Now when Joseph of Egypt brought his two sons unto Jacob his father, Jacob did bless the two sons of Joseph with his blessing, that is the covenant blessing of Jacob, which was also that same covenant blessing of Joseph. The JST version adds some additional enlightening words which do fit well into Biblical scripture and further confirms in logic that the ruling Messiah must needs be so affiliated with Ephraim.

" ... Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt, before I came unto Egypt, behold, they are mine, and the God of my fathers shall bless them; even as Reuben and Simeon they shall be blessed, for they are mine; wherefore they shall be called after my name. (Therefore they were [Ephraim was] called Israel.) ... For thou hast prevailed, and thy father's house hath bowed down unto thee, even as it was shown unto thee, before thou wast sold into Egypt by the hands of thy brethren; wherefore thy brethren shall bow down unto thee, from generation to generation, unto the fruit of thy loins [Jesus Christ ~ Jehovah in whom is Salvation the anointed of God] forever; ... And he blessed them, that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh; and he set Ephraim before Manasseh." JST Genesis 48:5, 10 & 26

Even the Jewish scriptures up hold that the covenant birthright of the firstborn fill upon Joseph's two sons and that it also had been so held by Joseph as well (1 Chronicles 5:1-2). That the name of Israel was given upon the head(s) of Joseph's sons, particularly Ephraim, is also well supported for the Northern Kingdom associated with Ephraim is called by that very name, the Kingdom of Israel. And if Ephraim's brethren where to bow down unto him as the so declared firstborn of Israel from generation to generation, and unto the fruit of his loins forever, the very logic of that would mean that the friut of the loins of Joseph and Ephraim would be none other than the Blessed Messiah, for none other is so given to be so worshipped forever than the Messiah the Son of God. And though Manasseh was blessed with Ephraim, that is to assist Ephraim in this calling, it was Ephraim who was set before Manasseh as Jacob did wittingly place his right hand upon Ephraim and his left upon Manasseh as recorded in the rest of the Biblical account.

"And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel [Ephraim] is my son, even my firstborn:" ~ Exodus 4:22 (Jeremiah 31:9)

When Moses was sent to stand before Pharaoh the LORD told Moses that which he should say. With the blessing of Ephraim by the hand of Jacob, and his giving Ephraim his very own 'new name' of Israel, what question may be so answered when God told Moses to say, 'Israel [Ephraim] is my son, even my firstborn?' Jacob was then long since dead and it was but the posterity of Joseph in Ephraim who still held the honored position in Egypt to be so referenced in the present tense as Israel. The LORD further confirms this position in the record of the prophet Jeremiah as so referenced sited.

"And it shall be, that the firstborn [Obed] which she [Ruth] beareth shall succeed in the name of his [Boaz] brother [Mahlon/Chilion/Elimelech] which is dead, that his name [Mahlon of Ephraim whose seed is Jesus Christ] be not put out of Israel [Ephraim]." ~ Dueteronomy 25:6 (Ruth 4:5 & 10)

And it was full well set out in the Law of God as established by Moses as to the raising up seed to the dead by a redeeming kinsman 'brother'. And it was so recognized and stated as such in the record of Ruth by Boaz himself that he had freely taken that obligation upon himself to so raise up seed to Mahlon, Ruth's husband, and that Obed was fulling intended to succeed in the name of Mahlon. Boaz even redeemed all that inheritance of the family of Elimelech and Mahlon, not to be possessed by himself but to be that inheritance which would come to Obed from that family of Elimelech and Mahlon. And this did include the 'covenant birthright' which had come dowm to Elimelech from such as Nun and Joshua who were also denoted as Ephrathites as well (Jasher 81:54 & Ruth 1:2).

"Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph [Ephraim] the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. For Judah prevailed above his brethern, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:)" ~ 1 Chronicles 5:1-2

Now here then is the full quotation from Chronicles so previously referenced. How plain can it be? The 'Birthright', that is the covenant birthright of Jacob from Isaac and from Abraham was Joseph's! NOT Judah's. And it was given to the sons of Joseph by Jacob in the presence and with the acceptance of Joseph. And Ephraim was set before Manasseh. So it full well to be understood that that birthright and Covenant of Abraham from the fathers had fallen to Joseph and thence then to Ephraim. One needs but read the scriptures to know and understand it. It is not so formed out of nothing coming from nowhere. It is documented and written. That the traditions of the Jews have then skewed perspective ought to be understood, but how well might it be trusted when the Jews have treated the descendants of Joseph and Ephraim with such distain? And even the Lord Jesus Christ did that not 'say well' that he was a Samaritan? And the Jews did and do but consider the Samaritans and Gentiles as but as stones. How when the remnant of scattered Joseph and Ephraim and Lost Israel are but considered as 'stones' is one to accept and adhere to that traditional perspective of the Jews?

And now the 89th Psalm itself is just such a testament of the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel. List first below will be the summary heading of that Psalm as from the LDS Scriptures. Then following will be selected verses of interest as the whole of it is a Messianic Psalm which speaks of David's seed and throne and that destiny of God's Firstborn.

PSALM 89

A Messianic Psalm—A song setting forth the mercy, greatness, justice, and judgment of the Holy One of Israel—David's seed and throne (through Christ) to be established forever—God's Firstborn made higher than the kings of the earth.

. . . "I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
"Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah
. . .
"Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
. . .
"The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
. . .
"For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
"Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
"I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
. . .
"He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
"Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
. . .
"His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven."
. . .
~ Psalms 89:3-4, 11, 18-20, 26-27, 29

Now the 'David', the beloved of God, whose kingdom and throne shall be established forever is none other than Jesus Christ. As is the case in Hebrew history often one is given a name which is but a name of the LORD. Lone before David son of Jesse was born there was 'The Beloved Son of God' in the pre-existence. David was, is and will be one of his names. Thus that David who will be established and rule forever is none other than Jesus Christ/Jehovah and David son of Jesse and one time king of Israel was but named after the LORD. Thus the whole of Psalm 89 may be seen to speak of that Messiah and King David who is the Holy One of Israel, even Jesus Christ. And he it is that will reign and rule and be worshipped forever without end. He it is both the Firstborn of the our Father in Heaven and is that seen of the firstborn promised as a part of the covenant which has lasted and has remained in and through Joseph son of Jacob son of Isaac son of Abraham.

"They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn." ~ Jeremiah 31:9

And thus couched in Ephraim or Israel has been hid not only God's elect servants but further that one particular servant, even the Holy One of Israel. He is of the firstborn that is Israel even ephraim, Messiah ben Ephraim. And in this the establishment of Ephraim as the 'firstborn' and also Jesus Christ who is the Only One of Israel as the 'firstborn' is but the same. Jesus being so descended of Jesse as well as Ephrain and of the house of Joseph, even the House of the Firstborn. There our LORD with us has been hid from the world in God.

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as on that is in bitterness for his firstborn [Jesus Christ of Ephraim of the house of David]." ~ Zechariah 12:10

Yes the house od David is the same as the house of Joseph, David being legally and rightfully of that ancestry of the covenant of the firstborn. The righteous inhabitants of Jerusalem being those who are the followers of Christ. And it is this very Christ whom the Jews did reject and did pierce and did crucify. And God the Father did so mourn for his Only Begotten Son his own Firstborn in the spirit as well before the foundation of the earth. And through the generations of that 'firstborn' coveant had he come from Adam to Abraham, from Abraham to Joseph and from Joseph to Jesus Chirst even the firstborn and Messiah ben Joseph as well as Messiah ben David.

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn [Jehovah as Jesus Christ] among many brethern." ~ Romans 8:29

From before the foundation of the earth was Jehovah so selected and named as Jehoshua meaning 'Jehovah Deliver or Redeemer'. The Plan of God has been made effective from the beginning unto the end and Jehovah/Jesus Christ is that Alpha and Omega, the Ministering God, the Father's Advocate, Intercessor, Mediator and Savior of mankind and more. He has benn his from the world and only when he comes again will we come to know him for we will then see and know him as he is.

"Who [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible [unseen] God, the firstborn of every creature:" ~ Colossians 1:15

Yes, Jehovah as Jesus Christ is in the image of the invisible God. Not that God the Father is actually invisible, but only those upon whom does rest the Holy Ghost may see Him. This to men in General he is that unseen God though our Father in Heaven. And Jesus as Jehovah was that firstborn son of the Father in the spirit in the beginning and pre-existant realm. Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea knew and and wrote of it in his history.

"And now, verily I say unto you, I [Jesus Chrsit] was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn;" ~ D&C 93:21

Even did not the Apostle John so declare it in the first verses of his gospel? Yet there is a further question to be understood here. And that is just who through the ages of time has been an active part of the covenat of the firstborn made by God unto man from the beginning?

Who is God's firstborn? Is it Jacob as Israel, is it Ephraim as Israel, is it David as king of Israel, is it Judah instead of Ephraim or is it Jesus Christ who is the same as Jehovah? Obviously the context of the 'firstborn' may vary. But the question ought to be considered as to which is the proper and legal linage of the 'Firstborn' of God in the covenant from Adam on down. It can be easily agreed from Adam to Abraham, Isacc and Jacob. But whence from Jacob to Jesus Christ. Was it through Judah who sold his brother into slavery and death in Egypt after first seeking to murder him that Jesus Christ was to be born of the right of the covenant Firstborn? Judah is never named the 'Firstborn'. Only in David is there that claim to be found and the ancestry of David is that which we here in discuss.

Jacob had select his son Joseph to be his chosen one instead of Reuben. Later as Jacob came to Egypt and near to his death, he blessed the sons of Joseph with the blessing of the covenant naming Ephraim firstborn in the stead of Reuben, to be so considered of the covenant. He even blessed him that the seed of his brethren would bow to the fruit of his loins forever, which is sacrilegious unless that fruit would be the Messiah, for it is commanded that only to God ought the children of men bow and worship him and him only. After Jacob bestowed the name of 'Israel' upon Ephraim, Moses tells Paharoh that 'Israel' is his firstborn. This is consistant with Ephraim being the firstborn of the covenant. The Law of Moses explains how it is to occur if one's linage is interupted due to childlessness. The firstborn son of Ruth was the lawful, legal, and rightful heir to Mahlon and the Ephrathite house of Elimelech, and thus the linage was presured in Israel. From the very Jewish perspective they attempt to corrupt that genealogy stating that while the 'birthright was Joseph's', the Judah prevailed, and though Jacob bestowed that birthright upon the son of Joseph, Ephraim before Manasseh, that the 'genealogy' was not, according to your Jewish perspective' to be reckoned after the 'birthright'. Yet the prophet Jeremiah sets it straight that the 'firstborn' is Ephraim. And this in concert with the Psalms which name David as the firstborn, though like all such covenant birthrights, is but unto the birth of Jesus Christ, who is the true Firstborn of the Covenant. And this is to whom all such titles of the covenant may be linked as do Zecharaiah and the Apostle Paul, who makes it plain and clear that Jesus is the Firstborn of God. And therein lies the consistancy, that 'red thread' of the covenant linage through the ages from Adam to Christ which was part and parcel of that covenant of the fathers from the beginning.

Christ is the firstborn, the firstborn in Israel and the appointed firstborn in Israel is Ephraim. And Christ is of Ephraim, they are one and the same in the covenant linage. Christ to maintain his earthly compliance status of being the firstborn would of necessity be of the tribe of the 'firstborn', which was to be born of Ephriam. That Boaz acted as surrogate parent and raised up seed to the dead is for sure. But that vicarious performance does not make Jesus legally and rightfully of the tribe of Judah. Rather it makes him the legal and rightful heir to the tribe of Ephraim. Boaz understood that. It was the Jews who remained in Jerusalem and returned to build the temple who changed the traditions and made the genealogy to be wrongfully recorded as to the bloodline birth of Obed, Ruth's firstborn, rather than to the legal and lawful, according to the very Law of God, according to the 'birthright', which was Ephraim's and Joseph's not Judah's.

The Covenant of God is that of the 'Firstborn' of God who is Jesus Christ known as Jehovah, the Covenant of the Firstborn, that birthright, is in Jesus and not particular as to unrighteousness but as to righteousness and bestowal according to the priesthood. It is mistakenly understood that the 'firstborn' son of a man in Israel is always the 'chosen son' of the 'Firstborn' of the covenant. This never was the case. Cain was born before Abel and there is eveidence to consider that neither was the first born son of Adam and Eve. Yet Abel was chosen as the bearer of the Covenat of the Firstborn, meaning the Covenant of Jehovah or Jesus Christ. Abel was killed and after some time, another 'blessed son' was born, Seth. There is evidence that others had been born between Seth and Abel, thus again Seth was not firstborn in order of his birth, but he was the chosen 'Firstborn of the Covenant', meaning again of the Covenant of Jesus Christ.

The years of passage noted for the parenting of the ancients would also preclude that they had many sons, and the denoted 'Son of the Covenant' was likely not necessarily any of their firstborn sons. Noah was not likely the firstborn son of his father, though he was the selected 'Firstborn Son of the Covenant'. Shem was not the firstborn of Noah. Abraham was not the firstborn son in his earthly family. Neither was Isaac, Jacob, Joseph or Ephraim. In fact the Lord has seemed to go out of his way to select the 'Son of the Covenant' as not the firstborn son in an earthly perspective but according to man righteousness and worthiness.

So what is the perspective of the 'Firstborn' in relation to the Covenant of God? That perspective is to be of Christ, who is the 'Firstborn' of the Father in the spirit. And the one who receives the Covenant promises of Jesus Christ's order is then of the Covenant of the Firstborn, the 'Firstborn' meaning Christ. Thus they/we are of the Covenant of Christ. And the Doctrine and Covenants teaches us that we are of the Church of the Firstborn, also meaning Christ.

Now the blessing of the ancestry of the Messiah was always connected to the Covenant blessings of the fathers. And that Covenant blessing was placed upon the head of Ephraim by Jacob. God himself states that Ephraim is God's selected 'Firstborn' of Israel. Thus it is implied that the Covenant of the Firstborn did proceed through Ephraim NOT Judah. And to be the rightful 'heir' of that Covenant, Christ would have to be a Son of Ephraim legally and rightfully according to the Law of the Covenant, the Law of God, which was in the latter Old Testament times, the Law of Moses. Moses himself being an adoptive son of the house of Joseph. Yet Moses was not the ancestor of Christ as Moses had no performing sons and the lesser priesthood of the Levite proceed through Aaron and his sons. And the Covenant of the Firstborn was continued through the hier of Ephraim, Joshua or Jehoshua, who was named after the name of his promised descendant, the Messiah, whose name was Jehoshua or Jesus from before the foundation of the world.