Tyndale Open Study Notes on Deuteronomy 33:17

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Modern study notes
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

33:17 Ephraim is listed first because he received the blessing of the firstborn over Manasseh (Gen 48:8-22). Manasseh, the firstborn, would normally have received the double portion belonging to the firstborn (cp. Deut 21:17), but Jacob gave it to Ephraim, Joseph’s younger son. Moses’ blessing reflects Jacob’s blessing by listing the tribe of Ephraim as numbering in multitudes (literally tens of thousands) and Manasseh in thousands. After the conquest and establishment of the nation, Ephraim became the dominant tribe of the north; later, after the kingdom was divided following Solomon’s death (1 Kgs 12), the name Ephraim was used interchangeably with Israel in speaking of the northern kingdom.

Read Deuteronomy 33:17 →Read the full chapter →Barnes' Notes →Wesley's Explanatory Notes →Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge →Keil & Delitzsch →

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