God's Promise To Joseph of Egypt |
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"Therefore, O my son, he hath blessed me in raising thee up to be a servant unto me, in
saving my house from death; |
Great Were [Are] the Covenants of the Lord which He Made unto Joseph
~ Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 3:4 ~
Above is speaks of reading without comprehension. Sometimes that is due to the speed of reading, sometimes it is a matter of lack of concentration, like when you read and you do not recall what you have just read. And other times it is due to the lack of application of understanding that it is all set in a panoramic eternal now in one eternal round from its Alpha to Omega. And it can also be from the lack of taking the time to ponder and think about what it is that you are reading. Often it helps to read it again a second time, even again and again. And other times you just lack the advanced step by step progressed knowledge and understanding, to apreciate that which is being said, included and more fully meant.
For instance, what do you know about Heaven and the relationship it has to the Patriarchal Order of the Priesthood? What does that have to do with Joseph of Egypt? Joseph of Egypt is the last of the Great Father Patriarchs of the Patriarchal Order of the Priesthood of God. What does that mean to you? Is it stiring any additional relationships of perception and understanding as of yet?
Of course the Great Patriarchs of the Patriarchal Order are numbered from Adam down to Noah. That are Michael and Gabriel, Fathers of all the inhabitants of the earth after their generations who come under their Patriarchal Parentage. Then from Noah on down we come to Abraham, and of course the renewal of the promises of the fathers in the Abrahamic Covenant. That is the birthright covenant promises of the firstborn, of the Birthright Covenant Resposibilities of the Promises of the Firstborn Held in the Patriarchal Fathers. Is anything coming to mind?
What are the Covenant Promises of the Covenant of Abraham? According to the LDS Bible Dictionary under 'Covenant of Abraham' it states the following covenant promises and rights of responsibility:
"Abraham first [1] received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation). Then [2] he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and [3] he entered into celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation), gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase. Finally [4] he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity (D&C 132:29–50; Abr. 2:6–11). [In Addition] Included in the divine promises to Abraham were the assurances that (1)[5] Christ would come through his lineage, and that (2)[6] Abraham’s posterity would receive certain lands as an eternal inheritance (Gen. 17; 22:15–18; Gal. 3; Abr. 2). These promises taken together are called the “Abrahamic covenant.” It was renewed with Isaac (Gen. 26:1–4, 24) and again with Jacob (Gen. 28; 35:9–13; 48:3–4)."
In an itemized listing these are the promises and covantents of the Abraham Covenant:
- Promise and Covenant of Salvation—Gospel of Baptism.
- Promise and Covenant of the Priesthood after the order of the Son of God.
- Promise and Covenant of Celestial Marriage—Covenant of Exaltation/Eternal Increase.
- Promise and Covenant that this blessing would be offer to their posterity.
- Promise and Blessing that the Messiah would come through his lineage.
- Promise and Covenant that certain lands of promise would be given as eternal inheritance.
Taken together this was the 'Abrahamic Covenant' or the 'Everlasting Covenant.' It was renewed with Isaac, with Jacob, and according to the Dictionaries listing under Jacob, it was inherited next by the last Great Patriarch of the Patriarchal Order, Joseph of Egypt. It states, "It was through Jacob that the covenant of Abraham continued (Gen. 28:1–4, 12–22); it was then passed on to Joseph and Ephraim." (LDS Bible Dictionary | Jacob)
Since we do not have an accounting of the covenant blessing of the Lord unto Ephraim, we presume that while he did receive of the blessings of the covenant, that actual position of being a fully empowered Patriarch under the Patriarchal Order did not extend to Ehpraim. As a side evidence to this line of thought is that when Jacob did bless Ephraim and Manasseh, he blessed them together, with the greater blessing going to or through Ephraim, but that Menasseh was also blessed with Ephraim unto the receipt of the blessings. The conclusion being that the Patriarchal Order from Adam on down ended as being that responsibilty of Joseph of Egypt, and of course his descendents, to fulfill the promises, covenant and blessing of the Covenant of Abraham, the promises of the father, or the Everlasting Covenant.
This brings us to the thought that is the ancestry of the Messiah was embedded in the birthright covenant of the firstborn, and it past to Joseph in tact from Abraham to Isaac, from Isaac to Jacob, and from Jacob to Joseph, then how did it slip out unto Judah? Or did it? Every Traditional Christian and believing Jew will tell you that it did. And even it is so held as such by the LDS Church today that Jesus Chrirst was a blood line descendant of Judah through Mary, Jesus' mother. But is that the whole story? And do we not believe that there is yet to be revealed many important things pertaining unto the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That should mean that we do not know it all yet and are still receiving it line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; etc.
"And also with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, your fathers, by whom the promises remain;" ~ Doctrine and Covenants | Section 27:10, (5-14)
The Promises in, through, of, and by Father Joseph
~ The Last Patriarchal Father under the Patriarchal Order ~
Jehovah, who is the same as Jesus [Jehoshua] Christ,
gives direct revelation to Joseph of Egypt concerning his blessings unto those who are of
Joseph's seed as the covenant seed of the 'birthright' of the fathers. Now Joseph's seed may
be seen to include all of the House of Israel in that Joseph and his two sons, Ephraim [primarily]
and Manasseh, were blessed to be known by the covenant name of Jacob, which is Israel, as part of
Jacob's blessings upon the seed of his son Joseph, which blessing is that birthright blessing
of the everlasting covenant blessing of the promises of the fathers. Thus when speaking of the
Northern Kingdom of Israel, it is also often so called the Kingdom of Ephraim. And this is
consistent with that which is spoken of Ephraim, that it is 'Ephraim, the house of Israel, his
companions.' Thus in one such perspective, all of the house of Israel is become as
the 'seed' of Joseph, in that as the birthright son, he is responsible for the welfare and well
being of the entire House of Israel. That is his, Joseph's, and also as pasted on to Ephraim
primarily and Manasseh; it is Ephraim's responsibility as well. And thus it has fallen to Ephraim,
his birthright blessing, to fulfill that covenant birthright blessing and responsiblity to see
to the blessing of all the nations of the earth, every nation, kindred, tongue and people. And
this, because that the blessings of God are unto all of his children, and those who become those
who 'prevail with God in Christ or with Christ in God,' are all who are of the Children of Israel.
That is that 'Israel' which has been those of God the Father's Children from the Beginning.
Plates of Brass via Lehi
Branches of Joseph
Joseph's Introduction to His Brethren
Joseph begins to tell his brethren of the promises that the Lord had made unto him and thus in this 'first' verse he basically cites a number of the 'branches' promised that would be of his seed. He speaks of a 'righteous branch' to come out of his loins, and of a prophet that will deliver them out of Egypt that is also implied to be of his ancestry (which is in a later verse substantiated). Then he clarifies that neither of these, 'the righteous branch' or the promised prophet IS NOT that Messiah who was also to come of his descent whose name was Shilo.
Here the debate that has been historically won by the 'Jews' and by the position taken by 'traditional Christianity,' who are also 'Jewish' based and influenced and so thus shewed as well. That debate being as of whom does the Messiah come. The Jews had already settled the argument in their minds during their compilation of the Bible while in Babylon. They deduced that since it was they who did remain of Israel and would be returning according to the words of Jeremiah, that 'they had finally prevailed above their brethern' and that logically only through them could the Messiah be considered to come, after all he was born through the blood of Judah in Boaz. The telling recorded scripture of this matter, which is actually discussing the 'claimed' descent of the 'house of David' that states, 'while the 'birthright' was to be noted to be that of Joseph and his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, it was that the genealogy was to be considered of Judah.
"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 the
son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
"For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was
Joseph's:)"
~ Old Testament | 1 Chronicles 5:1-2
Only in the context of being relevant to the house of David does this particlar scripture that on the life of what is actually being determined here. Now, of course Judah's usurption is based on the fact that 'how could Joseph or Ephraim or Manasseh' ever be considered to have prevailed now, since the kingdom of Ephraim/Israel of the 10 northern tribes had been destroyed and are for all practical purposed lost and gone? Now the father of the tribe of Judah, namely Judah himself, had once before 'played this game' and considered that Joseph having been sold into Egypt, as per his suggestion, was considered gone forever, which had cleared his way to the 'birthright' blessing, which included the ancestry to the promised Messiah. But that had not been the case of the matter because Joseph survived and all Joseph's dreams of prophecy had seemingly come to pass.
It should be here noted that one of Joseph's such dreams has not been kept in the Jewish controlled Bible. Only the two of the three dreams of Joseph that could be considered as having been fulfilled were kept therein and retained. There is a thrid dream that has been kept in the traditions. It speaks directly to the fruit of the brothers of Joseph and the fruit of Joseph. The fruit of all the brother of Joseph had become rotten and only the fruit of Joseph had remained. Joseph fruit was that of the promised Messiah to come of the house of Joseph.
But Judah now has claimed that Messiah unto himself. The tribes of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh were scattered and lost and even though Boaz had acted in the role of the near kinsman in raising up seed to the dead house of Mahlon and Elimelech, it was the blood of Judah that was in the body of Obed. Mahlon, Chilion and Elimelech were Ephrathites (Ruth 1:1), meaning Ephraimites according to the usage of Samuel who is the likely recordkeeper of the end of Judges, Ruth and the books of Samuel until his death, wherein the term Ephrathite is used to mean Ephraimite. And it even particularly was used in respect to Samuel's own family. That is that while Sameul's family were Levites, their assigned tribe to serve and in whose land they were assigned to live in was that of the Ephraimites. This Samuel's own fathers were said to be that of Ephrathite and did but live accordingly in mount Ephraim (1 Samuel 1:1). Then also in 2 Samuel 17:12, king David's father Jesse is identified as being 'that Ephrathite.' (see also Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph).
Now, that the covenant birthright did include ancestry to the Messiah is confirmed in the Bible Dictionary of the scriptures of the church under the Abraham, Covenant of and according to the entry the entry under Jacob, those covenant blessings came by Isaac to Jacob and from Jacob to Joseph and Ephraim.
Thus it would seem that Joseph had in that first verse of introduction to his brothers cover the bases of at least three of those who were to be considered as being of Joseph, that is the 'branches' thereof; the 'righteoud branch' of the latter-days to be disclosed as such by Lehi, the prophet of the gathering of Israel from Egypt to the land of promise, and also the Messiah, whose mention was to distinguish that neither the 'prophet' of the 'righteous branch' was not that of the promised Messiah, named Shilo, to also come of Joseph.
Wait a minitue one says. Does not Judah's blessing from Jacob state that it was from Judah that would be who Shilo would come through? A careful reading of that renders that the sceptre would not depart from between Judah's feet (meaning of Judah's blood descent) until Shilo would come. It did not state there who Shilo was of only that the sceptre of ruling would no longer be able to be considered as being of the blood line of Judah. And of course Shilo, or Jesus Christ being the Only Begotten Son of the Father, then he was then no longer to be consider to be of Judah. BUT there is a blessing of Jacob upon the head of Joseph as well, and in that blessing to Joseph from Jacob it is stated that 'from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel' (Genesis 49). The Jews have their spin on that also, which the Jewish based traditional Christianity has adopted as well. So much for putting new wine into old bottles.
A Certain Perspective
~ God Speaks Directly to Joseph of Egypt ~
There is an obvious perspective that must be maintained throughout what is being said in the JST of Genesis 50:24-38. That perspective is just who is speaking and promising what to whom. Joseph of Egypt is telling his brothers concerning The Lord God of his father Jacob and that the Lord God Jehovah has visited him, Jospeh of Egypt. And Joseph of Egypt has obtained the covenant promise from the Lord Jehovah that the Lord has spoken directly to and promised to Joseph of Egypt that which would come through him. That perspective is, God is making these promises under covenant directly to Joseph of Egypt. Thus in that case and to that extent, which is the extent God's promise to Joseph is to be read and considered. That is, when God says 'you,' when the promise says 'you,' He God is speaking to Joseph of Egypt to whom the promise directly applies.
If one can remember to apply that perspective that God is speaking to Joseph and it is unto Joseph of Egypt that the promise or set of covenant promises are being made, to Joseph, then a great understanding comes to light. That is that the promise is, out of Joseph's loins, out of the Patriarch of the Covenant's loins are those Branches that come out of Joseph that will bless Israel through him. Those promised branches of the covenant that are to come of Joseph are 1) Moses to deliver Israel out of Egypt, 2) the branch of Lehi, Ishmael and Mulek, to be brought to the land of Joseph's promise 3) the 'choice seer,' that BRANCH who is like unto Moses is Jesus Christ, who is to do God's all important work of redemption and salvation, that is 'to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man,' 4) the latter day branches who were scattered and broken off that will come across the ocean to the land of Joseph as brought by the hand of God to worship him and to do God's work, and 5) even that latter day prophet of the restoration, Joseph Smith, who will be a descendant of Joseph of Egypt as well.
If one can keep the perspective that the Lord God Jehovah, who speaks and stands in the stead of the Father, is he who is making the covenant promise to Joseph of Egypt, the last Great Patriarach, and that the promise of the covenant branches are those of Joseph's—Jehovah is promising and speaking to Joseph—then one can see in the promise made by God to Joseph the branches as I have set them out to be.
Joseph considered all Isreal as 'his people.' He was the responsible 'birthright'
son of the house of Israel.
1. a righteous branch
2. out of my [Joseph] loins
1. 'and' a prophet [Moses]
2. also of Joseph by the 'conjunction and'
3. the 'conjunction' logic is later confirmed
4. (not the Messiah who is called Shilo)
5. this prophet [Moses] shall deliver my people out of Egypt in the days of bondage
It was Moses who was liken unto Jesus or Jesus was like unto Moses throughout the scriptures: (1 Nephi 22:20-21; 3 Nephi 20:23; Deut. 18:15; Moses 1:6)
A Certain Logic
Lehi seems to have likely paraphrased that which he consider to be important from Joseph's promises. He seems to clarify who the 'righteous branch' is and that they were also to be consider not to be that of the Messiah of Joseph either. That they were to be 'broken off' as well, likely alluding to them having to cross the wall or ocean also. But it is NOT all of them, its is only 'a branch' of them. The rest of 'them' would be left just were they had been scattered tha second time—still in western Europe and England and there remaining to constitute still another 'branch' of Joseph still there in Europe and England.
Then he seems to nail it precisely when he states of 'them' two things, 1) that nevertheless, they were 'to be' remembered in the covenants of the Lord, and 2) the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days. The logic would be that, unlike Lehi's branch, they had not been remembered in the covenants of the Lord 'yet' due to the manner of their dispersion, having been 'destroyed, lost, and considered to have not prevailed in the Lord.' Lehi's family had been led by the Lord within the covenant and not cast off. Yet this 'righteous branch', who had been 'cast off', would not be 'cast off forever,' as they would be remembered. Also the Lord would not be made manifest unto them before the latter days, but in the latter days. This also is unlike those of Lehi, unto who the Savior did come and manifest himself unto them just after his death.
If carefully read, the JST 'authoritative' version does also confirm this. First, after being scattered to the 'north,' "... it shall come to pass that they shall be scattered again ...". That 'scattering again' would be consistant with the flight of the 'Gaul' to 'Cymry' which history ties together as having been pursued until they reached the far extremities of western Europe, even over into England. And then after that 'second scattering' the logical flow of the information is that a part of them would then be 'broken off' and carried into a far country. That seems to only describe how the seed of Joseph made their way to the Americas from among the 'Gentiles' in the discoveries of American by the Europeans. And certainly it was this group who were visited in the Spirit and power by which they were brought out of 'darkness into light', even that of 'hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom. What can be more descriptive of the condition of Europe under the heavy hand of the apostate church and the thrones of Europe, which ruled over and certainly controlled all the people by keeping them in the 'hidden darkness'. And that even under the of pretense of being the church of Jesus Christ, while not even allowing the people to have access to the scriptures and word of the Lord.
What must be further stated of this 'righteous branch' is that it is not speaking solely about just one person. It is most obvious speaking of an entire group or and entire 'branch' of people. That is the whole of the European Colonist who came across the ocean to America. In particular it is that Joseph Smith and the other first Church members would have been descendants of this broken off righteous branch of the scattered and shifted in members of the Gentile 'righteous branch,' but they would not necessary have of the original groups who had been those who were initially broken off and who traveled over the ocean. It is likely that those who had gotten the Bible into their hands and were seeking their religious freedoms and the founders of this nation as inspired by the Lord would be included in membership in that 'righteous branch,' and who would even there after become additional branch after branch as well as the very groups who came to America as already members of the church as they would sail from England and such to come all the way to Illinois and even Salt Lake City and so on.
1. fruit of his [Joseph] loins
2. righteous branch of house of Joseph of the house of Israel
3. ~ not the Messiah branch ~
4. a branch was broken off
5. Messiah should be made made manifest unto them in the latter days.
This would be 'the branch' from which Joseph Smith would descend from. But from D&C 113:5-6, it would appear that many of them would come by way of being of Joseph through Jesse, and then lineally back through Ephraim and of the house of Joseph (see Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph).
The Precise Messiah Branch
And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword;
in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me,
and made me a polished shaft;
in his quiver hath he hid me;"
Old Testament | Isaiah 49:2
The two 'redundancies' often above implied are not redundancies at all. They are but clarifications set to allude to the fact that there is a 'Messiah Branch' of Joseph that is to be distinguished from the other two branches named. And thus with that clarified as to of Whom the Messiah IS NOT. It does become time for Joseph, as to the promises of the Lord, to speak of that Messiah himself who is so promised to come 'thence from Joseph' that 'shepherd' that 'stone of Israel'.
Now IF the Messiah was not to come of Joseph, then there would be no need for these clarification, especially now from being distinguished from two other branches of Joseph that they are not the 'Messsiah Branch of Joseph'. (For a more complete study of over some 100 evidences compiled as to the fact that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was to be of the seed of Joseph (legally), see Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph).
And just as the quoted verse from Isaiah 49 is to be read as God the Father speaking of Jesus Christ his son, so it is such as the manner as the Lord God Jehovah often speaks of himself in the third person. Jehovah was the anointed Son of God from the beginning and was blessed to stand in the stead of the Father in all things (Lev. 16:32) just as the Hebrew temple performances set out and type. Thus here it is Jehovah speaking in the stead of the Father, yet speaking of himself as the Messiah Jesus Christ to come. This is a 'key' to understanding many scriptures, particularly D&C 113:3-4 as also related to this matter here.
Jesus Christ could only in truth be spoken of as being 'partly' a descendant of man for indeed he is also the Only Begotten Son of God. His 'partly' given ancestry 'of Jesse as well as of Ephraim, or of the house of Joseph,' is not two separate lines but one single line lineally. That is Jesse the Ephrathite is the legal Ephraimite descendant of Ephraim. And they all three are of the house of Joseph. Thus without the spirit of interpretation, Christ has been 'hid' in the scriptural writings from those who have not come to know him and appreciate just who he is and how it is given that he has come to work among the children of men. Indeed, 'search the scriptures ... for it is eternal life to come to know God and Jesus Christ His Son Whom He hath sent.'
Now before we continue along this line, let us point out that all of the 'branch' members who came over at the time of Lehi's and Ishmael's, must also include that of Mulek's branch also being of the Ephraimite soure of people. This is as that they too were of Ephraim even as much as was the Messiah himself was, that is being of the house of David.
Inconceivable
Certainly it is totally inconceivable that Jehovah would have spoke to Joseph and revealed unto him those choice blessings that came particularly in relationship to the everlasting covenant's 'birthright' blessings without including in them that greatest of all the ancestral blessings of the coming Messiah. In respect to Enoch who was translated, of the everlasting covenant, the Lord revealed to him that the coming of the Messiah was a part of that 'birthright' of the fathers unto the blessing of the people of the earth.
"And the Lord said: Blessed is he through whose seed Messiah shall come; for he saith—I am Messiah, the King of Zion, the Rock of Heaven, which is broad as eternity; whoso cometh in at the gate and climbeth up by me shall never fall; wherefore, blessed are they of whom I have spoken, for they shall come forth with songs of everlasting joy." ~ Pearl of Great Price | Moses 7:53
These next sometimes appearing 'odd out' verses come immediatley after that delimiting prior statement of whether other branches of the fruit of Joseph are or are not that of the promised Messiah. Remember that if it was understood to Joseph that the Messiah was going to come of his seed, then the inclusion of such a 'delimiting statement' as to either this branch or that branch 'is not the Messiah' makes perfect sense. BUT if it was already generally considered and known that the Messiah was to be of Judah per Judah's blessing from father Jacob, then such delimiting statements were not required at all and would be 'redundantly' inconsistant and inappropriate to be included by Jehovah in speaking of Joseph's blessing and prosterity as to those branches that were to come of the posterity of Joseph 'not being the Messiah whose name was Shilo'.
Now, in what way would Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, include in Joseph's promises as revealed to Joseph by GOD, have been stated to Joseph? Or again, in what way would Joseph and/or Moses have revealed such unto his brothers and/or to Israel generally in the record of Moses? First, it is not inconceivable that Jehovah would have been speaking to Joseph of Egypt as the God the Father, in the representative stead of the Father, in this instance, as it is that plan given unto man by first by the Father. And it also might have even seem a bit incomprehensible to Joseph if 'GOD' would say to Joseph, "I am going to be born of your seed in the future." Remember Jehovah is acting by that 'Divine Investiture' of the Father, to speak and act in the stead of the Father as our Ministering God. Rather than to try to explain all the details of that to Joseph, would it not be more expedient for our Ministering God to speak of the coming Messiah to be born unto Joseph's fruit of his loins as a 'choice seer' in the 'third person' as is done in the next few verses?
Or, second, if so softened by either Jehovah, Joseph or Moses, to Joseph's brothers or Israel generally; would 'they' have not toned 'it' down to being a 'choice seer' rather than to say, 'I, Joseph, am going to be the ancestor of God'—'HIM' being a future Messiah born as man on earth? According to Joseph's traditional third dream of the preserved and rotten fruit* concerning he and his brothers; his brothers had already rejected that dream as not being acceptable, as it spoke of the Messiah to come of Joseph. Certainly those brothers who feared that Joseph might turn on them after Jacob's death, may still have not fully understood and accept just who Joseph was and that he was the everlasting covenant holder who would be as part of tha covenant's promisses, the ancestor of the Messiah who was the same as Jehovah.
And that third 'traditional' dream of Joseph has not even preserved in the Jewish skewed Bible record of today. So introducing this 'person' to Joseph's brothers could/would certainly possibly have been presented to Joseph's brothers as being 'a choice seer' rather than to out and out contend and argue over the points of this person being named as 'The Messiah' who is further to be the 'Only Begotten Son of God,' who is also 'confusingly' also even their very God Jehovah who pronounces himself to be Israel's one and only 'True God.'
Considering all that, it just might be, and might have been, that stating that this person was to be but a 'choice seer' was the only logical manner in which to so anounce to ancient Isreal who stood at the lesser law level of understanding and life style, who were the schooled children of Joseph's immediate brothers, as to their perspectives, including Judah's, of the coming of the Messiah as pronouced even by Jacob's blessings. And even not fully on the level to understand their God Jehovah, but in that manner of him speaking of himself in the third person?
[One of the promised blessing of the everlasting covenant of Abraham, held by Joseph of Egypt, was that of being the ancestor to the blessed Messiah.]
[Jehovah our Ministering God (the Firstborn spirit son of Elohim the Father of Spirits) was going to condescend to come to earth born of Mary as Son of God (Elohim), to be the our Savior.]
The Lord my God (Jehovah) speaking from the perspective of his 'divine investiture' as Elohim, the Father:
And thus he speaks of himself in third person not as 'Jesus' the Son of God who is God to be of Joseph's loins, but naming himself as a 'choice seer' to avoid conflicts, confusion and contention according to the lesser understanding of ancient Israel.
The Line of Logic
There is a certain line of logic to be followed here. In verse 24 (JST) above, of the prophet, who was Moses, it was stated that he was not the Messiah called Shiloh. This was good because many had thought of Moses as the Messiah, but he was not. Then in the parallel verses of 25 (JST) with 2 Nephi 3:5, the next branch of Joseph was persented of those that were scattered and in the latter days to have the Messiah appear unto them. Lehi, who had studied the plates of brass, stated that this branch was not the Messiah either. But now here in JST 26 another of Joseph's lineage is presented, a 'choice seer' unto the fruit of Joseph's loins. And this time it DOES NOT state that he was NOT the Messiah. Thus by presumption of not denying this choice seer was the Messiah, by that default one is left to concluded that after the exclusions of those of the first two who were denied, then this one not being denied must then be he who IS the Messiah. The pattern had been set of denying who was not the Messiah. The first was denied, the second was denied, but the third was not denied. Thus this third one is the one who was not denyed in the pattern, so this must be he who IS the Messiah, else he also would have been likewised denied.
[Imagine explaining to ancient Israel that their God Jehovah is to be the coming Messiah, the Son of God and a descendant of Joseph of Egypt.]
Jehovah speaking in the stead of the Father, refers to himself in third person as 'a choice seer' (the Messiah) descendant of Joseph/Ephraim.
Hid in the Palm (shadow) of His hand (Isaiah 49:2): In the majority of the cases in the Old Testament it is always Jehovah who is speaking, even when he is speaking in the stead of the Father as though he is the Father. And in such cases when he speaks as God the Father, he speaks of himself in the third person.
[Without the Spirit of Revelation, the matter of the 'Godhead' is a confusing mind game played by designing men.]
The God of Israel, Jehovah, speaks as the Father and of himself in third person. Hidding the Messiah, who is also he who is The Son - the redeemer. This occurs a number of times when Jehovah stands in the stead of the Father and speaks of himself in his later roll as Jesus the Messiah in the third person.
The Three Out of Place Verses
It has been a ponderance, these three seemingly out of place verses. Why would it speak of this out of place 'seer' to be raised up IF is Joseph Smith in verses 26, 27, and 28 and then after break that compares 'HIM' to MOSES like many of the scriptures do of the Bible and Book of Mormon of Jesus Christ to Moses in verse 29, and then in verse 30 begin to speak 'AND AGAIN' as would be said of 'AGAIN' another totally new and difference seer 'AGAIN'? THAT JUST DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!
What does make sense is if the Seer in verses 26-28 IS a totally difference 'SEER' from that NEXT-AND AGAIN new seer brought up in verse 30 as one in the 'last days'. The 'seer' of verses 26-28 never does speak of this 'other seer' as being of the 'last days'. Only those who would make of him to be Joseph Smith jump the interuption of the comparison to Moses, which would be more likely 'like unto Jesus Christ' as the other scriptural references do seem to atest.
What begins to be apparent is by what should be a totally unnecessary 'redundant' pointing out that the 'Messiah' is not the Moses Branch, and according to the Book of Mormon, the 'Messiah' is not the Latter Day Branch; DOES take on a new life of necessity if in deed the 'Messiah Branch' of the 'House of David' from Obed to Jesus Christ, the Messsiah, IS indeed one of the 'Joseph Branches' and it is most appropriately necessary to so delimit such in speak of the 'Joseph Branches' that these other two spoken of branches are not the 'Joseph - Messiah Branch.'
And then with the understanding that Jehovah of the Old Testament often speaks in the stead of the Father, as though he is the Father, and doe speak of himself as the Messiah in the third person when he is speaking in the stead of the Father according to his divine 'investiture' to so stand in the stead of the Father in all things. And then the seemingly 'out of place' three verses that speaks of this 'other' seer takes on life and fits that it is 'THE MESSIAH' who is ALSO 'THE HEIR' and legal official descendant of Ephraim/Joseph as well. And then in the consistent effort to 'fulfill all righteousness' that the Messiah is the 'earthly heir of the birthright covenant of the priesthood' as well as being the Only Begotton Son of God as well.
NOW THAT FITS.
Concerning the Two Records
Between Joseph Smith's recieving of the inspired version of the Bible and Lehi's partly quoted and partly paraphrased order out of the plates of brass, there is a slight diference in both order and wordings as already will have been noticed. Whether the Biblical inspired version given to Joseph Smith is exactly how it was retained upon the plates of brass and/or Lehi's perhaps paraphrased and altared recounting of the information, a comparison is desirable bo make. Though one would think that the direct JST would have an authoritive position of direction to be followed in the interpretaion of the two when placed side by side, it may also be that in Lehi also being a prophet of God, there may been additional insights and perspectives to be considered. To this end is this rendition given, following both records side by side and given insights of consideration along the way.
Below is the JST account's longer verse which includes just how it is that Moses is considered to be of the house of Joseph and an heir to the priesthood keys of the gathering of Israel which he has held and did restore unto Joseph Smith. It is also pointed out here by comment that it is Moses who is likened unto Christ and Christ unto Moses. Which helps to separate this information out as to who is being spoken of where. This is one telling factor considered in identifying the verse which spoke of Jesus Christ as a descendant of Joseph from other such verses which spoke of Joseph Smith, etc. Certainly neither does the Bible of the histories deduced by men do give a complete historical image of the truth of these matters. But it is a logical deduction that one as high in the house of Pharoah would have had marrital family relations with each other, which is implied here as observed further below.
"Behold, I [Jesus Christ] am he of whom Moses spake, saying: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people." ~ Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 20:23
10 And Moses will I raise up, to deliver thy people out of the land of Egypt. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 3:9-10)
Moses was like unto Jesus or Jesus was like unto Moses: (1 Nephi 22:20-21; 3 Nephi 20:23; Deut. 18:15; Moses 1:6; Act 3:22-26; Act 7:37; JS-H 1:40)
Follow this scriptural string and it does become obvious that it is Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who this is comparing 'him' to and with Moses here and it is he of the prior three verses.
Moses is of Joseph's house
For=Because he shall be nursed by the king's daughter
And shall be called her son
This implies that Egypt's King at this point [time of Moses] was a descendant of Joseph. Thus there is such missing history. The intermarriage of the seed of Joseph with that of Pharoah and that which would make the 'greater' sin of the 'Pharoah' or king of Egypt that no longer knew Joseph, that is he has denied his own Hebrew heritage.
Again, the prophet who was to be raised up like unto Moses was Jesus Christ. This is who is being spoken of here and who is the 'choice seer' spoken of in verses 26-28 of JST Genesis 50:26-28 and 2 Nephi 3:6-8 of the Book of Mormon. Jesus Christ is THE BRANCH, the most righteous branch, the 'choice seer' who was to come from the House of Joseph as Messiah ben Joseph. It was not being spoken of concerning Joseph Smith being like unto Moses. It was, as have all the other scriptures, speaking of Jesus Christ being that prophet likened unto Moses who the promised Messiah would be likened unto.
As high a calling as Joseph Smith was called unto. As high as his position was and is, it was Jesus Christ who was to be like unto Moses and who Moses stated would be like unto himself and the other prophets have confirmed. Joseph Smith was great in and of his own position in many ways. But he was not and is not the prophet who was likened unto Moses. That was and is Jesus Christ.
Joseph Smith, A Seer
After now speaking of those to be of the promised descendants of Joseph of Egypt as being that 'Righteous Branch' of the latter days which comes from the Gentiles of Europe, and which also alludes to those portions of those scattered still remaining in Europe as further 'branches;' and of that prophet of Joseph's house whose was Moses come to 'gather Israel out of Egypt and unto their land of promise;' and also speaking of the Blessed Messiah, who is the promised seed of the everylasting covenant birthright, which Joseph of Egypt held as to the preserved blessings of the fathers (D&C 27:10); we come to 'But—And again' a seer who is Joseph Smith, the promised seer of Joseph's seed who would be the prophet of the restoration in the latter days.
It would seem, and most certainly is, that every holder of those earthly rightfully passed down keys of the priesthood of the everlasting covenant, needed to be of the 'seed' of the everlasting covenant birthright. Those who were the latter day 'heirs' of that priesthood, including Joseph Smith and others of the gospel restoration membership were proclaimed heirs of that higher priesthood pertaining to the priesthood keys. Elias who restored the keys of the gospel and covenant of Abraham, which some identify as Noah, the same as Gabriel, certainly would hold right to those 'fathers' held keys. But where did Moses get his such covenant bound keys? Was it but not according to his being the adoptive son of Ephraim as here is explained that he came to hold the keys of the gathering of Israel, which he passed on to Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple? And of course Elijah was but the righteous prophet of the kingdom of Ephraim who once considered himself but the last of the worthy priesthood holders in the kingdom. It was he that passed to Joseph the keys of the sealing and binding powers of heaven which he did carry.
And then, there is the matter of Jesus Christ. Certainly as the Son of God and as Jehovah the God of the Old Testament, it was indeed his priesthood and right under heaven to those very keys and priesthood. But recall, even he descended below all things was in order to fulfill all righteousness he did humbly submits to being baptized of John not for the remission of sin, for he was without sin. But he did conform to all the earthly laws of the Jews and their performance instituted of him, by him, foreshadowing him. And so also would not one suspect that in the matter of the right to the earthly descent of the priesthood according to the everlasting covenant preserved by the birthright decent, that he, even Christ, would so conform to the earthly bound requirement to be the 'seed' of the birthright covenant in order to the be earthly heir of the priesthood in order to fulfill all righteousness?
And so it was. All these, including Joseph Smith, who was to be the latter-day holder of the keys of the birthright covenant; they all had there descent from the birthright lineage of Joseph and his birthright son Ephraim. How else was it to be that the Rod, the Branch of Isaiah 11 and D&C 113:1-4 to have been lineally a partly a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Ephraim of the house of Joseph? It said nothing there about the Branch and Rod, Who had come and grown out from the stem of Jesse of who the first 5 verses of Isaiah 11 did speak, as being a descendant of the house of Judah. That is because according to the Laws of God as set forth by Moses, Obed, Jesse, David and even Jesus were not legally and rightfully of the house of Judah according to the birthright everlasting covenant. Boaz had but been the surrogate performing kinsman who by Mahlon's wife Ruth, did raise up seed unto the dead house of Mahlon, Elimelech and Naomi. Obed was that son of that house that did not leave Naomi barren and sonless. And Obed was raised up to be the seed of the house of Mahlon, Elimelech and even Chilion, who were Ephrathites meaning Ephraimites of the tribe of Israel and of that legal right and lineage of the birthright everlasting covenant of that priesthood of God. Jesse was the son of Obed. Obed was the son of Mahlon. Mahlon was the son of Elimelech. And Elimelech would have been the heir of Jehosuha or Joshua, the son of Nun, the heir of Ephraim and of Joseph and of Jacob and of Isaac and of Abraham. And thence down from the fathers from Adam to Noah to Abraham. And considering Melchizedek to be the same as Shem, it is by and from him that Abraham had gained his right unto the birthright everlasting covenant of the fathers which included the ancestry to the promised Blessed Messiah. (see Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph)
Then, Only, Now
It is then only, after Joseph has clarified that the Messiah is not the prophet Moses, which many of the people did so consider him to be, and that all four of the standard works do further establish that he is not Moses. And also, after Lehi in his prophetic testimony has also so further deliniated that the Messiah is not to be considered as being from one amongst those of the latter day, which the Book of Mormon gives further witness that there is none other Messiah but one (2 Nephi 25:18). And also after Joseph of Egypt does speak of that Messiah of his house who is to come as being that 'choice seer,' even he we know as Jesus Christ in the three verses preserved by both the JST and Lehi's witness—And then only and only now is it spoken of the latter day prophet to come. And with the separating words and conjunctions of exception of, And again and But, when it does speak again of another prophet and branch to come of the loins of Joseph of Egypt as will be set out in the next scripture section below.
And what is of interest, is with the deliniating witnesses and the statement as to who is the Messiah Branch, then speaking of Joseph Smith the other prophet, it will also speak of the circumstance of the record of the Book of Mormon in relationship to the Bible. And then it will also speak of the decided weakness of the uneducated 'plowboy' prophet. And finally is to be given a perfect prophetic bookended chiasmus that has been some what obstucted by today's prepartion of the Book of Mormon, but will be also set out below when it is incountered.
Joseph's fruit wrote the plates of brass and the Book of Mormon. Judah wrote the Old and New Testaments. (Compare Ezekiel 37)
Here inserted with the verses spoken of Joseph Smith Jr., the seer, is the record of Manasseh's seed, the Book of Mormon. It is required to confound the false doctrines, drawing a straight line of truth by the testimony of two nations that Jesus is the Christ, the very God of Heaven and earth, the same who is Jehovah the God of the Testaments.
15 And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation. 16 Yea, thus prophesied Joseph:** (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 3:14-16)
In Chiasmic verse in Book of Mormon from the plates of brass as presented is set off with two bookends of a beginning 'quote' of 'And thus prophesied Joseph, saying:' to an ending 'quote' of 'Yea, thus prophesied Joseph.' Muddled perhaps by the original printers and further by Orson Pratts scriptural verse divisions and even the latter-day version's such arrangements; the Chiasm as likely either copied from the plates of brass or recited and remembered by those of the seed of Lehi, is to be found.
'As sure as Moses was I KNOW even will be Joseph Smith.' ~ Lehi's Testimony
Lehi has seen the vision of 'all things' even as Nephi has seen it. (1 Nephi 14:26 & 29)
'Lehi states that as sure as he is that Moses has come, he is also just as sure that Joseph Smith, the latter day prophet will come. And Lehi also confirms that same promise that was made unto Joseph of Egypt was also made unto to him [Lehi] as well.'
...
and I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand; and I will make a spokesman for him. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 3:17)
...
and I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand; and I will make a spokesman for him. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 3:17)
The prophet Mormon, after whom the Book of Mormon is titled, is the main compiler, abridger and author of the Book of Mormon plates.
19 And the words which he shall write shall be the words which are expedient in my wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins. And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them from the dust; for I know their faith.
20 And they shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their brethren, even after many generations have gone by them. And it shall come to pass that their cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their words.
21 Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins; and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 3:18-21)
Moroni holds the keys of the Stick of Joseph/Ephraim and he is the angel flying through the midst of heaven.
Lehi ends off speaking Joseph of Egypt relationary items.
"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 the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
"For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:) (Old Testament | 1 Chronicles 5:1 - 2)
(Jeremiah 31:9, Genesis 49:24, 26, JST Genesis 48:5-11)
The Branches of Joseph
The Branches of Joseph are in number four as follows:
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1. The Lehi Branch: The Lehi Branch is that combined branch of the seed of Lehi, Ishmael, and Mulek. Lehi's family is that of Manasseh, Ismael is that of Ephraim and Mulek is that of legally adopted Ephraim further discused in the Messiah Branch. Further, the Lehi Branch has performed a most critical contribution to the workings of the plan of God for his children on earth under the name of the tribe of Manasseh. That is by the hand of the Nephites, who are the descendants of Lehi or the tribe of Manasseh, and more pointedly by the hand of Mormon as the collector and abridger of the major portion of the Book of Mormon and also by the hand of Moroni, his father's further spokesman as the angel flying through the midst of heaven; the Book of Mormon has come forth in the latter days. And it is that record that is necessary to confound the false doctrines of the world and to the settling and bring about peace and understanding as to the true doctrines of the fulness of the everlasting gospel and as a witness to the world of Jesus Christ and his latter-day Church so restored to the earth. |
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2. The Moses Branch: It is of a particular item to note that the keys of the 'gathering' of Israel were unto the birthright of the everlasting covenat, which was bestowed upon Joseph and by Jacob, upon Joseph's son Ephraim. It was Moses who had last held the keys of the gathering of Israel and who restored them to Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple. By what right or from thence did Moses receive that right of those keys if they were a part of the covenant brithright of Joseph and Ephraim? The Moses Branch is that which leads Israel out of captivity, Moses being raised by the family of Joseph who married with Pharoah and denied his Hebrew heritage. But Moses was adopted into being of Joseph, as he was raised by the daughter of the king as her own son. Thus Israel was led out of Egypt by the hand of 'Joseph' in that also they were brought down into Egypt by the same. And Moses in turn leave his mantle upon the heirs of Joseph in the family of Nun and Jehoshua [who was remaned after that very name of Jehovah as given by the Father upon him in the counsil of heaven. Also, it is Moses who holds the keys of the gathering of Israel functioning as an agent and a part of the house of Joseph. Moses gathered up Israel and delived them out of the bondage of Egypt. And in the latter-days, Moses restored those keys of gathering Isreal to the end of the gathering Israel from the captivity of their bondage unto the false doctrines of the devil and unto the restoring of Israel to the freedom and agency promised as being those who are the people of God. And this as Israel and his companions are gathered in from the four quarters of the world in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ today. |
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3. The Messiah Branch: The Messiah Branch is that which is the legally bound seed of Ephraim according to the Law of God as Boaz was but the 'surogate' kinsman who did raise up seed unto Mahlon and Elimelech, those Ephrathites who were the heirs of Ephraim. Obed and his son Jesse were Ephrathites or Ephraimites, Obed being that seed which was raised up to the dead of Ephraim's heirs. Thus the whole house of David were of Ephraim and the Jews who accused Jesus as being a Samaritan knew of which they spoke. In that same line of reasoning of 'fulfilling all righteousness' in his baptism in order to abide by the rules governing the earth though being God, Jesus was also of necessity to be the proper heir of the keys of the priesthood through the birthright parentage down from the fathers of the birthright which flowed from Adam through Enoch to Noah, and from Noah down to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob [Israel], and Joseph through whom they did remain (D&C 27:10). And from thence to and through Ephraim, the birthright son to Nun and his son Joshua [Jehoshua] and thence to that Ephrathite Elimelech and his son Mahlon, and then to Mahlon's son raised up unto Mahlon to preserve that birthrigh blessing of Ephraim through Obed and Jesse both of the legal and rightful family of the birthright framily of Epharim being of the tribe of Ephraim as Epraimites or Ephrathites. And thence down through the posterity of the house of David to Jesus Christ, the legal and authorized holder of the priesthood right, not only as the Son of God, but also, to fulfill all righteousness, the heir of Ephraim the birthright son of the covanant according to the descent of the children of Adam. (see Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph) |
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4. The Latter Day Ephraim Branch: The Latter Day Ephraim Branch is that of scattered Ephraim that was sifted into the nations of the earth and gathered back out through the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are the latter-day Ephraim Gentiles who Nephi saw that came unto America to build up Zion in the last days associated with 5. Joseph Smith the prophet. It is by that marvelous work and a wonder that has been brought about to restore through the ministering of angels the true Chruch of Jesus Christ by the hand of that promised prohet and seer of the latter day who was to descend from Joseph of Egypt. It is he whose father was named Joseph, that he was named Joseph and they both were they who descended from Joseph of Egypt as recorded in the Lord's prophesied blessings upon the head of Joseph of Egypt recorded and referenced above. And it is this restored church, 'The Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' that is taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and to the ushering in of the Millennial reign of Jesus as King David, the beloved to the further blessing of all of the children of God by the great Millennial work. |
The Blessings of Joseph and His Seed
JST, GENESIS 48:5–11 (compare Genesis 48:5–6)
(Joseph's seed will be the leaders in the gathering of Israel in the latter days.)
5. And now, of thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of
Egypt, before I came unto thee into 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 called Israel.)
6. And thy issue which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after
the name of their brethren in their inheritance, in the tribes; therefore they were called the
tribes of Manasseh and of Ephraim.
7. And Jacob said unto Joseph when the God of my fathers appeared unto me in Luz, in the
land of Canaan; he sware unto me, that he would give unto me, and unto my seed, the land for
an everlasting possession.
8. Therefore, O my son, he hath blessed me in raising thee up to be a servant unto me, in
saving my house from death;
9. In delivering my people, thy brethren, from famine which was sore in the land; wherefore
the God of thy fathers shall bless thee, and the fruit of thy loins, that they shall be blessed
above thy brethren, and above thy father's house;
10. 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 for ever;
11. For thou shalt be a light unto my people, to deliver them in the days of their
captivity, from bondage; and to bring salvation unto them, when they are altogether bowed down
under sin." ~ (JST | Genesis 48:Entry - 11)
13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh
in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him.
14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the
younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was
the firstborn.
15 ¶ And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did
walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day.
16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on
them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the
midst of the earth.
17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it
displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto
Manasseh's head.
18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy
right hand upon his head.
19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a
people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and
his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
20 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."
~ (Old Testament | Genesis 48:13-20)
Jacob Blesses Joseph
22 "¶ Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the
wall:
23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands
of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the
shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless
thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the
breasts, and of the womb:
26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto
the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they
shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his
brethren." ~ (Old Testament | Genesis 49:22-26)
Though said quite straight forward and plainly, the fact that Joseph's blessings given to him by Jacob states of Joseph—for it is his blessing—that "from thence is the shepherd the stone of Israel." Certainly that is none other than Jesus Christ the Messiah.
Because the Jewish traditions have removed the 'genealogy' to being the 'blood line' of Boaz rather than the 'legal and lawful heir line' of the birthright from Mahlon and Elimelech, Ephrathites (Ephraimites) to whom Boaz was but surogate according to the Law of Moses (Deut. 25:5-10); the true ancestry of Jesus Christ has been muddled (see 1 Chronicles 5:1-2). When speaking of the genealogy and birthright in conjunction with the sons of Joseph being put in the places of Reuben and Simeon, with Ephraim being given the birthright of Israel; who else is being spoken of but the rights and lineage of the 'birthright' seed but the Messiah? (see: Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph)
And in Jacob's blessing of Judah, he prophetically was inspired' to state that 'between the feet' of Judah the septre would be considered to be of Judah as David, the first king of Judah in his wickedness chose Judah over Israel. David fully knew that his 'birthright' was through Ephraim who was Israel, but for his desire for acceptance in Jerusalem, David turned his back upon Israel, and chose Judah. But man does not over rule God, and the birthright lineage was that of Ephraim. Judah cannot usurp to it by claiming to have prevailed since the kingdom of Israel would by the date Chronicles was compiled be captured, lost and no longer recognized by Judah. Ephraim was, is and will be forever the birthright lineage of the Messiah.
13 ¶ And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven,
for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,
14 And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put
forth by the moon,
15 And for the chief things of the ancient mountains,
and for the precious things of the lasting hills,
16 And for the precious things of the earth and fulness
thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head
of Joseph, and upon the top of
the head of him that was separated from his brethren.
17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and
his horns are like the horns of
unicorns [wild ox]: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth:
and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
(Old Testament | Deuteronomy 33:13 - 17)
The Keys of the priesthood have contintued in and through the birthright line of the promises of the fathers. Noah is the same as Gabriel, the same as the father of all living since the flood and the same as Elias who restored the keys of the promises of the fathers as was bestowed in and through father Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. And as Elias he, restored his keys in the Kirtland temple in 1836. Moses was not only of the covenant, but as the adopted son of the daughter of the king, he was to recognized his own connection to the birthright of Joseph, whose descendant had married into the royal line of Egypt and whose 'son Moses was'. Thus when Moses resigned his post, it logically fell to Oshea, the son of Nun, the then righteous heir of Ephraim, who Moses renamed him by one of the known names of the God of Israel, who was Jehovah and that name was Jehoshua, meaning 'Jehovah-Redeemer/Deliverer'. That Moses, recognized as of the seed of Joseph, restored the keys of the gathering of Israel, Israel being that people who had 'prevailed in and of the Lord.' Even Elijah was but a prophet of the Kingdom of Israel, that being the kingdom of Ephraim, the northern kingdom. And as the Ephraimite seer who held the sealing powers of heaven, he Elijah is he who restored the sealing powers unto the intend of turning the hearts of the children unto 'the fathers' and 'the fathers' unto the children that the binging link of heaven might prevail in and throughout the posterity of the children of God on earth to seal them unto the powers and family of heaven unto the intent and purpose of 'bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man' least the whole earth be smitten with a curse and wasted. And that latter-day descendent of Joseph was and is Joseph Smith whose father was also named Joseph.
The Branches of Joseph ~ Summary
Much has been hidden from the world, and still has not been revealed generally through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is the one and only true Chruch of Jesus Christ in the world today. There is only one Savior and one way, path and course given to man to obtain redemption, and that is through Jesus Christ, his gospel plan, which consists of coming unto Christ, accepting him and him only as thy Ministering God of this world, Savior, Redeemer, Mediator, Advocate and Intercessor with the Father by whom all must come to be reconciled unto God and to gain salvation and eternal life. And that by obedience to the law, covevants, commandments, statutes and ordinances of the High Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God; and being judged of him, Jesus Christ who is the same as Jehovah as being worthy of such great reward in the kingdom of God. There is no other way.
That said and understood, we come to the role of the house of Israel and particularly that of the birthright son Joseph and his birthright son Ephraim. Chosen as the most noble of the sons of God in the preexistence, not to be placed on a pedestal as such, but called and placed in the covenant line in order that the covenant blessing might be preserved and remain in the earth (D&C 27:10) to the blessing of all of God's children—as they who are of such noble lineage have been place by God, Jesus Christ, to be as servants to all of his children in 'bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.' Who but the most highly noble and trusted souls would you want our eternal destiny to be placed in the hands of to bring it to past. Thus it has been so designed by God from the beginning, that in and through the greatest and noble of us all, beginning with Jesus Christ himself, the firstborn spirit son of God the Father of Spirit, as the Messiah, our temporal Creator, our God of the Old Testament, our Savior of the New Testament, who is confirmed as such by the Testament of the Book of Mormon, and who will reign in and over the great Millennial Day Marvelous Work and a Wonder to the benefit of the children of God, and who will stand as our final Judge of Mercy at the final day—and his selected most worthy and trusted servants in whose hands he does trust his work to be performed by all of the children of men, to bring about the 'Universal Sons and Daughters of God and his Gospel children unto being included as the sons and daughters of Abraham, and members of the Universal Children of Israel, which Israel has been from the beginning all those who have, do and will prevail with Christ in God?
To this end has those who have prevailed in God been established as Israel to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. And under this line have the blessings remained and are now preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and that great Millennial Day when all will be fully accomplished and completed unto the full intent and purpose of God and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ unto the Redemption of Mankind. Often held and hidden in the 'mysteries of Go' to be eventually fully given and revealed unto man so that the probation of man would go forth and continue as designed from the beginning upon the course of man on earth, so is the Plan of Salvation of God been carried out. Even yet much is yet to be revealed. That which I do present here is as I have come to understand. If it is not so, then it is but of me and I would then stand corrected. But the lineage of the promises seems to speak to the truth of the matter and that one day, when it does suit the purposes and designs of God, all things will become so revealed by the hand of God working by in his various means and authoritative sources. Look to the Prophet and the Apostles as to the course of the Chruch of Jesus Christ and unto the Holy Spirit of the Holy Ghost for those truths which are of God to be revealed.
Thus in summary, as may be decerned by the spirit, the order of the priesthood powers on earth have been funneled in and of the Lord's chosen avenue, the birthright of Joseph and his birthright son Ephraim to the blessing of the children of men. Even the Messiah, to fulfill all righteousness may be found to be of that promised lineage of the birthright as being the legal heir of the birthright priesthood according to the laws of God in man as so was the needed baptism of Jesus also so performed. Thus it is considered here that Jesus was heir to the house of Joseph through that reserved lineage of Ephraim legally (see Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph), that such as by Noah have the 'program' been administered on earth as Gabriel and Elias and through whose seed did Abraham come and to the establishing Israel, being those who have prevailed with Christ in God to the blessing of all mankind. And thus also was Moses so considered to have been raised up by adoption to be of the covenant birthright lineage of Joseph, as also was the family of Lehi who has provided the supporting testimony of Christ as the Redeeming God of the whole earth and to the confounding of false doctrines, and also as well Joseph Smith at the latter-day prophet and head of the despensation of the fulness of time as a recognized son of the covenant, a son of Joseph of Egypt and as Brother Bringham has stated, a 'prue Ephraimite'.
These seem to stand as at least four of the main branches of the birthrith of Joseph. The house of Jesse, the son of the surogate born Obed of the Ephraimite framily of Mahlon and Elimelech as presented in the Book of Ruth unto the bring forth of the heir of the house of David who is Christ the Lord as the first and greatest branch of the covenant. Then that of the branch of the children of Israel as served by the prophet of God of Moses, who may also be seen as an adoptive son of the house of Joseph. Then also that preserving branch of the needed confirming testimony of the Christ as the God of the whole earth, which Book of Mormon record does detail and which also confirms the truth of God and confounds the false doctrines of man. And finally that latter-day branch of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ unto the purpose of preparing a people of God in preparing for the Second Coming and Millennial Reign of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to rule and reign as our Beloved God and King, even as King David of the Millennial Day. These are the four branches as spoken of here. And it is anticipated that in the due time of the Lord, such will be further revealed and set out in detail by the revealations of God through his authorized ministers, which I am not one though I trust I am a devoted member.
* Joseph's dream of the rotted fruit. It only becomes cystal clear through Joseph's 'other' traditionally held dream, that all these dreams not only portrayed Joseph in the temporal sense but also in respect to the Messiah in the eternal sense. Jesus was the fruit of Joseph's posterity of the harvest which sheaf did stand before all others to be so worshiped. And as just presented, all those of the kingdoms of heaven's glories would bow down before the Lord. In Joseph's 'other' dream, he and his brothers were gathering fruit, again fruit meaning posterity. His brother's fruit rotted, but Joseph's fruit remianed. Joseph explained that the children of Israel would set up dumb idols to worship, but that they would vanish at the coming of Joseph's descendant, Messiah ben Joseph. (Isaiah and the Prophets, p. 28 & Ginzberg, The Legends of the Jews vol. 2:7)
Further the conception that the Messiah was to be the posterity of Joseph and his son Ephraim helps to explain the statement made of Joseph and his posterity in the future. "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 for ever;" JST | Genesis 48:10. To no one else are we to bow down unto 'for ever' but unto Jesus Christ and/or God the Father. We are not to bow down and worship men, only God.
** In the original 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon the two 'bookend' statements of 'And thus prophesied Joseph, saying:' and 'Yea, thus prophesied Joseph.' stood as being openning and ending quotations to the information inbetween them. All was together in a very long paragraph concerning what Lehi spoke in relation to blessing his son Joseph and speaking of Joseph of Egypt. Not until the work of Orson Pratt were these paragraphs broken up and divided in to the scriptural verses as they are in our Book of Mormon today. In the 1830 original, that ending 'boodend' of 'Yea, thus prophesied Joseph.', was properly 'sentenced' as a part of the prior information concerning Joseph Smith with a comma after the word salvation, and the period that ended the sentence did not come until after the end of "yea, thus prophesied Joseph." Orson Pratt basically 'ripped' the 'ending bookend end of quote' from the previous sentence and planted it not just onto the next idea, but he further insured the 'reader's preceived' understanding of such by placing it at the head of a new numbered verse. In doing so we have not only lost the chiasmic 'verse' of that between the two intentionaly placed bookends of "And thus prophesied Joseph, saying, ... ; yea, thus prophesied Joseph." But we have also lost Lehi's magnificent prophetic perfect testimony that, 'Lehi 'knew and believed' the truth of Joseph's of Egypt's promise of the Lord of the coming of the Prophet Joseph Smith who was yet to come; just as he 'knew and believed' in that promise the Lord made unto Joseph of Egypt of the coming of Moses, who by Lehi's day had already come.'
In summary, what happened is that one sentence was truncated of its telling ending phrase, and it was verse separated, and is today fully differently punctuated. Ripped away from its original and nailed onto the next thought, thus rendering both such verses changed as to their meaning and original intent. Orson Pratt's work made the Book of Mormon more readily studied for Book of Mormon students of the scriptures, but Elder Pratt was not perfect and thus prone to error as any human is.