Ephraim and Manasseh
Who is Ephraim and who is Manasseh
More on the Ox and the Unicorn:
Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. His glory is like the firstling of his ox (bullock), and his horns are like the horns of unicorns. With them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth; and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh,” Deuteronomy 33:16-17.
In the above verse, the Ox and Ephraim are named first, the firstborn of his (Joseph’s) “bullock is his glory”: the reference being to Ephraim; followed by Unicorn and Manasseh.
Although Manasseh was the firstborn, Joseph the father crossed his hands and placed Ephraim as firstborn, hence Ephraim, often known as the thirteenth tribe, represents not just the house of Joseph, but more often the house of the 10-tribes Northern Kingdom.
The thirteenth tribe arrived the latest, after all the other twelve tribes had been established! Starting with thirteen states, the United States gained its independence in July 4, 1776 and, claiming Manifest Destiny, pushing westward and gaining additional states, it emerged into what is now the United States of America.
and Scotland’s national animal is the Unicorn
From Rashi and Rabbinic teachings: the myriads (ten thousands) slain by Joshua; and these are the ten thousands descended from Ephraim. Joshua, their leader, was of the tribe of Ephraim;
— and the thousands of Manasseh: these are the thousands slain by Gideon, who was of the tribe of Manasseh. These thousands descended from Manasseh are obviously far less than those descended from Ephraim.
In his blessings Moses ascribes to Ephraim ten thousands, and to Manasseh only thousands; thus foreshadowing, that Ephraim the younger was to be the more numerous of the two, as Moses had before prophesied of them, Deuteronomy 33:16-17
The combined population of Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are far less than those of the United States of America.
For understanding who the modern tribes of Judah and Joseph are, the best book to have expounded this subject is “Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright” by JH Allen.
Joel
A Prophecy of Esau and Jacob 