Ephraim was the second son born to Joseph in Egypt and was, along with his older brother Manasseh, elevated by Jacob to the same status as Joseph’s brothers. Thus when the tribes of Israel are named, Ephraim and Manasseh are named as patriarchs along with their uncles – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin -- but Joseph is not. According to Swedenborg, Ephraim represents the intellectual aspect of the church, the part that explores and understands what is true – especially the true ideas that can be drawn from the Bible. Manasseh, meanwhile, represents the affectional aspect of the church, the part that feels and loves and cares. This plays into the best-known story of Ephraim’s life. When Jacob was old and nearing death, Joseph brought his two sons to be blessed. He presented Manasseh to Jacob’s right hand as the elder, and Ephraim to Jacob’s left hand. But Jacob crossed his hands and gave Ephraim the primary blessing. According to Swedenborg, Manasseh was the elder son because ultimately, what we love makes us who we are; our loves form our lives. So our loves are the most central, leading aspect of our human existence, with our intellect playing a secondary role. But as we develop, we need to reverse those. We can use our intellect to understand what is good and right and force ourselves to do it, even when our desires are for what’s selfish. If we stick to that out of a determination to follow the Lord and be good people, the Lord will eventually remove the selfishness from our hearts so we can truly love what is good. By having Jacob bless Ephraim above Manasseh, the Lord is telling us that we have to put our intellect first to pursue our spiritual journey.

20. 18. Because of Jehovah thy God, and because of the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 55:5).

Let the wicked return to Jehovah, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:7).

Jehovah of Hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called (Isaiah 54:5).

We have transgressed against Jehovah, and have departed from following our God (Isaiah 59:13).

They shall bring thy sons from far; silver and gold with them, for the name of Jehovah thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 60:9).

Jehovah shall be to thee for an everlasting light, and thy God for thy glory (Isaiah 60:19).

(Ye shall be called priests of Jehovah, ministers of our God (Isaiah 61:6).)

In being glad I will be glad in Jehovah, my soul shall exult in my God (Isaiah 61:10).

Arise and shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. And nations shall walk to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising (Isaiah 60:1-3). The Lord is treated of throughout the chapter. See the section on the consummation.

The Spirit of the Lord Jehovih is upon Me, because Jehovah hath anointed Me to tell good tidings to the poor. He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to foretell liberty to the captives, and to those in bonds and to the blind; to proclaim the year of good pleasure, and the day of vengeance of God; to console all that mourn (Isaiah 61:1-2). Throughout that chapter the Lord's advent is treated of.

To proclaim the year of the good pleasure of Jehovah and the day of vengeance of our God (Isaiah 61:2).

The Lord Jehovih will cause justice and praise to spring forth before all the nations (Isaiah 61:11). Concerning the Lord.

Jehovah hath sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength (Isaiah 62:8).

Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold thy salvation cometh; behold His reward is with Him, and the recompense of His work before Him (Isaiah 62:11).

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with sprinkled garments from Bozrah, marching in the multitude of His strength, great to save? (Isaiah 63 seq.) Concerning the battle of the Lord against the hells, and of their subjugation and thus the redemption of the faithful; wherefore it is said, the day of vengeance is in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed is come. So He became a Savior to them. Then the angel of the faces of Jehovah freed them, and He redeemed them (verses 4, 8-9).