Deu 33:17 | TNotes | STEP | 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.

bGen 48:8-22►

cDeut 21:17►

d1 Kgs 12►

‏ Deuteronomy 33:17

33:17 ^a Ephraim is listed first because he received the blessing of the firstborn over Manasseh (Gen 48:8-22 ^b). Manasseh, the firstborn, would normally have received the double portion belonging to the firstborn (cp. Deut 21:17 ^c), 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 ^d), the name Ephraim was used interchangeably with Israel in speaking of the northern kingdom.