Are You From Ephraim? no.2 (11 June, 2015, 24 Sivan, 5775)
Continued from: "Are You From Ephraim?"
Duration: 25.34 minutes
Contents:
1. Ephraim is Jealous and Zealous
2. Jealousy of Judah
3. Jealousy of "Ephraimites" Over Jews in Israel
4. Jealousy and Zealotry ("Kinah") in the Bible: The Feeling of Right to Acquisition through Merit. The Adulterous Woman. Pinchas the Zealot.
5. Gideon from Manasseh and the Jealousy-Zealotry of Ephraim
6. Ephraim Wants a Piece of the Action!
7. Jephthah and the War With Ephraim.
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1. Ephraim is Jealous and Zealous. Are You Like This?
Ephraim has a jealous inclination. Ephraim is also zealous: The two tendencies are connected.
These attributes are universal.
They appear however to acquire a greater emphasis with Ephraim.
Are you like that?
When you see someone receive attention or remuneration do you feel jealous?
Jealousy is associated with acquisition , as we shall see.
Jealousy is especially acute when one feels that whatever any specific person is receiving you deserve it just as much.
Do you have this tendency?
It may even be only on a subconscious level, an automatic almost instinctive reaction.
Does this happen to you?
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2. Jealousy of Judah
We find Jealousy described as an attribute of Ephraim concerning Judah:
# EPHRAIM'S JEALOUSY WILL VANISH, AND JUDAH'S ENEMIES WILL BE DESTROYED; EPHRAIM WILL NOT BE JEALOUS OF JUDAH, NOR JUDAH HOSTILE TOWARD EPHRAIM. #
Isaiah 11:13
This is speaking of the End Times and how in the End Times the quality will no longer be present.
Up until then however, it will be.
Why should Ephraimites be Jealous of Judah?
Ephraimites belong to wealthy, powerful, highly prestigious nations respected throughout the world. They are often relatively well-off, and give the impression of not having to over duly exert themselves to maintain what they are.
They are intelligent, educated and sometimes intellectual. Neverthelss, jealousy of the Jews is not an infrequent phenomenon even amongst they who otherwise are sympathetic towards Judah and the State of Israel.
Ephraim is jealous of Judah because of the Law.
Ephraim subconsciously would like to learn the law and keep it like Judah does.
Ephraim however is not prepared to acknowledge this, nor would he be prepared to make too much of an effort in order to achieve it.
They would be loathe to pay the price.
Ephraim is also jealous of Judah because of the intellectual achievements of Judah which Ephraim feels that he too would be capable of if he only tried.
Ephraim is also jealous of Judah because of Jewish family life, and material success though this is greatly exaggerated and often the opposite of reality.
Ephraim is jealous of Judah because Judah does not acknowledge the Chrsitian Messiah.
Ephraim has a problem.
Ephraim has an inclination to be jealous for the sake of it, and Judah is an easy, susceptible, and vulnerable target.
We are now adults. We have grown up. A lot of basic instincts and bad habits have been put behind us. They are still there but suppressed and usually kept below the surface.
But think back to when you were children. There must have been moments when you were jealous of others. Why was that?
It usually stems from feeling that someone else has something you feel you should have had.
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3. Jealousy of "Ephraimites" Over Jews in Israel
We also find Jealousy of Judah in the so-called "Ephraimite" Movement.
These are Christians who believe that for physical or religious reasons they should be considered descendants of Israel.
They also usually keep the Sabbath and other Laws but not as the Jews keep them but rather as they think Scripture may have intended.
These people often complain of not being allowed to come and live in Israel in the same way as the Jews do.
They are jealous.
They are probably from Ephraim and many of them believe they are. They even call themselves "Ephraimites".
They believe they deserve to receive what the Jews have even though they do not believe in Judaism and would not keep the commandments as the Jews do.
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4. Jealousy and Zealotry ("Kinah") in the Bible: The Feeling of Right to Acquisition through Merit. The Adulterous Woman. Pinchas the Zealot.
What is jealousy?
Jealousy is linked to Zealotry, to being zealous and extreme for better of for worse.
Jealousy and zealotry can be positive when rightly applied.
In Hebrew the same word, "Kinah" is used for both Jealousy and Zealotry.
The word "kinah" comes from the Hebrew root KaNeH (KNH) connoting "acquire, buy, possess".
A person feels jealousy or zealotry when his right to something he feels he has acquired is impaired.
Concerning Jealousy:
A person acquire his wife. She is his possession, or should be.
He feels jealous when someone else interferes with this.
Numbers 5:
11 THEN THE LORD SPOKE TO MOSES, SAYING, 12 'SPEAK TO THE SONS OF ISRAEL AND SAY TO THEM, 'IF ANY MAN'S WIFE GOES ASTRAY AND IS UNFAITHFUL TO HIM, 13 AND A MAN HAS INTERCOURSE WITH HER AND IT IS HIDDEN FROM THE EYES OF HER HUSBAND AND SHE IS UNDETECTED, ALTHOUGH SHE HAS DEFILED HERSELF, AND THERE IS NO WITNESS AGAINST HER AND SHE HAS NOT BEEN CAUGHT IN THE ACT, 14 IF A SPIRIT OF JEALOUSY COMES OVER HIM AND HE IS JEALOUS OF HIS WIFE WHEN SHE HAS DEFILED HERSELF, OR IF A SPIRIT OF JEALOUSY COMES OVER HIM AND HE IS JEALOUS OF HIS WIFE WHEN SHE HAS NOT DEFILED HERSELF, 15 THE MAN SHALL THEN BRING HIS WIFE TO THE PRIEST, AND SHALL BRING AS AN OFFERING FOR HER ONE-TENTH OF AN EPHAH OF BARLEY MEAL; HE SHALL NOT POUR OIL ON IT NOR PUT FRANKINCENSE ON IT, FOR IT IS A GRAIN OFFERING OF JEALOUSY, A GRAIN OFFERING OF MEMORIAL, A REMINDER OF INIQUITY.
"a spirit of jealousy" (5:14) in Hebrew "Ru-ach Kinah", i.e. a spirit [Ru-ach] of [dis[possession!
Jealousy is related to Zealotry: In Hebrew they used the same word, "kinah".
So too, we find with Pinchas [Phineas]:
In Numbers 25, we are told how the Israelites when they were encamped at Shittim began to fornicate with the women of Moab and of Midian. One was light skinned, the other darkish. You could take your pick. They also offered sacrifices to Baal Peor. The two acts were combined. The women of Moab and of Midian would say to the Israelites, "MAKE AN ACT OF OBEISANCE TO BAAL AND YOU CAN HAVE ME!" (Rashi).
A Prince of Simeon publicly took a Princess of Midian (Numbers 25:18) and went into the tent to have intercourse with her. A plague broke out amongst the Israelites.
Pinchas took a spear and ran both of them through with it, pinning them together, in flagrante delicto, in the very act.
Numbers 25:
6 THEN BEHOLD, ONE OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL CAME AND BROUGHT TO HIS RELATIVES A MIDIANITE WOMAN, IN THE SIGHT OF MOSES AND IN THE SIGHT OF ALL THE CONGREGATION OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL, WHILE THEY WERE WEEPING AT THE DOORWAY OF THE TENT OF MEETING. 7 WHEN PHINEHAS THE SON OF ELEAZAR, THE SON OF AARON THE PRIEST, SAW IT, HE AROSE FROM THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION AND TOOK A SPEAR IN HIS HAND,8 AND HE WENT AFTER THE MAN OF ISRAEL INTO THE TENT AND PIERCED BOTH OF THEM THROUGH, THE MAN OF ISRAEL AND THE WOMAN, THROUGH THE BODY. SO THE PLAGUE ON THE SONS OF ISRAEL WAS CHECKED. 9 THOSE WHO DIED BY THE PLAGUE WERE 24,000.
10 THEN THE LORD SPOKE TO MOSES, SAYING, 11 'PHINEHAS THE SON OF ELEAZAR, THE SON OF AARON THE PRIEST, HAS TURNED AWAY MY WRATH FROM THE SONS OF ISRAEL IN THAT HE WAS JEALOUS WITH MY JEALOUSY AMONG THEM, SO THAT I DID NOT DESTROY THE SONS OF ISRAEL IN MY JEALOUSY. 12 THEREFORE SAY, 'BEHOLD, I GIVE HIM MY COVENANT OF PEACE; 13 AND IT SHALL BE FOR HIM AND HIS [G]DESCENDANTS AFTER HIM, A COVENANT OF A PERPETUAL PRIESTHOOD, BECAUSE HE WAS JEALOUS FOR HIS GOD AND MADE ATONEMENT FOR THE SONS OF ISRAEL.''
Pinchas exhibited "Kinah" zealotry or jealousy for God, "he was jealous with My jealousy ". He was therefore rewarded.
The people of Israel belong to the LORD, God of Israel.
By worshipping other gods the Israelites take a possession of God and use it for another being.
So too, by publicly having intercourse with foreign women the Israelite males were taking the possession of God, who sanctifies marriage, and placing it in the domain of a foreign heathen body.
This is how the attributes of Jealousy and zealotry are connected.
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5. Gideon from Manasseh and the Jealousy-Zealotry of Ephraim
Gideon
In Judges 7, We are told how Gideon from the Clan of Abiezer in Manasseh (Judges 6:14) led Israelites in war against the Midianites who were oppressing Israel.
The Midianites forces included Midianites, Amalekites and the sons of the east (Judges 7:33).
The forces of Gideon included Manasseh and volunteers from the Tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali (Judges 7:33).
They defeated the Midianites.
The men of Ephraim joined in the fight and cut off the Midianite forces when they were retreating. The Ephraimites caught the Midianite leaders, cut off their heads and brought them to Gideon (Judges 7:24-25).
The Ephraimites then reproved Gideon for not having called them to the war at the very beginning. Gideon answered that their achievements at the end of the battle were more important than those at the beginning.
The Ephraimites were then placated.
Judges 8:
1 THEN THE MEN OF EPHRAIM SAID TO HIM, 'WHAT IS THIS THING YOU HAVE DONE TO US, NOT CALLING US WHEN YOU WENT TO FIGHT AGAINST MIDIAN?' AND THEY CONTENDED WITH HIM VIGOROUSLY. 2 BUT HE SAID TO THEM, 'WHAT HAVE I DONE NOW IN COMPARISON WITH YOU? IS NOT THE GLEANING OF THE GRAPES OF EPHRAIM BETTER THAN THE VINTAGE OF ABIEZER? 3 GOD HAS GIVEN THE LEADERS OF MIDIAN, OREB AND ZEEB INTO YOUR HANDS; AND WHAT WAS I ABLE TO DO IN COMPARISON WITH YOU?' THEN THEIR ANGER TOWARD HIM SUBSIDED WHEN HE SAID THAT.
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6. Ephraim Wants a Piece of the Action!
We see from the incident with Gideon two traits of Ephraim: (1) Jealousy; and (2) An Urge to be in the action.
The nations identified by as of Ephraim have this.
When the USA goes to war against terrorist in the Middle east Britain Australia and Canada usually volunteer to participate.
For Britain this is especially important.
As far as size is concerned the UK may not always contribute that much but she tries to make up for it in quality.
In the First Gulf War (2 August 1990 - 28 February 1991, codenamed Operation Desert Shield) British pilots from the RAF stood out. They would come diving in and hit their targets. It was also quite dangerous and they had casualties.
So too, in later actions such as the Second Gulf War (i.e. Iraq War, March 2003 to December 2011), and actions against El Quada and ISIS and in Afghanistan, etc, British soldiers and SAS commandoes undertook dangerous behind the lines missions and were successful. They were much appreciated.
The British (whom we identify with Ephraim) do not like to be left out.
Do you have this?
Do you want to be part of what is going on?
Or are you sometimes glad to be left out of it?
When you hear of something traumatic happening in Israel, such as terror strikes, or war-like actions, etc, are you glad for the moment that you are not involved or sorry about it?
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7. Jephthah and the War With Ephraim.
In Judges ch.11 we are told how Jiphthah (Yiftach) from Gilead of Manasseh lead a successful war against the Ammonite oppressors of Israel.
The Tribe of Ephraim were so upset about the war having been conducted without them that they went to war.
Judge 12
1 THEN THE MEN OF EPHRAIM WERE SUMMONED, AND THEY CROSSED TO ZAPHON AND SAID TO JEPHTHAH, 'WHY DID YOU CROSS OVER TO FIGHT AGAINST THE SONS OF AMMON WITHOUT CALLING US TO GO WITH YOU? WE WILL BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN ON YOU.' 2 JEPHTHAH SAID TO THEM, 'I AND MY PEOPLE WERE AT GREAT STRIFE WITH THE SONS OF AMMON; WHEN I CALLED YOU, YOU DID NOT DELIVER ME FROM THEIR HAND.3 WHEN I SAW THAT YOU WOULD NOT DELIVER ME, I TOOK MY LIFE IN MY HANDS AND CROSSED OVER AGAINST THE SONS OF AMMON, AND THE LORD GAVE THEM INTO MY HAND. WHY THEN HAVE YOU COME UP TO ME THIS DAY TO FIGHT AGAINST ME?' 4 THEN JEPHTHAH GATHERED ALL THE MEN OF GILEAD AND FOUGHT EPHRAIM; AND THE MEN OF GILEAD DEFEATED EPHRAIM, BECAUSE THEY SAID, 'YOU ARE FUGITIVES OF EPHRAIM, O GILEADITES, IN THE MIDST OF EPHRAIM AND IN THE MIDST OF MANASSEH.' 5 THE GILEADITES CAPTURED THE FORDS OF THE JORDAN OPPOSITE EPHRAIM. AND IT HAPPENED WHEN ANY OF THE FUGITIVES OF EPHRAIM SAID, 'LET ME CROSS OVER,' THE MEN OF GILEAD WOULD SAY TO HIM, 'ARE YOU AN EPHRAIMITE?' IF HE SAID, 'NO,' 6 THEN THEY WOULD SAY TO HIM, 'SAY NOW, 'SHIBBOLETH.'' BUT HE SAID, 'SIBBOLETH,' FOR HE COULD NOT PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY. THEN THEY SEIZED HIM AND SLEW HIM AT THE FORDS OF THE JORDAN. THUS THERE FELL AT THAT TIME 42,000 OF EPHRAIM.
We see here a lisp of confusing "s" with "sh".
One of my sons when he was younger used to have this.
I do not think I personally that we are from Ephraim but one never knows. It deserves being taken into taken along with other factors.
Do you have this attribute?
Do you dislike it when members of your family or people working with you etc do things on their own initiative and leave you out? Even when you benefit from it?
I do.
I guess everybody might feel irritated by such matters to some degree but it seems that with Ephraim this inclination was especially developed.
Ephraim seems to have considered himself the one and only natural leader of Israel.
The other Tribes even agreed with this to some degree.
We see that Yiphtach said that had requested help of Ephraim and only took action on his own action when Ephraim did not answer.
Even from this negative incident we see that Ephraim did have leadership qualities and was conscious of them.
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TO BE CONTINUED