What were the Tribes of Joseph supposed to do?
Joseph as a Prototype.
Joseph was sold by his brothers and taken down to Egypt.
He became second-in command to Pharaoh.
Joseph saved Egypt and the Land of Canaan from Famine.
This is similar to the role of the West especially the USA in the Green Revolution that culminated in the late 1960s..
See:
The Do-Gooders of Joseph
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/joseph/dogood.html
Joseph reformed Egypt re-arranging the Social structure.
The brothers came down to Egypt and were brought before Joseph but they did not recognize their brother.
Joseph became reconciled with them and met up with his father who had assumed him dead.
His father and brothers were re-settled in Goshen in Egypt bordering on the Land of Canaan.
So too, Joseph re-arranged the social structure and geographic distribution of the Egyptian People.
Genesis (TCTanakh) 47: 20 SO JOSEPH BOUGHT ALL THE FARMLAND OF THE EGYPTIANS FOR PHARAOH, FOR THE EGYPTIANS SOLD, EACH ONE HIS FIELD, FOR THE FAMINE HAD BECOME TOO STRONG FOR THEM, AND THE LAND BECAME PHARAOH'S. 21 AND HE TRANSFERRED THE POPULACE TO THE CITIES, FROM [ONE] END OF THE BOUNDARY OF EGYPT TO ITS [OTHER] END. 22 ONLY THE FARMLAND OF THE PRIESTS HE DID NOT BUY, FOR THE PRIESTS HAD AN ALLOTMENT FROM PHARAOH, AND THEY ATE THEIR ALLOTMENT THAT PHARAOH HAD GIVEN THEM; THEREFORE, THEY DID NOT SELL THEIR FARMLAND. 23 JOSEPH SAID TO THE PEOPLE, "BEHOLD, I HAVE BOUGHT YOU AND YOUR FARMLAND TODAY FOR PHARAOH. BEHOLD, YOU HAVE SEED, SO SOW THE SOIL. 24 AND IT SHALL BE CONCERNING THE CROPS, THAT YOU SHALL GIVE A FIFTH TO PHARAOH, AND THE [REMAINING] FOUR PARTS SHALL BE YOURS: FOR SEED FOR [YOUR] FIELD[S], FOR YOUR FOOD, FOR THOSE IN YOUR HOUSES, AND FOR YOUR YOUNG CHILDREN TO EAT."
Sfat Emet: Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter (1847 - 1905, Poland)
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/rabbi/gur.html
Joseph gives expression to the Role of Israel in this world. Joseph has the ability to induce Israelite Awareness among the other Tribes.
The cleaving of Jacob to the Tribes is only possible through Joseph the Righteous One. [The Realization of Israelite Identity will come about through Joseph.]
Joseph enables the other tribes to bring to fruition their Israelite potential represented by "Jacob".
Joseph is the inner essence of everything. Through self-annulment to the truth Joseph is revealed.
THE ENVY ALSO OF EPHRAIM SHALL DEPART, AND THE ADVERSARIES OF JUDAH SHALL BE CUT OFF: EPHRAIM SHALL NOT ENVY JUDAH, AND JUDAH SHALL NOT VEX EPHRAIM [Isaiah 11:13].
Joseph and Judah Need Each of the Other to Fulfil Their Own Task.
Judah said to Joseph. "OH MY LORD, LET THY SERVANT, I PRAY THEE" [Genesis 44:18]. The expression I PRAY THEE in Hebrew is "Bi Adoni" which literally means "Please, My Lord". In Hebrew the word "Bi" translated as "please" can also mean "in me".
Genesis (TCT) 44|:
18 THEN JUDAH APPROACHED HIM AND SAID, "PLEASE, MY LORD, LET NOW YOUR SERVANT SPEAK SOMETHING INTO MY LORD'S EARS, AND LET NOT YOUR WRATH BE KINDLED AGAINST YOUR SERVANT, FOR YOU ARE LIKE PHARAOH.
The Hebrew word translated above as "Please" is "BI" which can also mean "THROUGH ME." Through Judah can Joseph become a lord! Through Judah can both Judah and Joseph together realize their potential.
The "Sfat Emet" links the expression "in me" to "My Lord". He says that Judah was hinting to Joseph that his power of overlordship was "in me" i.e. in Judah. In other words Joseph was able to rule by virtue of the exertions of Judah.
[Both parts of the Israelite Nation has its own role to play. By each one doing what it has to the other side is helped and enabled to do its task.
Both Judah and Joseph have their own tasks and that at some level they need each other to fulfill these tasks. Joseph needs Judah to learn and teach the Law in the Land of Israel. Judah needs Joseph to rule the world.]
Joseph needs to connect to Judah. They need each other to fulfil their potential and help each other. Judah is smaller and weaker but it has much to offer.
Joseph Carries the Other Tribes.
Sefat Emet on Exodus 28:12. The precious stone called "Shoham" (translated as "onyx") was to be found in the TWO SHOULDERPIECES on which the names of the Twelve Tribes were engraved. The shoham was also the special stone of Joseph in the breastplate in which each tribe had its own stone. "Sefas Emes" (i.e. "Sefat Emet") says on the significance of the Shoham stone being that of Joseph:
"The main point of the Memorial [Exodus 28:12 above] concerns Joseph and that is why on the Ephod [shoulder-piece of the High Priest] there was only the Shoham which is the stone of Joseph. By means of the stone of Joseph all the twelve stones are unified at their roots".
Israel, Joseph, and Gomer: The Cimmerians.
Rabbi Yisrael Alter (1895-1977) in his work "Beis Yisroel" (VeYechi, 5710 (ca. 1950-51), # Genesis 47:28) wrote that the Children of Israel, especially as associated with Joseph, were known as Gomer and as Gomerites. Gomer is the name given by the Assyrians to the Cimmerian Federation that rebelled agaionst them and from whom the Scythians and Goths emerged. We identify them as a portion of the Lost Ten Tribes. This group shortly after their exile gained its independence and linked up with other elements who had also been exiled like themselves.
Amos (TCT) 6:
1 WOE TO THOSE WHO ARE AT EASE IN ZION AND TO THOSE WHO ARE SECURE IN THE MOUNTAIN OF SAMARIA, THOSE CALLED THE FIRST OF THE NATIONS, AND THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL HAS COME TO THEM.
Amos (TCT) 5:
14 SEEK GOOD AND NOT EVIL IN ORDER THAT YOU LIVE, AND SO THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS SHALL BE WITH YOU, AS YOU SAID.
15 HATE EVIL AND LOVE GOOD, AND ESTABLISH JUSTICE IN THE GATE; PERHAPS THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS WILL BE GRACIOUS TO THE REMNANT OF JOSEPH.
Psalms (TCT) 80:
2 O SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL, HEARKEN, HE WHO LEADS JOSEPH LIKE FLOCKS, HE WHO DWELLS BETWEEN THE CHERUBIM, APPEAR.
3 BEFORE EPHRAIM, BENJAMIN, AND MANASSEH AROUSE YOUR MIGHT, AND IT IS FOR YOU TO SAVE US.
20 O LORD GOD OF HOSTS, RETURN US; CAUSE YOUR COUNTENANCE TO SHINE, AND WE SHALL BE SAVED.
Zechariah (TCT) 10:
6 AND I WILL STRENGTHEN THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, AND THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH I WILL SAVE. AND I WILL CAUSE THEM TO SETTLE, FOR I HAVE BESTOWED MERCY UPON THEM. AND THEY SHALL BE AS THOUGH I HAD NOT FORSAKEN THEM, FOR I AM THE LORD THEIR GOD, AND I WILL ANSWER THEM.
7 AND EPHRAIM SHALL BE LIKE A MIGHTY MAN, AND THEIR HEART SHALL REJOICE AS IF [WITH] WINE. AND THEIR CHILDREN SHALL SEE AND REJOICE; THEIR HEART SHALL BE JOYFUL WITH THE LORD.
8 I WILL WHISTLE TO THEM, AND I WILL GATHER THEM, FOR I HAVE REDEEMED THEM. AND THEY SHALL MULTIPLY AS THEY MULTIPLIED.
9 AND I WILL SOW THEM AMONG THE PEOPLES, AND IN THE DISTANT PLACES THEY SHALL REMEMBER ME. AND THEY SHALL LIVE WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND RETURN.
10 AND I WILL RETURN THEM FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND FROM ASSYRIA I WILL GATHER THEM. AND TO THE LAND OF GILEAD AND LEBANON I WILL BRING THEM, AND IT SHALL NOT SUFFICE FOR THEM.
11 AND TROUBLE [PASS OVER IN A STRAIT] SHALL PASS THROUGH THE SEA, AND HE SHALL STRIKE THE WAVES OF THE SEA AND DRY ALL THE DEPTHS OF THE RIVER. AND THE PRIDE OF ASSYRIA SHALL BE BROUGHT DOWN, AND THE ROD OF EGYPT SHALL TURN AWAY.
12 AND I WILL STRENGTHEN THEM BY THE LORD, AND BY HIS NAME THEY SHALL WALK, SAYS THE LORD.
Ezekiel (TCT) 47:
13 SO SAID THE LORD GOD: THIS IS THE BORDER WHEREBY YOU SHALL DIVIDE THE LAND FOR INHERITANCE TO THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, JOSEPH [TAKING TWO] PORTIONS.
Psalms (TCT) 77:
15 You are the God Who works wonders; You made known Your might among the peoples.
16 YOU REDEEMED YOUR PEOPLE WITH YOUR ARM, THE SONS OF JACOB AND JOSEPH FOREVER.
Obadiah (TCT) 1:
18 AND THE HOUSE OF JACOB SHALL BE FIRE AND THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH A FLAME, AND THE HOUSE OF ESAU SHALL BECOME STUBBLE, AND THEY SHALL IGNITE THEM AND CONSUME ...
The Lost Ten Tribes of Israel are just that. They are Israelite Tribes, each with its own characteristics. Through studying these matters we can prove who they are.
The Tribe of Joseph was the main Tribe. Joseph was divided into two Tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh.
The Symbolic Significance of Joseph
The figure of Joseph in the Bible in effect prefigures the destiny of his descendants. Joseph in Egypt was not known to his brothers. Joseph became the effective ruler of Egypt which controlled much of the world at that time. Joseph reformed Gentile society and agrarian practice saving humanity from famine. Joseph also supported his brothers and helped them before being reconciled to them.
Rabbis on MBJ.
Rabbinical Commentary on the Messiah son of Joseph
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/mbjtoday/mbjrabbis.html
MBJ is not ONLY a future Savior indicated by the Bible.
He is also an embodiment of the Lost Ten Tribes headed by Joseph in the End Times.
By studying sources (based on the Bible and the Sages) concerning MBJ we reinforce our impressions as to who and where the Ten Tribes are.