Ephraim – Seventh Tribe / Tishrei - Seventh Month
We have completed the month of Elul and now, we begin the seventh month of the Hebrew Festival Calendar – the month of Tishrei, a month that is very unique in its attributes. This is the only month in the Hebrew calendar that contains three appointed festivals; Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) - plus Rosh Kodesh (New Moon).
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This month is also known as the Head of the Year because the sages believe this is the time that creation took place. It was not until the time of the first Exodus that the establishment of Nisan as the First of Months happened – which officially established the Festival Calendar.
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After a quick review of how the association of a tribe to a Hebrew month is established, we will begin discovering the attributes of this highly important month. It is said by the sages that when we are to appear in Jerusalem for the three Feasts (Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot), this corresponds to our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Following this line of thought, the celebration of Rosh Chodesh (new moon), which happens twelve times a year, corresponds to the twelve tribes. There are a number of ways to correspond a month with a tribe. Some do so with the birth order of the sons, while others use the order of the tribes as they camped around the Tabernacle in the wilderness. This study is using the camping order.
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Therefore, by using the ‘equation’ of numerical order of the month to the numerical order of the tribe as they camped, the tribe associated with the seventh month is the tribe of Ephraim.
This month and this tribe hold a uniqueness unlike the other months (except the next month of Cheshvan), because Ephraim was not born of one of the wives of Jacob. Even more difference is noted… for Joseph named his sons, whereas Jacob’s sons were named by their mothers. We can see that clearly with the definition of Ephraim - “for God had made me fruitful in the land of my affliction”.
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But we must remember that when Joseph was born, his mother named him, so let’s go back into history and find out why Rachel named her first born son, Joseph. Joseph means “remover or increaser”. This may seem like opposites, but in the right context, this meaning makes sense. Rachel wasn’t barren anymore and her disgrace was finally removed (asaph) and she declared “May the LORD add (yoseph) to me another son”.
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A fascinating attribute is starting to appear. Joseph’s name expresses the removal of disgrace and the adding of goodness. Ephraim carries on that goodness as his name implies…“for God had made me fruitful…”
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The meaning of Ephraim suggests that Joseph chose this name for his second son as a reflection of the influence of Egypt upon him – “made me fruitful in the land of my affliction”. Joseph was beginning to see Egypt as fruitful and not so much an affliction for himself. Even the letters used for Ephraim were the more popular letters by Egyptians. On the other hand Manasseh’s name has more of a Hebrew influence (we will delve into his name next month).
That attribute of how Joseph eventually looked upon Egypt plays out for the month of Tishrei. From HaShem’s perspective regarding His timing of prophetic events, it is this month – with the three set apart holy festivals of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot – that He has establish for His Son to return. The Holy Days are that blue print of what His plan is and our sages of old and our teachers of today fervently teach the details of how and why this is so.
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How does Yeshua’s return as King of kings tie in with Ephraim? Quite simply...Joseph saw the land that had originally afflicted him, no longer afflicted him because he was the king of the land and only subject to Pharaoh. Egypt now was fruitful for him, so he announced that with the naming of his second son. Joseph is likened to Yeshua. The earth is likened to Egypt. Yeshua came to this earth two thousand or so years ago and He was afflicted to the point of death. Yet, He will be returning as King of kings and will no longer see this earth as His affliction, but will see it as fruitful, simply because He will be ruling this earth and only subject to our Father Who is in heaven. Yeshua will marry His bride and quite probably name His second son in a manner to reflect His attitude towards this place that once afflicted Him.
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With Yeshua ruling as King of this earth… how can there not be anything but bounty and fruitfulness? Ephraim and his name reflects the outcome of the return of Yeshua in a future Tishrei – “for God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” This is the basics of what Yeshua’s thousand year reign will be like.
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Next: Manasseh - Eighth Tribe / Cheshvan - Eighth Month
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