Torah Portion No. 12
Torah: Genesis 47:28-50:26 Haftarah: 1 Kings 2:1-12 Gospel: John 13:1-19
January 5, 2025
This week I am trying a new way to approach the Torah Portion. I decided on a four step process.
Read #1: Read the portion from start to finish following along with the audio Bible in my CSB translation. Write down quesitons.
Read #2: Read the portion from start to finish making annotations in my ESV Journaling Bible. Write down questions.
Read #3: Read in sections & consult resources. Begin addressing questions.
Synthesize in writing.
Today I read the Genesis passage and completed reads #1 and #2.
Questions:
Joseph was younger than most of his brothers. Why did he die sooner? Who outlived him? (50:24)
Why is the blessing often given to the younger? (48:14)
What happened with Ruben? (49:4)
How were the prophecies of Chapter 49 realized?
What is a scepter? (49:10)
Why did the Egyptians weep for Israel for 70 days? (50:3)
Did they leave the children alone? (50:8)
January 6, 2025
As decided yesterday, I’ll begin addressing questions and consulting resources.
I began with chapter 49 trying to answer these questions:
How were the prophecies of Chapter 49 realized?
What happened with Ruben? (49:4)
What is a scepter? (49:10)
In this chapter, Jacob (Israel) gathers together his 12 sons that he “…may tell [them] what will happen…in days to come” (49:1 ESV).
“Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father” (v.2)
Jacob’s sons are the representatives, starts, first of each tribe of Israel. My assumption is that these prophecies that Jacob speaks are fulfilled not just in these men’s lifetimes but in and through the tribes that will descend from these men.
Jacob then addresses each of his sons from oldest to youngest.
Note: As I studied, one of my curiosities was weather or not the sons of Jacob and their tribes are included in the list of Israel’s tribes in Revelation 7. If they are, I’ve included an aesterick
Ruben*: Though he is the first born he will not receive preeminence because of his sexual immorality. He slept with his fathers concubine (his brothers mother). We read about that is Genesis 35:22.
Simeon* and Levi* are violent men born of Leah, Jacob’s first and unloved wife. “For in their anger, they killed men” (49: 6) may be referring to the slaughter of their sisters rapists in Genesis 34. They are also violent in their boredom. The CSB reads, “…and on a whim they hamstring oxen” (49:6).
January 7, 2025
What is the scepter? (49:10)
A scepter is “an ornamented staff carried by rulers on ceremonial occasions as a symbol of sovereignty.” Here the scepter and the ruler’s staff represent the kingship beginning with David and being fulfilled in Yeshua the Messiah.
January 8, 2025
Today I looked into Ephraim and Manasseh. I’m trying to figure out why the birthright and blessings are so often given to the younger sibling. 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 says of Ruben, “…He was the firstborn, but his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Ruben defiled his father’s bed” (CSB). And while this gives clarity on why Ruben lost his birthright, I’m still wondering why Joseph, rather his two sons, received it. Was it simply because Joseph was Jacob’s favorite? Or is there something else here?
Also, I was today years old when I realized that Ephraim and Manasseh are two of the tribes of Israel even though they were not sons of Jacob. I’ve always been curious about why Joseph didn’t get a tribe named after him. Now I’m curious about who of the 12 sons also didn’t get a tribe.
January 11, 2025
About the tribes and land allotments. When I left my last study of this portion, I was wondering which of Israel’s 12 sons didn’t get a tribe. But the fact is that Israel really had 13 tribes. 12 had land allotments and 1 didn’t.
Israel’s favored son Joseph received a double portion, two tribes named after his two sons Ephriama nd Manasseh. Levi got a scattered tribe and no land allotment. The Levites are spread about the other territories and have special priestly responsibilities.
Why did the Egyptians weep for Israel for 70 days? (50:3)
