Is it not fascinating that during the forty years of wilderness the person that was next in line for leadership and eventually took on that very role was Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim. He also was the one that acted as the first general in the war against the arch enemy of Israel,Amalek. Joshua was the one responsible for bringing the Jewish people into Israel and conquering their enemies.
Who was it that went up the mountain with Moshe and awaited his teachers return. It was not Moshe's brother Aaron nor was it Caleb from the tribe of Judah (the tribe of royalty).It was instead Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim (representing Joseph). You may want to say that Aaron represented the priesthood and was therefore not allowed to rule(like we find by the Hasmoneans).It is however ironic that Moshe ruled even though he was a Levite.We also find Samuel was a leader (even though he was a Levite)until he appointed the official kings of Israel. What is especially fascinating about Samuel is the opening passage in Samuel I which introduces us to the family of Samuel..
א וַיְהִי- אִישׁ אֶחָד מִן-הָרָמָתַיִם צוֹפִים מֵהַר אֶפְרָיִם וּשְׁמוֹ אֶלְקָנָה בֶּן-יְרֹחָם בֶּן-אֱלִיהוּא בֶּן-תֹּחוּ בֶן-צוּף אֶפְרָתִי:
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill-country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
Is it not wild that the founder of both camps of royalty is linked to the tribe of Ephraim(even though in IChronicles 6:18-23 it is made clear that Elkanah was actually a levite).
The very first leader of the Jewish people in Israel was actually Joseph. From that time on it has been a constant struggle between Joseph and Judah over who would lead. This may explain why the Midrash says that Caleb was the one that ran into the sea of reeds first. This may also be a way of trying to show how Judah must be the leader and the one that jumps in the water first,leading and showing the way to the jewish people. Is it not Ephraim's need to rule that causes the split of the Jewish people in Israel from the kingdom of Judah. This eventually leads to their exile. Did we not read in this past weeks Haftorah from Isaiah which states in 7:1-2 And it was told the house of David, saying: 'Aram is confederate with Ephraim.' And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest are moved with the wind.
In last weeks haftorah from Judges 4:4-5
4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 And she sat under the palm-tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in the hill-country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
Here again another leader is linked to Ephraim and yet she herself(in 5:14) compares Ephraim to the arch enemy Amalek
Out of Ephraim came they whose root is in Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the marshal's staff.
The irony is even greater here because of the fact that Ephraim(Joshua)was the first to wage war against Amalek. If one looks throughout the Bible he will constantly see this theme repeat itself.On the otherhand the kingdom from Judah is non-existant untill King David. Other than in the blessings ogf Jacob and the blessings of Moses there is no mention or desire for the monarchy from Judah. It is amazing the complete silence yet the promise of eternity that is given to the monarchy of Judah. On one side you have the constant need and fight to lead from Ephraim which in reality only shows momentary glimpses and hiccups of success and on the other side is the silence yet the eternity and eternal promise of success of the kingdom of Judah.
The Jewish people even have a tradition that there will be two messiah's,one from Joseph to begin the redemption.Then the final messiah will rule from the kingdom of David.It is also interesting to note that according to this tradition the messiah from Joseph will die and only then will the messiah from David be able to rule(competition again?).This follows the original entry into the land of Israel which began With Joseph and ended with David.
Even now the fight seems to continue. At a Pidyan Haben there is a custom that the cohen places his hand on the child's head and says the famous passage from Genesis 48:20 And he blessed them that day, saying: 'By thee shall Israel bless, saying: God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh.' And he set Ephraim before Manasseh. This same blessing is said when a father blesses a son.We are called Jews which comes from the word Judah and yet the Bible sometimes refers to the Jewish people as the children of Joseph
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