Ephraim: Difference between revisions

In the biblical account, [[Joseph (Genesis)|Joseph]]'s other son is [[Manasseh (tribal patriarch)|Manasseh]], and Joseph himself is one of the two children of [[Rachel]] and [[Jacob]], the other being [[Benjamin]]. Biblical scholars regard it as obvious, from their geographic overlap and their treatment in older passages, that originally Ephraim and Manasseh were considered one tribe – that of ''Joseph''.<ref>''Jewish Encyclopedia'', "Ephraim".</ref>

In the Torah, the eventual precedence of the tribe of Ephraim is argued to derive from Jacob, half blind and on his deathbed, blessing Ephraim before [[Manasseh (tribal patriarch)|Manasseh]].<ref name="Genesis 41:52"/><ref name= "Genesis">Genesis 48:1</ref> The text describing this blessing features a [[hapax legomenon]] – the word שכל (''sh-k-l'') – which [[classical rabbinical literature]] has interpreted in esoteric manners;<ref name="auto">''Jewish Encyclopedia''</ref> some rabbinical sources connect the term with ''sekel'', meaning ''mind''/''wisdom'', and view it as indicating that [[Jacob]] was entirely aware of who he was actually blessing;<ref name= "Genesis" /> other rabbinical sources connect the term with ''shikkel'', viewing it as signifying that Jacob was ''despoiling'' Manasseh in favour of Ephraim;<ref name="Genesis" /> yet other rabbinical sources argue that it refers to the power of Jacob to ''instruct'' and guide the [[holy spirit]].<ref name= "Genesis" /> In classical rabbinical sources, Ephraim is described as being modest and not selfish.<ref name="auto"/> These rabbinical sources allege that it was on account of modesty and selflessness, and a [[prophecy|prophetic]] vision of [[Joshua]], that Jacob gave Ephraim precedence over Manasseh, the elder of the two;<ref name= "Genesis" /> in these sources Jacob is regarded as being sufficiently just that God upholds the blessing in his honour, and makes Ephraim the leading tribe.<ref name="Genesis" />