Joseph and Democracy

Manasseh was to be Characterized by Responsible Representation

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Responsible Representation
Biblical Locations of the Lost Ten Tribes
 Scriptural Proof 
 The Joseph Aspect
by Yair Davidiy

 Biblical Evidence: The Joseph Aspect

Representative Democracy

The names "Ephraim" and "Ephrathi" (meaning someone from Ephraim) in Hebrew connote Nobility. This pertains to Britain. On the other hand the name "Manasseh" embodies the concept of Democratic Responsible Representation as endorsed by the USA.

[Genesis 41:51]
"AND JOSEPH CALLED THE NAME OF THE FIRSTBORN MANASSEH: FOR GOD, SAID HE, HATH MADE ME FORGET ALL MY TOIL, AND ALL MY FATHER'S HOUSE."


Adapted and summarized from Joseph

MANASSEH

THE NAME "MENASSEH" IN HEBREW ENCAPSULATES THE MEANING OF NORTH AMERICAN DEMOCRACY!

The Patriarch Joseph son of Israel had two sons, Ephraim and Menasseh, whose names testified to aspects of their national destiny:

(Genesis 41;50-51)
 "AND UNTO JOSEPH WERE BORN TWO SONS BEFORE THE YEARS OF FAMINE CAME, WHICH ASENATH THE DAUGHTER OF POTIPHERA PRIEST OF ON BARE UNTO HIM.

 "AND JOSEPH CALLED THE NAME OF THE FIRSTBORN MANASSEH: FOR GOD HAS CAUSED ME TO FORGET [Hebrew: Nashani] ALL MY TROUBLES AND MY FATHER'S FAMILY."


Rabbi Hirsch (in free translation) says:


[Genesis 41;51:`.."Forget" is not the only meaning of "Nosheh". "Nosheh" also means: to be the bearer of a claim, to be a creditor.

[Genesis 32;33:]`"Nosheh" ...to have body or property in another's trust. Thus the "NoSHeH" (Creditor) has passed to another person part of his property and as a result he demands something from him...a woman in the singular [Hebrew: "Ishah"] ... compliments (her husband) and stands by his side as an equal. In the plural [i.e. in the plural name for women, "NoSHim"], however, is revealed the communal status of woman. The woman surrenders some of her rights to the man and these rights are represented by him. Only in the mass, in the life of the general whole group, do women reveal themselves as weak and lacking resourcefulness. Women, however, are "Noshim" (i.e. "creditors") with a claim [to be represented] on the husband who owes it to them [S.R. Hirsch on Genesis 32;33].

Explanation: In Hebrew a man is  "ISH" and a woman is "Ishah" i.e. the feminine form of "ish" (man) is apparently "ishah" i.e. "woman". The normal feminine plural form is formed by adding the suffix "-oth" and so the plural of "ishah" ("woman") should be "ishoth" but it is not so. Contrary to the usual format, the plural form of "ishah" in Hebrew is "noshim" which appears identical to the plural form of "Nosheh" (meaning "creditor") and therefore may be understood to mean "creditors" and upon this anomaly Rabbi Hirsch based his interpretation.


Rabbi Hirsch was basing himself on the assumption of Hebrew Law in which women were not counted in the aggregate as separate entities but as being represented by their husbands. They were therefore in sense electors of their husbands who represent them and are responsible to and for them. Rabbi Hirsch finds this same principle repeated in the use made of the name "Manasseh" which he says is derived from the same root-word. The name "Manasseh" (Manasheh) in Hebrew is built up from the word components "Ma-Nasheh". "Noshe" means to have a claim on the responsibility of another, or have a claim for representation: MaNasseh can mean "make a representative responsible for".
"Manasseh" as a noun or name can mean the principle of responsible representation.
It should be remarked that in Hebrew a word root can connote both a direct action and its reversal. "Nasheh" can imply putting something of one's own in the domain of someone else and therefore having a claim on that person or alternately "nosheh" connotes the claim others have on oneself. The form "Menasseh"  is a name indicating "nosheh" more in the affirmative active manner of making responsible representation for oneself.

"MENASSEH" actually means "RESPONSIBLE REPRESENTATION OBLIGATING THE REPRESENTED"!

The American War of Independence began over the principle of: 'No Taxation Without Representation!', and the American system and life-style and ethical system is built on this principle. Only the USA attaches such significance to these principles since only for Manasseh are they part of its very being.

A related point is the name of "Machir" who was the first-born son of Manasseh (Genesis 50:23). The Hebrew "Machir" or "HaMachiri" (belonging to "Machir") gave rise to the Latinized form of "Amerigo" from which came the term "America". America was therefore in a roundabout-way named after Machir. In Hebrew "Machir" connotes "selling, and price" and the principle of Capitalism.