19 And his father refused, and GEN. XXXV:16-18-B. C. 1729 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. 20 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. GEN. XLI:50-52-B. C. 1715 50 And unto Joseph were born two sons, before the years of famine came: which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On, bare unto him. *51 And Joseph called the name. of the first born Manasseh: for God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. † 52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: for God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. 16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was still some way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. 18 And it came to pass, as her soul GEN. XXV:24-28-B. C. 1838 delivered were fulfilled, behold, 25 And the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment: and they called his name, Esau. 26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Issac was threescore years old, when she bare them. *Gen. 41:50-51-Manasseh, That is, Forgetting by begetting the Twelve Tribes of Manasseh. +Gen. 41:52-Ephraim, That is, Fruitful, by crossing and being crossed by each of the Twelve Tribes of Jacob. Gen. 35:16-18-Benjamin, That is, The son of the right hand, That symbolizes God's dealings with Benjamin which is the result of his acts unders the guidance of the Lord in the last days or this shows the result of the acts of Benjamin as a loyal member of the House of Israel. §Gen. 25:24-28-Jacob, That is, Supplanter. Jacob supplanted Esau twice. First by marrying in his own kin (the most powerful of the earth) and second by the conquest of Esau's homeland in Britain. 27 And the boys grew; and Esau him, I am the Almighty God; walk was a cunning hunter, a man of the before me, and be thou perfect. field: and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebecca loved Jacob. GEN. XXI:1-5-B. C. 1897 1 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time, of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son, that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, being eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. GEN. XVII:1-8-B. C. 1898 1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt a father of many nations. be 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. Gen. 21:1-5-Isaac, That is, Laughter. As Sarah laughed at the thought of becoming a mother in her old age, so we laugh at the idea of being Israel: but when Isaac was born she laughed for joy, so we will laugh when Israel is known. Gen. 17:1-8-Abraham, That is, A multitude of nations. These texts are set in reversal as in Levit. 26:42-Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. |