Geography and Geology and Tribal Character, Asher; Joseph; Manasseh, Ephraim; Benjamin.
Contined from Tamar Weissman-2.
Book Review.
Tamar Weissman, "Tribal Lands. The Twelve Tribes of Israel in their Ancestral Territories," ca. 350 pages, Jerusalem, 2019. hardcover, illustrated.
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Asher -
Western Galilee.
# The large swath of the north, encompassing most of the western Galilee, is lush year-round, with abundant foliage and ample water sources.. #
Brit-Am Comment; We identify Ireland with the Tribe of Asher. Ireland is also abundant in water resources and green and lush all year round.
Flag of Asher was a fiery red with an olive tree superimposed. The stone of Asher was an aquamarine, "Tarshish."
Healthy children and large families.
Beautiful daughters who still looked young in their old age.
Kings and High Priests married women from Asher.
Mount Carmel, scene of the encounter of Elijah with the priests of baal was in the territory of Asher.
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Joseph -
Both Rachel and her son Joseph are described as beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance.(Genesis 29:17, 39:6).
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Manasseh -
# Why was Israel subjugated to all the nations? So that within Israel they would live one, for Israel must incorporate the world. # Zohar, Exodus 16b.
Manasseh was associated with Joseph whereas Ephraim was closer to Jacob.
The Midrash depicts Manasseh as the right-hand man of Joseph.
Nevertheless, Manasseh remaiend ont h righthand side of Jacob even though Jacob set his right hand on the head of Ephraim.
The physical power of Manasseh alerted Judah and Simeon to the possibility that Manasseh was related to them (BR 93;6, Targum Yerushalmi 42;43).
Ephraim became greater than Manasseh.
Noted descendants of Manasseh included the Daughter of Zelophehad, Yair (who was considered a great scholar in Talmudic sources), King Jehu son of Nimshi (PR 3,12b; Yerushalmi, Horayot 3, 47c),.
"Bnei Yissachar," a classic work of Hassidic thought associated Manasseh with the month of Mar-Heshbon, and the building of the future Third Temple. The First Temple was also completed in Heshvan (Mar-Heshbon) even though the official inaugurated was delayed until he following Tishrei, about 11 months later.
There is an element of divisiveness in Manasseh. He territory was divided in two.
Nevertheless the Third temple representing peace and unity will be launched by Manasseh in the month of Manasseh.
Manasseh was to receive his blessing than Ephraim.
One Rabbinic opinion says that the Messiah son of Jopseph will come from Manasseh (BaR 14:1) though most say he will come from Ephraim.
Manasseh had "the unique capacity to promote interaction and relationship among all of the Tribes."
Manasseh received 10 districts west of the Jordan in addition to the lands of Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan.
The area of Manasseh west of the Jordan was divided into two parts, 5 portions went to the daughters of Zelophehad, and five to the sons of Gilead.
This is confirmed by pottery shards (ostraca) found in Shomron (Samaria) the capital of the northern Kingdom.
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Ephraim -
The territory of Ephraim was in the heartland of Israel.
The eye of Joseph represents self-control (Talmud, Zevachim 118b).
Shiloh, sight of the early Tabernacle, was in the land of Ephraim. Archaeology finds including the typically Israelite four-roomed houses confirm Israelite settlement of the area.
The earliest example of Hebrew writing has been found in the territory of Ephraim.
Jeremiah predicted the return of Israelites and rebuilding of Ephraim (Jeremiah 31:3-4).
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Benjamin-
Jacob named Benjamin "Ben-Oni" - "Son of My Strength," or "Embodiment of Strength," also connoting "son of days" i.e. long-lived.
Benjamin - a predator, well-able to defend himself.
Symbolized by a wolf, experts in archery and javelin.
Jeremiah was a prophet and a Cohen (Priest) from the Tribe of Levi yet he came from Anathoth in the Land of Benjamin. Jeremiah, as pointed out by Ze-ev Erlich, uses the terminology of archery 16 times in the Book of Jeremiah and four times in the Book of Lamentations which he also wrote.
Benjamin was often left-handed giving him the advantage of surprise.
The symbol of Benjamin was a wolf. Benjamin under Saul fought against Amalek, who according to Shimshon Rafael Hirsch, was also represented by a wolf. [Hitler and the Nazis also used the wolf as their symbol.]
"Benjamin will tear apart the wolf " (Hirsch, Genesis 49:27).
Mordecai in the Book of Esther was also from Benjamin. The adversary of Mordecai and Esther was Haman the Agagite a descendant of Amelek.
The mother of Joseph and Benjamin was Rachel who had an attribute of silence.
Bioth Rachel and Benjamin had the quality of "Tzeniut" connoting modesty and discretion.
The area of the Temple in Jerusalem was technically divided between the Tribes of Benjamin and Judah. The most Holy area was in the portion of Benjamin.
The flag of Benjamin was an amalgamation of all the other eleven colors, symbolizing the unity of Am Yisrael (People of Israel, BaR 2:7).
The House of Saul and Jonathan was from Benjamin.
David and Jonathan were very close and the Tribe of Benjamin remained mainly together with Judah.
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Summation:
This work is valuable and informative in its own right. It also has information and insights of value to Brit-Am Tribal studies. It is written well and covers several varying facets of its subject matter.