A study of the tribe of Manasseh, which may be our story, our birthright, our destiny.
The youngest two of Jacob/Israel's sons was Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph was sold into captivity by his elder brothers which was just where God wanted him to be.
As Joseph, a type for Christ, was separated from his family....sold into slavery. Christ too was sold for the price of a slave (thirty pieces of silver) and separated from His family. What of Manasseh and Ephraim? They also were separated from their family, the house of Judah. They are the house of Israel and God scattered them....for His great purpose. They are the "servants of God."
Joseph served under one of the two Pharoahs of Egypt (a Hyksos king, not an Egyptian) and, as a type for our Savior, he saved God's children from the famine. There he married and had two sons.....
Jacob/Israel...father of the twelve tribes, blessed Joseph's two sons Manasseh and Ephraim but he purposely blessed the younger son Ephraim as the firstborn instead of Manasseh the eldest. He then gave his blessings to all of the twelve tribes with individual prophetic blessings when he said, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days." [49:2]. Concerning Joseph and his two sons, the blessing was a double blessing given as the birthright of the firstborn. Why, as that should have gone to Reuben....the eldest of Jacob/Israel?
As the holder of the birthright....Joseph and his sons, who would later become the house of Israel, are the "alone true priests." In other words...God scattered them throughout Europe then on to England and America, Australia, Canada...Christian nations, in order to take His Word to the world....and they have.
From Judah, the house of Judah - Jews, came The King, The Messiah, so what is meant by....
The house of Israel...not the house of Judah. From Judah would come the kingly line pointing to The King of Kings. However, the Jews haven't had an earthly king sitting in quite a while. Did God lie when He said there would always be a king on the throne? The earthly throne belongs to the house of Israel so this is two-fold. Our King sits on His throne but this is also reference to earthly kings. They sit today on thrones in Europe. Notice in the following Scripture [Gen.49:22-26] the reference to "the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel." It is thought that the Stone of Scone, which was contained and displayed under the seat of the throne of England....upon which their kings and queens are coronated....is the Stone of Israel. The same stone upon which Jacob/Israel laid his head.
So,"the birthright was Joseph's" given unto "the sons of Joseph." And even though Manasseh was the eldest Jacob/Israel blessed his younger brother Ephraim with a special blessing as he would a firstborn. When addressing all of his twelve sons Jacob/Israel said the following of Joseph, which was a prophecy for the last days of his progeny, saying.....
That is quite a blessing and it rests on the nations Ephraim and Manasseh became.
Where are the recipients of the blessing today, in these last days? God scattered the ten northern tribes, the house of Israel, and they never returned to their land. He also sent the house of Judah into captivity to the king of Babylon ( two hundred years after the house of Israel). Judah returned!
Many, including me, believe the northern tribes eventually migrated over the Caucasus Mountains and settled throughout Europe...making their way to England and then America...just as God planned. It is thought that Ephraim is represented by England and America by Manasseh. Consider the blessing given to them by Jacob/Israel...
His name "Israel" is upon them as they are...the house of Israel....the lost tribes.
God has "been with" and guiding England and America....of that there can be no doubt. England pretty much controlled the world at one time and was established in a "multitude of nations." Then Manasseh left his brother and...America was founded, one nation under God. Ephraim/England before Manasseh/America. From the[Gen.49:22-26] prophetic blessing Jacob/Israel bestowed on Joseph and his sons we see that we are both blessed and fruitful, grieved by archers for many fight against us and we're certainly hated. But we're made strong by our Father who has helped and blessed us with many blessings!
The birthright belongs to Joseph...and rests on the heads of his two sons. If we are descendants of those "two sons" should we not recognize this awesome blessing and know who we are, or who we may be? If we in America are Manasseh, which means "forgetting," is it time to remember?
The story of Manasseh continued.....
2nd part - Manasseh story
An important consideration when reading Biblical history is to realize...what happened in the past will again happen. As believers, it is our history...it is our future:
So as Christians, as Americans, as those called by our Father....who is Manasseh today? If they are, as I believe them to be, many of us, then place yourself in the following historical events...which we should see as prophecies of our present and future.
Numbers 26:34 These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.
Fifty ~ the number of Jubilee or deliverance.
Two ~ affirms that there is a difference, another, which may be for good or for evil. Where man is concerned, this number testifies of his fall, for it more often denotes that difference which implies opposition, enmity, and oppression.
Seven ~ Spiritual perfection ~ Numbers in Scripture
There is a difference in those of Manasseh. Half of them (and we see half of Manasseh explicitly written many times in the Bible), may be delivered and...half not. Perhaps the significance of the number 52,700 for Manasseh, means....In the time of Jubilee, when this age ends...half of Manasseh shall be delivered and half shall not. However many we are when this age ends...on either side...we will be the spritually perfect number, as chosen by our Father.
As the tribes were leaving the wilderness, going to claim their promised land they had to go to battle. These two and one half tribes were given their inheritance of land on one side of the Jordan and yet crossed to the other side to fight for their brother tribes so they too would have their inheritance. This is all symbolic of our spiritual crossing over the Jordan to the promised land....
Numbers 32:32-33 We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be our's. And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.
We fight the enemies of God by being armed with His truth. We have an inheritance in the promised land but do we possess it without being part of this battle? If we are of the half tribe then the inheritance is ours (received) will we claim it?
Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh have alreadyreceived their inheritance on one side of the Jordan! They are called to help their brother tribes attain their inheritance. Jordon represents where we cross over into the spiritual promised land, leaving the world behind. This group of called ones, which includes the half tribe of Manasseh are the elect...already promised their inheritance in the promised land. They are the firstborn, already called, justified and predestined along with Reuben and Gad. "Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh."[Josh.21:1]
Joshua 4:11-13 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people. And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them: About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
Forty is the number of probation so...although forty thousand are called and passed over promising to fight...will forty thousand go to battle...do we today? Many do and will go "before" the other "children of Israel," in this battle. Historically they took Jericho and "the walls came tumbling down." Later.....
It is up to the house of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh / England and America, the great people to whom He has given blessings and great power to drive out God's enemies.....and so it is today. We drive out the giants even though "they be strong." They are the trees of the mountain (people of the nation) we are to cut down in clearing the land for God's children. If there was any question on those they faced....go to this link to see those GIANTS!
Continued.....
3rd part of the Manasseh story, after the battle.....
Joshua, a type for our Savior, CALLED these selected ones and blessed them. He also gave blessings to their fellow Israelites but...they were not called and they are separated. These two and one half tribes went before their brothers to fight for their right to the promised land...so all Israel could lay claim to God's promise. They literally fought...we spiritually fight with His Word. We go before them carrying God's truth...we witness for Him. We are His witnesses. Then, as now, the body of Israel isn't in perfect agreement.
Brother against brother, divisions, denominations. What is the "great altar?" As it was "built over against" Canaan does that mean over close to Canaan or was it built to show opposition to (against) Canaan? Various definitions show Cannan as Palestine (that tells us a great deal) and the Strong's shows Cannan as "merchant, traffic," which brings to mind the buying and selling in the end of days. Remember too that Canaan, son of Ham, carried a curse given by Noah. Seeing that tells me that the altar built against the land of Canaan means it was to show opposition to that land...worldly, carnal merchandise and lusts.
The children of Israel on that side of the border, the worldly side, were angry at those on the other side...the promised side.
They considered this building of an altar an affront to their worship, to their God of Israel....a rebellion. But, was it?
The reason for the altar wasn't as Israel(the church) believed but was to serve as a witness for future generations. It is the Lord that placed a border between those that have been called and have achieved the promised land from those that strive to achieve. The contention causes one side to believe the other has "no part in the Lord," but the truth is...they have the truth, the witness.
"Behold the pattern of the altar." The altar is a witness between the elect and the righteous. Between those that are called and those that follow Him. The witness is Christ, the testimony we witness, the Word. He is the altar... "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle." [Heb.13:10]
They "heard the words." Their eyes and ears were opened to His truth for on "this day we perceive."
This same group of called ones are written of again...the same story told in a different manner....
These literal and spiritual warriors in God's great army battle for our Father. Historically they fought for David, a type of Christ...to make him King.
The half tribe of Manasseh that went to battle were expressed by name to "make David king." They are called by name to be soldiers of the Lord....
1 Chronicles 12:37-39 And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand. All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.
That is a shadow of the end of days when Israel shall be "of one heart." We are men of war, we are called, we have a perfect heart to win this battle for our Savior, the King of all Israel. Was the tribe of Manasseh scattered by our Father to America. If yes, then are we, the called ones, thehalf of Manasseh? Our great country is split right down the middle. We are in half and the division is great.
We see the importance of Manasseh in the latter days...they/we are to battle, with a pure heart, those that are the enemies of God and our brothers...the wicked giants, the locusts, the scorpions....Satan's evil forces.
From Abraham was Ishmael and Isaac (but through Isaac the seed was called.)
From Isaac was Esau and Jacob (Esau was the eldest but he sold his birthright to Jacob).
From Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) were the twelve tribes of Israel, one of which was Joseph.
From Joseph came Manasseh and Ephraim.
From Isaac was Esau and Jacob (Esau was the eldest but he sold his birthright to Jacob).
From Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) were the twelve tribes of Israel, one of which was Joseph.
From Joseph came Manasseh and Ephraim.
The youngest two of Jacob/Israel's sons was Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph was sold into captivity by his elder brothers which was just where God wanted him to be.
As Joseph, a type for Christ, was separated from his family....sold into slavery. Christ too was sold for the price of a slave (thirty pieces of silver) and separated from His family. What of Manasseh and Ephraim? They also were separated from their family, the house of Judah. They are the house of Israel and God scattered them....for His great purpose. They are the "servants of God."
As an explanation....Historically the twelve tribes split apart after the death of king Solomon dividing into two factions....the house of Judah (Judah and Benjamin, the Jews) and the house of Israel the ten northern tribes, not Jews. Ephraim became the largest of the tribes and often the other nine tribes go under his banner and all are Biblically referred to as Ephraim or...the house of Israel. All twelve are of Israel, Israelites (both of the two separate houses) but not all are Jews.
Joseph served under one of the two Pharoahs of Egypt (a Hyksos king, not an Egyptian) and, as a type for our Savior, he saved God's children from the famine. There he married and had two sons.....
Genesis 41:51-52 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: "For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."
Manasseh - forgetting
Ephraim - double fruitfulness
Ephraim - double fruitfulness
Jacob/Israel...father of the twelve tribes, blessed Joseph's two sons Manasseh and Ephraim but he purposely blessed the younger son Ephraim as the firstborn instead of Manasseh the eldest. He then gave his blessings to all of the twelve tribes with individual prophetic blessings when he said, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days." [49:2]. Concerning Joseph and his two sons, the blessing was a double blessing given as the birthright of the firstborn. Why, as that should have gone to Reuben....the eldest of Jacob/Israel?
1 Chronicles 5:1-2 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's)
Birthright.....This word denotes the special privileges and advantages belonging to the first-born son among the Jews. He became the priest of the family. Thus Reuben was the first-born of the patriarchs, and so the priesthood of the tribes belonged to him. That honour was, however, transferred by God from Reuben to Levi (Num. 3:12, 13; 8:18). The first-born son had allotted to him also a double portion of the paternal inheritance (Deut. 21:15-17). The first-born inherited the judicial authority of his father, whatever it might be (2 Chr. 21:3). The Jews attached a sacred importance to the rank of "first-born" and "first-begotten" as applied to the Messiah (Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:18; Heb. 1:4-6). As first-born he has an inheritance superior to his brethren, and is the alone true priest. ~ Easton's Bible Dictionary
As the holder of the birthright....Joseph and his sons, who would later become the house of Israel, are the "alone true priests." In other words...God scattered them throughout Europe then on to England and America, Australia, Canada...Christian nations, in order to take His Word to the world....and they have.
From Judah, the house of Judah - Jews, came The King, The Messiah, so what is meant by....
Jeremiah 33:17 For thus saith the LORD; 'David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
The house of Israel...not the house of Judah. From Judah would come the kingly line pointing to The King of Kings. However, the Jews haven't had an earthly king sitting in quite a while. Did God lie when He said there would always be a king on the throne? The earthly throne belongs to the house of Israel so this is two-fold. Our King sits on His throne but this is also reference to earthly kings. They sit today on thrones in Europe. Notice in the following Scripture [Gen.49:22-26] the reference to "the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel." It is thought that the Stone of Scone, which was contained and displayed under the seat of the throne of England....upon which their kings and queens are coronated....is the Stone of Israel. The same stone upon which Jacob/Israel laid his head.
So,"the birthright was Joseph's" given unto "the sons of Joseph." And even though Manasseh was the eldest Jacob/Israel blessed his younger brother Ephraim with a special blessing as he would a firstborn. When addressing all of his twelve sons Jacob/Israel said the following of Joseph, which was a prophecy for the last days of his progeny, saying.....
Genesis 49:22-26 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel
Even by the GOD of thy father, Who shall help thee; and by the ALMIGHTY, Who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
Even by the GOD of thy father, Who shall help thee; and by the ALMIGHTY, Who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.That is quite a blessing and it rests on the nations Ephraim and Manasseh became.
Where are the recipients of the blessing today, in these last days? God scattered the ten northern tribes, the house of Israel, and they never returned to their land. He also sent the house of Judah into captivity to the king of Babylon ( two hundred years after the house of Israel). Judah returned!
Many, including me, believe the northern tribes eventually migrated over the Caucasus Mountains and settled throughout Europe...making their way to England and then America...just as God planned. It is thought that Ephraim is represented by England and America by Manasseh. Consider the blessing given to them by Jacob/Israel...
Genesis 48:16 The Angel Which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
His name "Israel" is upon them as they are...the house of Israel....the lost tribes.
48:17-22 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said unto his father, "Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head." And his father refused, and said, "I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations." And he blessed them that day, saying, "In thee shall Israel bless, saying, 'God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh:' " And he set Ephraim before Manasseh. And Israel said unto Joseph, "Behold, I die: but God shall be with you and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. 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?
God has "been with" and guiding England and America....of that there can be no doubt. England pretty much controlled the world at one time and was established in a "multitude of nations." Then Manasseh left his brother and...America was founded, one nation under God. Ephraim/England before Manasseh/America. From the[Gen.49:22-26] prophetic blessing Jacob/Israel bestowed on Joseph and his sons we see that we are both blessed and fruitful, grieved by archers for many fight against us and we're certainly hated. But we're made strong by our Father who has helped and blessed us with many blessings!
The birthright belongs to Joseph...and rests on the heads of his two sons. If we are descendants of those "two sons" should we not recognize this awesome blessing and know who we are, or who we may be? If we in America are Manasseh, which means "forgetting," is it time to remember?
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The story of Manasseh continued.....
2nd part - Manasseh story
An important consideration when reading Biblical history is to realize...what happened in the past will again happen. As believers, it is our history...it is our future:
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
So as Christians, as Americans, as those called by our Father....who is Manasseh today? If they are, as I believe them to be, many of us, then place yourself in the following historical events...which we should see as prophecies of our present and future.
Numbers 26:34 These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.
Fifty ~ the number of Jubilee or deliverance.
Two ~ affirms that there is a difference, another, which may be for good or for evil. Where man is concerned, this number testifies of his fall, for it more often denotes that difference which implies opposition, enmity, and oppression.
Seven ~ Spiritual perfection ~ Numbers in Scripture
There is a difference in those of Manasseh. Half of them (and we see half of Manasseh explicitly written many times in the Bible), may be delivered and...half not. Perhaps the significance of the number 52,700 for Manasseh, means....In the time of Jubilee, when this age ends...half of Manasseh shall be delivered and half shall not. However many we are when this age ends...on either side...we will be the spritually perfect number, as chosen by our Father.
As the tribes were leaving the wilderness, going to claim their promised land they had to go to battle. These two and one half tribes were given their inheritance of land on one side of the Jordan and yet crossed to the other side to fight for their brother tribes so they too would have their inheritance. This is all symbolic of our spiritual crossing over the Jordan to the promised land....
Numbers 32:32-33 We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be our's. And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.
We fight the enemies of God by being armed with His truth. We have an inheritance in the promised land but do we possess it without being part of this battle? If we are of the half tribe then the inheritance is ours (received) will we claim it?
Numbers 34:13-15 And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe: For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance: The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.
Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh have alreadyreceived their inheritance on one side of the Jordan! They are called to help their brother tribes attain their inheritance. Jordon represents where we cross over into the spiritual promised land, leaving the world behind. This group of called ones, which includes the half tribe of Manasseh are the elect...already promised their inheritance in the promised land. They are the firstborn, already called, justified and predestined along with Reuben and Gad. "Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh."[Josh.21:1]
Romans 8:29-31 For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Joshua 4:11-13 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people. And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them: About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
Forty is the number of probation so...although forty thousand are called and passed over promising to fight...will forty thousand go to battle...do we today? Many do and will go "before" the other "children of Israel," in this battle. Historically they took Jericho and "the walls came tumbling down." Later.....
Joshua 17:14-18 And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, "Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great People, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?" And Joshua answered them, "If thou be a great People, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee." And the children of Joseph said, "The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel." And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and Manasseh, saying, "Thou art a great People, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only. But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong."
It is up to the house of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh / England and America, the great people to whom He has given blessings and great power to drive out God's enemies.....and so it is today. We drive out the giants even though "they be strong." They are the trees of the mountain (people of the nation) we are to cut down in clearing the land for God's children. If there was any question on those they faced....go to this link to see those GIANTS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-8bVEIVUh8
Continued.....
3rd part of the Manasseh story, after the battle.....
Joshua 22:1-3,6-7 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you: Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God. (6-7) So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents. Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,
Joshua, a type for our Savior, CALLED these selected ones and blessed them. He also gave blessings to their fellow Israelites but...they were not called and they are separated. These two and one half tribes went before their brothers to fight for their right to the promised land...so all Israel could lay claim to God's promise. They literally fought...we spiritually fight with His Word. We go before them carrying God's truth...we witness for Him. We are His witnesses. Then, as now, the body of Israel isn't in perfect agreement.
22:9-12 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to. And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.
Brother against brother, divisions, denominations. What is the "great altar?" As it was "built over against" Canaan does that mean over close to Canaan or was it built to show opposition to (against) Canaan? Various definitions show Cannan as Palestine (that tells us a great deal) and the Strong's shows Cannan as "merchant, traffic," which brings to mind the buying and selling in the end of days. Remember too that Canaan, son of Ham, carried a curse given by Noah. Seeing that tells me that the altar built against the land of Canaan means it was to show opposition to that land...worldly, carnal merchandise and lusts.
The children of Israel on that side of the border, the worldly side, were angry at those on the other side...the promised side.
Joshua 22:13, 15-16 And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, (15) And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying, Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?
They considered this building of an altar an affront to their worship, to their God of Israel....a rebellion. But, was it?
Joshua 22:21,25 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel, (25) For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD,
The reason for the altar wasn't as Israel(the church) believed but was to serve as a witness for future generations. It is the Lord that placed a border between those that have been called and have achieved the promised land from those that strive to achieve. The contention causes one side to believe the other has "no part in the Lord," but the truth is...they have the truth, the witness.
22:26-28 Therefore we said, 'Let us now prepare to build us an altar,' not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: But that it may be a witness between us and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before Him with out burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, 'Ye have no part in the LORD.' Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, 'Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.
"Behold the pattern of the altar." The altar is a witness between the elect and the righteous. Between those that are called and those that follow Him. The witness is Christ, the testimony we witness, the Word. He is the altar... "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle." [Heb.13:10]
22:30-31 And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them. And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.
22:34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.
22:34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.
They "heard the words." Their eyes and ears were opened to His truth for on "this day we perceive."
This same group of called ones are written of again...the same story told in a different manner....
1 Chronicles 5:18-20 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot the bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war. And they made war with the Hagarites with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab. And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and He was intreated of them; because they put their trust in Him.
Four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore
Four ~ The number of Creation
Forty ~ Probation, trial
Seven ~ Spiritual perfection
Threescore ~ (twenty x three) Twenty, the number of expectancy, times Three, Divine perfection
Four ~ The number of Creation
Forty ~ Probation, trial
Seven ~ Spiritual perfection
Threescore ~ (twenty x three) Twenty, the number of expectancy, times Three, Divine perfection
These literal and spiritual warriors in God's great army battle for our Father. Historically they fought for David, a type of Christ...to make him King.
1 Chronicles 12:18-20 Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads. As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.
1 Chronicles 12:30-32 And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers. And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king. And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
1 Chronicles 12:30-32 And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers. And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king. And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
Eighteen ~ Eight by itself is the number of resurrection and regeneration, the beginning of a new era. Ten is one of the perfect numbers, signifying the perfection of Divine order, so nothing is wanting.
The half tribe of Manasseh that went to battle were expressed by name to "make David king." They are called by name to be soldiers of the Lord....
Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
Isaiah 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known Me.
Isaiah 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my name.
Isaiah 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known Me.
Isaiah 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my name.
1 Chronicles 12:37-39 And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand. All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.
That is a shadow of the end of days when Israel shall be "of one heart." We are men of war, we are called, we have a perfect heart to win this battle for our Savior, the King of all Israel. Was the tribe of Manasseh scattered by our Father to America. If yes, then are we, the called ones, thehalf of Manasseh? Our great country is split right down the middle. We are in half and the division is great.
Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
We see the importance of Manasseh in the latter days...they/we are to battle, with a pure heart, those that are the enemies of God and our brothers...the wicked giants, the locusts, the scorpions....Satan's evil forces.
