blessing on him and a lesser blessing on the younger. Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. Then Jacob blessed Joseph and his sons. Leading film production company Cinedigm acquires Dove.org and Christian Cinema. According to the book of Genesis, Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because Joseph was born to Jacob after he was already an old man. Joseph finally accepts his father's wishes and puts Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. These rabbinical sources allege that it was on account of modesty and selflessness, and a prophetic vision of Joshua, that Jacob gave Ephraim precedence over Manasseh, the elder of the two; in these sources, Jacob is regarded as sufficiently just that God upholds the blessing in his honour, and makes Ephraim the . Were going to find out in the course of studying these two boys as related to the first-born blessing. Genesis 48:7 does not seem to fit the narrative. Ephraim was born in Egypt to Joseph's wife, Asenath. Here we see Jacob invite Josephs foreign-born sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, into the family, an adoption of sorts and the means to award Joseph with two shares of the inheritance for saving the family. It could also be translated as the geographic location Shechem, the land where Joseph is ultimately buried. He was given aDOUBLE PORTIONof his fathers blessing above his brothers! Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Joseph was confused when he saw this occurring and tried to correct his father (verse . What is the closest relative to a hamster? Copyright 2021 Bible Blender. Genesis 48 GNT - Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh - Bible Gateway 7-9. However, Jacob chose to give Ephraim the greater blessingeven though Joseph objected. The English translation is quoted from Ramban (Nachmanides) Commentary on the Torah, Genesis (trans. Is Bosnia a developing or developed country? Jacob adopts his grandsons (48:1-20). - Warren Wiersbe - BibleGateway Obviously, it won't take long before Manasseh on the east will be absorbed by other nations. I didnt know how Jewish parent bless their children. 6 Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. (Genesis 48:5,14-15, 17-22, NKJV) Jacob, after a life of thievery and conniving, had finally learned to obey the Lord. When Esau sold his birth right to Jacob, they later onthey fought over it. Thats why you dont hear the tribe of Joseph talked about very much but, instead, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Your father is sick.". Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried.. When Jacob was about to pass away, he called Joseph to his bedside and asked to bless his two sons. So he took his fathers hand to move it from Ephraims head to Manassehs head. I have often wondered why Jacob chose to do this act of blessing Ephraim before Manasseh. 47:27-31 - Jacob makes Joseph promise not to bury him in Egypt, but in Machpelah. Why? This collection has yet to be studied systematically, and the question of its unity and authorship is still debated. Since Manasseh was Josephs first born, Jacob should have placed His right hand on his head. This was the main purpose that God had for Josephs life. 6 And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. His father loved him more than any of the others and gave him a coloured cloak. The Ephraim shall be greater than Manasseh! The destruction of the Great Temple and the signs of the end times (Matthew 24:1 24:35), The Song of Moses and Miriam attributes of God that are equally applicable to every Christian follower today. You see, in their culture, they use the right hand to bestow the first-born blessing, indicateing power, position and prosperity. by Bible Blender, Complete but concise summary of each book of the Bible (Old Testament and New Testament), Chronological summary of the New Testament Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John timeline), Jacob blesses Josephs sons and places Ephraim before firstborn Manasseh (Genesis 47:28 48:22), Joseph is generously blessed, but the biblical narrative will soon turn to another son, Blessing Ephraim as the firstborn ahead of Manasseh, Jacobs blessing of the younger son over the elder, When Jacob sees Josephs sons, he asks Who are these?, Placing a hand under the thigh during a promise, To you I give one more ridge of land than your brothers, Sources: NIV, The Message, The NET Bible, King James Version, NET Bible Notes, Faithlife Study Bible, The Apologetics Study Bible, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary, The Bible Readers Companion, Matthew Henrys Commentary, Holman Concise Bible Commentary, The Bible Exposition Commentary, The Teachers Bible Commentary, The Teachers Commentary, The Bible Guide, Word Studies in the New Testament, Holman Bible Handbook, Calvin Commentaries, Wiersbes Expository Outlines, The New Manner and Customs of the Bible, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, The Lexham Bible Dictionary, Eastons Bible Dictionary, Harpers Bible Dictionary, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, The Archaeological Encyclopedia, Biblical Archaeology Review, The New Bible Dictionary, The Lexham Analytical Lexicon, Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database, blessing Jacob himself received from Isaac, Joseph saves (by enslavement) the people of Egypt during the great famine (Genesis 47:13 47:27), Joseph mourns his fathers death, reassures his brothers they are safe, then passes from earth (Genesis 50:1 50:26), Jacob blesses the Twelve Tribes before breathing his last (Genesis 49:1 49:33). Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Seventeen years have passed (see Gen 47:28) between the second year of the famine, when the boys were at least two years old, and the present day in the story, just before Jacobs death. Why did Jacob bless Ephraim and Manasseh? - Pvillage.org Who was Ephraim in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org This is the blessing spoken by the patriarch Jacob in Genesis 48:20 over his two grandsons. 13-17). Joseph told his father, Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. [1954-56], 3:250 . 18 Joseph said to him, No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.. The next generation Isaacs twin sons, Jacob and Esav were so contentious that Esav repeatedly sought to kill Jacob and instructed his descendants to do the same. " By this declaration, Jacob was placing Ephraim before his older brother Manasseh. The New King James Version. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said: God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked. So Joseph brought them up close. Evangelist Andrew Palau Joins Dozens of Churches in Austin, Texas for Historic SXSW Outreach Event. But any children born after them are yours; they will come after their brothers in matters of inheritance. Like Ephraim and Joseph, we alsohave the blessing of the first-born,even though we are the younger brother, our elder brotherbeing theJewish people since they been around a lot longer. "He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations." 20 So that day Jacob blessed them and said: "By you shall Israel pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you . 14, 17-20). The Mystery of Ephraim and Manasseh Kehila News Israel [19] Particularly well known are Rambans comments on this matter in his preface to the Torah: But Ramban, did not state this to cast doubt on the authorship by Moses, from Gods mouth. Ephraim and Menashe represent a break from this pattern. Is Taco Bell healthier than other fast food? Despite great odds, they grew up in Egypt and maintained adherence to Torah ideals and practice. 7 As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. The fourth case was when Joseph brought Ephraim and Manasseh to Jacob to be blessed by him, he tried to maneuver the blessing of the birthright according to the natural birth (vv. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations. 20 He blessed them that day and said. 5 Which is greater, Manasseh or the tribe of Ephraim? Despite great odds, they grew up in Egypt and maintained adherence to Torah ideals and practice. 236-237 [Hebrew]. Lesson 39: Genesis 47-49 - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Instead, we will see the culmination of the rivalry between Joseph and Judah and a grand introduction to the genetic line of Jesus, the rising star of David. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. The Blessing of Ephraim & Manasseh - LearnTheBible.org Biblical Studies Press. Obviously it had tremendous value which they fully understood it in those days. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years. These two boys, who were born to hm during his time of his rejection in Egypt, have some amazing things to tell us about the Church today as well as the 21st century. Below is the blessing Jacob prayed over Gad who must have been scratching his head upon hearing his fathers words . Then further on, we read of the biblical practice of placing . Why did Jacob favor Ephraim over Manasseh? Placing Ephraim before Manasseh. Jacob stretched out his right hand to the boy on his left (Ephraim) and his left hand to the boy on his right (Manasseh). Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. Jacob said, " [Manasseh] too will become a people, and . 48:7 But as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, Rachel diedto my sorrowin the land of Canaan. And Israel said to Joseph, I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!. // Javascript URL redirection But their shyness was soon dispelled. Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh - After this, Joseph was told, "Behold, your father is ill." So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Hmmm..Lets see:They receive everything through THE CROSS (Jacob crossed his hands)andEphraim would become a multitude of (Gentle) nations.. Launched Shavuot 5773 / 2013 | Copyright Project TABS, All Rights Reserved, script type="text/javascript"> Genesis 48 ESV - Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh - Bible Gateway Hence the popular saying among Jews: The issue is not whether you have Jewish children, its whether you have Jewish grandchildren.. This blessing is extremely significant for many reasons, however, I am only going to discuss one of those reasons. Thatswhy the Holy Spirit had JacobCROSS his hands. One can calculate their ages as being between about 19 and 25. Genesis 50 - When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead [11] It seems likely that Rashbams comment on this verse, emphasizing that the verb can indeed be applied to verbal placement, implies that he was aware of the problem and that the point was a matter of dispute in his time: [12] This point was raised by R. Moshe Feinstein, Iggerot Moshe, Yoreh Deah 3:114-15, as one of several arguments he adduced in order to argue, erroneously, that the commentary is a forgery. 48:1-7 - Jacob passes the Patriarchal blessing to Joseph. The next generation would grow up surrounded by pagan immorality. You know how kids are when they meet strangers for the first time. 1 Sometime after these things Joseph was told, "Come right away. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Crossing his arms, he put his left hand on the head of Manasseh, the firstborn. Jacob was getting old. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Woman At The Well Foretold In Jacobs Blessings? ). Sara Japhet; Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1994), 453-459 [Hebrew]; and Eran Viezel, Medieval Bible Commentators on the Question of the Composition of the Bible: Research and Methodological Aspects, Tarbiz 84 (2016): 103-158 [Hebrew]. Sometime later, Joseph was told, Your father is weakening. Joseph took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to visit his father. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ephraim was born in Egypt before the arrival of the . 31 Then he said, Swear to me. And he swore to him. This wasn't a mistake, but was the full intention of Jacob under the inspiration of God (verse 14). 22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow. Jacob's blessing of the younger son over the elder. Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh. New transgender policy for public schools empathizes with those with gender dysphoria while being steadfast in opposing gender ideology. Why did Jacob want to bless Manasseh more than Ephraim? Sign up for the Bible Blender newsletter and receive the latest on science and tech news, new product notifications, exclusive features, and more. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Jacob's Blessings Why Didn't Ephraim and Manasseh Switch Places? Manasseh was placed close to the right hand of Jacob. In fact, when his sons massacred men at Shechem, Jacob condemned their actions. What can we learn from the tribe of Ephraim? | GotQuestions.org 29 When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. A central focus in this chapter is the blessing of Ephraim, the younger son, over Manasseh, the elder son. and the names of Abraham and Isaac, my fathers, 1718 When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraims head, he thought he had made a mistake, so he took hold of his fathers hand to move it from Ephraims head to Manassehs, saying, Thats the wrong head, Father; the other one is the firstborn; place your right hand on his head.. He told me I am going to make you fruitful and will multiply you. Joseph named his second-born son Ephraim because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering ( Genesis 41:52 ). 31 Israel said, Promise me. Joseph promised. He was finally content to allow the Lord to accomplish His . 18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. 96400. Remember, God chose Ephraim and Manasseh to be the recipients of the birthright blessing, as recorded in Genesis 48. The words of King David ring true: How good and pleasant is it for brothers to sit peacefully together Hiney ma tov umanayim, shevet achim gam yachad (Psalms 133:1). Put your hand under my thigh, a sign that youre loyal and true to me to the end. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israels left hand,and Manasseh with his left handtoward Israels right hand,and brought them near him. Although the question could have arisen due to Jacobs failing eyesight, it seems to be part of a formal blessing ritual. Who was loved more by Jacob in the Bible? In blessing Joseph's sons, Jacob also blessed Joseph, for the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh became strong leaders in Israel. Judah he-Hasid or R. Moshe Zaltman.. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Why did Jacob put his hand on Ephraims head? It could be translated as mountain slope, shoulder, or portion. 2 When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to you," Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. But due to famine, Jacob and his family moved to Egypt. Then Joseph moved them closer to his father. Ephraim really has become a MULTITUDE OF NATIONS! Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009. 2930 When the time came for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said, Do me this favor. Slavery in the New Testament Bible what the Bible really says about slavery. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It is made up of savedJewish people and saved Gentiles. Genesis 47:27-48:22 | Preaching Source This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Holy Bible: King James Version. These rabbinical sources allege that it was on account of modesty and selflessness, and a prophetic vision of Joshua, that Jacob gave Ephraim precedence over Manasseh, the elder of the two; in these sources, Jacob is regarded as sufficiently just that God upholds the blessing in his honour, and makes Ephraim the . In Genesis, Before Jacob dies, he has a conversation with his son, Joseph. Exegete the passage. He further writes: The Hebrew text is from Mikraot Gedolot Haketer. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The challenge was if Judaism would survive in the midst of all the distractions of diaspora life. Ill do what youve asked.. When Jacob was told, Your son Joseph has come, he roused himself and sat up in bed. 12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. Then Israel said, Bring them to me so I may bless them.. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Are we, the Church,also referred to as spiritual Israel? YES! Reuben and Simeon were disqualified because of sins they committed (see 1 Chr 5:1-2 ).
