The Children of Israel Their Promises and Prophecies of Their Future.

CHAPTER 4 THE BIRTHRIGHT AND THE SCEPTER PROMISES

Now we come to a most vital distinction, a bit of Scriptural truth known only by very few. Note it carefully. Genesis 49:10. “The [Tribal Name] Scepter [H7626] shall not depart from Judah, nor a [scribe] lawgiver [H2710] from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him [Shiloh] shall be the obedience of the people.” This verse must be approached in two different ways. LAWGIVER The Hebrew word “chaqaq - (khaw-kak')” (#H2710 in Strong's) is translated as “lawgiver.” Originally, “chaqaq” referred to ETERNAL as having brought His Law into existence in the beginning by engraviging the law in stone on Mount Sinai.  In addition, Scripture also refers to men as scribes—who only simply engrave ETERNAL's Law, not invent it. To sum this up Scripturally, a “lawgiver” is simply a scribe.   Therefore, “The Lawgiver” is ETERNAL,  Who composed and transcribed His laws in stone to give to Moses, whereas “a lawgiver” is simply a human scribe who transcribes ETERNAL's Laws after they have been given. SCEPTER The other approach to this verse is based on the meaning of the word “Scepter.” First, the Mashiach (the Messiah) is not the “Scepter,” yet he is labeled this by many. However, most students of Scripture will rightfully tell you that “Shiloh to whom the obedience of the people will be” is the Mashiach. King David, as is widely known, will fulfill the promise of the Mashiach.1 The Hebrew word “shebet” (#H7626 in Strong's) is translated as “a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or a clan.” We saw in the previous chapter that the most probable use of the word is a “clan or tribe.” The AHD 2 states the meaning of “Scepter” is:      1) A staff held by a sovereign as an emblem of authority;      2) Ruling power or authority, sovereignty. Webster's Dictionary states: “Scepter - a rod or staff, highly ornamented, held by rulers on ceremonial occasions as a symbol of sovereignty.”   To summarize Genesis 49:10 and cut to the chase, the verse does not say that the Jews are to be rulers of the people of Israel. In fact, Easton's Bible Dictionary states: (Heb. “shebet” = Gr. skeptron), properly a staff or rod. As a symbol of authority, the use of the sceptre originated in the idea that the ruler was as a shepherd of his people (Genesis 49:10; Num. 24:17; Psalm 45:6; Isaiah 14:5). There is no example on record of a sceptre having ever been actually handled by a Jewish king. Moreover, the verse plainly states that the Jews are to maintain their tribal identity and be the scribes for the Hebrew Scriptures down through history. Consequently, they would maintain the knowledge of the Sabbath 3 and knowledge of the monotheistic SOVEREIGN that created the Sabbath although they would lose the knowledge of His Name and Calendar. In addition, the Prophecy does not say they would worship the SOVEREIGN, as they have their own religious traditions they brought from Babylon. Yet, even so, Jews will not lose their tribal name of Judah and will be the scribes that maintain the Hebrew Scriptures and thus the identification of the monotheistic SOVEREIGN and His sign of the Sabbath. That means that the SOVEREIGN has made sure that the Jews proclaim the correct day, believe it or not; like it or not. In this vein the promise/prophesy of Genesis 49:8-10 shows that Judah would keep their tribal identity as Judah and be the Scriptural scribes for all of the sons of Jacob until Shiloh (the Mashiach) comes. 4 Judah has thus prevailed over his brothers as the only tribe maintaining their tribal name. Thus, the fact remains that “The scepter—tribal name—shall not depart from Judah.” BUT—and here is the astonishing vital fact so few ever seem to have noticed: 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 (TLB). “...his Birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the Birthright; yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler,5 although the Birthright was Joseph’s.” The Birthright Was Joseph’s Yes, the BIRTHRIGHT was Joseph’s and it remained with him and was given to his sons. Joseph is the one his brothers sold down into Egypt where he became food administrator and Prime Minister. Joseph was called “a prosperous man,” even as his descendants were destined to become (Genesis 41:39-43). Esau sold the Birthright (the promise of national greatness and material wealth) to Jacob and it was never given to the Jews who are of the tribe of JUDAH. So naturally, we should not expect to find this promise fulfilled in the Jews today. However, the tribe of Judah DOES HAVE and WILL KEEP the Scribal (Lawgiver) activity and NameSake (Scepter) promises until Shiloh comes. But, just what is a birthright? It is that which comes by right of birth. The twofold promises to Abraham that passed through his children are birthrights. Isaac gave both promises to his son Jacob who gave them to Joseph's sons that he adopted. Genesis 48:15-16. “And he [Jacob] blessed Joseph, and said: ‘Our SOVEREIGN, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the SOVEREIGN who has fed me all my life long to this day, the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name [Israel] be named upon them,6 and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.’” We will call the promise to Abraham of national greatness and material wealth the Birthright promise. In addition, we will refer to the promise to Abraham of scribes and ruler as the NameSake (Scepter) promise until Shiloh comes. Note that Jacob (Israel) had twelve sons and the twofold promise passed separately through different sons. Israel gave the Birthright promise to Joseph 7 and his two sons. Israel gave the NameSake (Scepter) promise to Judah and his sons. What is a “scepter”? As we have seen it is the maintaining of their tribal name and is associated with maintaining the Scriptures. The material Birthright includes possession of the land, Palestine, possessing the physical “gates” to enemy territory, and ruling over non-Israelite peoples spreading and colonizing around the world! Early on, Ephraim became a colonizing power ruling over many foreign nations, but in the culmination will be King David who will be King of kings. At this point, the two phases of the promises to Abraham separate into two different tribes! The interesting story in Genesis 48 of the passing of this Birthright from the aged Israel to the two sons of Joseph tells how Jacob (Israel) ADOPTED these two lads, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own legal sons. You should read it in its entirety, noticing that Jacob’s other sons were also recipients of blessings as recorded in the 49th chapter of Genesis: Genesis 48:16. “...Let my [Israel’s] name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” Hence they, Ephraim and Manasseh, are the “House of Israel.” They rightfully own the name of Israel, not the Jews! Israel continues administering the blessing of a great multitude. Who grew into that promised multitude? Notice it—NOT Judah, not the Jews—but the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh and THEIR DESCENDANTS. The Ten Tribes have two leading tribes: Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph. Joseph adopted them on his deathbed. These two tribes have received the unconditional material blessings given by our ETERNAL SOVEREIGN to Abraham. This, after being delayed a very long period because of their constant rebellious attitude and disobedience. Together they were to grow to a multitude. Nevertheless, eventually, as indicated by another prophecy, Isaiah 49:20, to be explained later, the descendants of these two lads were to separate, and Ephraim would lose Manasseh, then to become a separate nation. So, continuing, speaking of Manasseh, Israel said, Genesis 48:19. “He [Manasseh] also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother [Ephraim] shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude [a company or commonwealth] of nations.” Therefore, Ephraim, the son of Joseph, became the Birthright holder. When in league with other tribes, the group will be called “the House of Israel” in Scripture and is sometimes referred to by the name “Ephraim.” But, who are the descendants of Ephraim and of Manasseh today? Somewhere Ephraim must be a group or Commonwealth of Nations while Manasseh must be the greatest single nation on earth! Either it is so, or scripture is not true! Continued in Chapter 5

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