November 1, 2009
From: Dad, Grandpa, etc. Richard Marden Pratt
Re: The ten tribes of Israel
The ten tribes of Israel. Twelve sons were born to Israel (Jacob) . Leah had six and the other three wives each had two. The first born son, Reuben, came from Leah.
In those ancient days, the first born received the “birthright” which held the right of governing at the father’s death. He also received a double portion or twice as much as the other sons. But he had certain responsibilities chief among which was providing for the mother and all the sisters who had not a husband to provide for them. Thus no one in these large and extended families was left in need of the basics of life. In other words it was built in “Social Security” only much more dependable and secure.
If the first born was not worthy then the birthright passed to the next righteous son and in the case of a polygamist family it would be the oldest son of the second wife which in this family was Rachel. The other two wives, called concubines, did not share the birthright. But they and their families received protection and security from the birthright son.
Reuben lost his inheritance by adultery with one of his fathers concubines. Which then passed the birthright on to Joseph the firstborn of Rachel, and from Joseph the birthright went to his second son, Ephraim. Because Joseph received a double portion two tribes emerged headed by Ephraim and the other after his brother Manasseh. Thus creating 13 tribes. Confusing ~ don’t worry about it.
Ephraim became the dominant tribe except there was a constant rivalry over the centuries between Ephraim and Judah, the fourth son of Leah.
We, our family, are descendants of Ephraim. Because of the birthright of Ephraim in these last days his descendants were the first to come forth and restore the church in preparation for the gathering of scattered Israel.
And Joseph, father of Ephraim prophesied: that one of his descendants would be called after him (Joseph Smith) and it shall be after the name of his Father (Joseph Smith Sr.) For the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation. (The church)
My Patriarchal Blessing says: “Thou art a pure Ephramite.” What does yours say about you? In the early years of the church most converts to the church were descendants of Ephraim. But now with the world wide expansion of the church other tribes, especially in Russia have been identified. In fact I understand that all the tribes are now represented in the church.
But Israel has often been rebellious and failed to keep the commandments and have suffered much thereby. Yet even in their wickedness the Lord uses them to bless the gentiles of the world by scattering them through out the earth. Where present and will aid in saving as many of our God’s children as possible.
Ephraim is characterized by these traits, when harnessed, leads to great leadership.
1. He has an itchy foot and always seeks to find out what’s on the other side of the mountain. 2. He is a noted woman chaser. 3. He has a tendency for alcohol.
Because of these problems the blood of Ephraim is scattered among all nations. And when the final records are revealed we will find that the majority of explorers, inventors, and other leaders
of the world are his descendants.
When Joseph was sold as a slave into Egypt by his jealous brothers he in a remarkable short time rose to the second highest command in Egypt the then most powerful nation in the world. And he saved his family from starvation by having hem move to Egypt.
At that time Israel’s family numbered seventy souls. His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. It appears that besides h is 12 sons he had 15 daughters.
Yet in only 430 years, when they left Egypt, the men twenty years o ld and up who could qualify as soldiers numbered slightly over 600,000 so the estimated total, Moses led into the wilderness, would be about two million souls. About two thirds of that time was spent in dreadful slavery.
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew....and the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor. Exodus 1:12-13
So don’t be too hard on these ex-slaves in their unruly behavior. Remember they are your ancestors. Its surprising they turned out as well as they did.
The Lord, then, drug them around in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses for forty years until the old generation had died off. And the new generation were tutored in righteousness and freedom.
Finally about 1451 B.C. under the prophet Joshua, they were disciplined enough to enter the Promised Land.
Coming in from the East they crossed the river Jordan with as great a miracle as when they passed thru the Red Sea. After performing a certain ritual the river at spring flood stage stopped flowing as tho a giant dam had suddenly dropped on it and this vast throng past over the river on dry ground.
Reaching the other side they were stopped by the city of Jericho; a high walled city, heavily defended.
Because we don’t read the Old Testament we get the erroneous idea that the Israelites were to kill everyone. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
The wicked occupants of the Promised Land new all about their escape from Egypt, the many miracles, the crossing thru the Red Sea etc. they also knew that they were being ordered off the land.
Here are the orders given to Moses by God and passed on to Joshua.
The wicked had three options. 1. As they approached a new territory send in the missionaries and invite the wicked to repent and join them. 2. If they elected not to join God invite them to leave the country. And 3. If they elected to stay then remove them from this mortal life.
The word missionary does not appear in the Old Testament. In the case of Jericho it calls them spies. They approached the city leaders and gave them the three options.
Remember a few memos ago I explained that a wicked man and or a wicked people become so proud that they feel that they can defy man and God and still come out victorious in spite of the odds. Such an attitude had brought the destruction of 21 known civilizations, and a like fate awaits the nations of today unless they repent.
Well the two spies who entered Jericho had to flee for their lives but they made a convert. Their land lady believed t hem and made it possible for them to escape. They in turn promised
that she and anyone who believed would be safe if they stayed in her hotel when the city was attacke
The translation says she was a harlot. But that is a faulty translation and not true. Oh! Incidently she became one of those from whom the Savior descended.
The whole nation of Israel were then ordered to march around the city once, every day for six days, staying out of range of arrows which isn’t very far. On the seventh day they were to march around seven times and then give a sudden blast, ear deafening on their horns and the walls would fall down.
Of course the defenders of the city were all on the walls wondering what those crazy Israelites were up to. And when the walls fell down of course the battle was over. The landlady and followers were rescued and no one was hurt but those who figured they could defy man and God.
Only one of all the wicked countries elected to join Israel. But that’s another story.
Then Israel passed thru a stage of wickedness in which they demanded a king so they would be like other nations. They had now been in the promised land about 300 years. When the prophet Samuel ordained Saul their first King and their troubles really started.
David (of Goliath fame) followed Saul. Under the leadership of David Israel became the most powerful nation in the near East.
He was followed by his son Solomon who became king of Israel 1015 B.C. Solomon is an enigma (what does that word mean or did I just make it up?)
Touted as the wisest man in the world he wound up making so many foolish decisions that Israel dissolved in a bloody civil war.
Yet as a young king he started out doing everything right, first building a temple and in so doing. “The word of the Lord came to Solomon saying concerning this house which thou art building, if thou wilt walk in my statues, and execute my judgements, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then I will perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father;...So Solomon built the house, and finished it.”
“The Lord appeared to Solomon the second time...and promised him, if you do all that I command thee...then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever. But if ye shall at all turn from following me...but go and follow after gods and worship them; then I will cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them.”
Solomon was then about fifty years old he seemed to do everything wrong. We only hope that he had some disease like Alzheimer that will give him an excuse.
He married 1,000 women and built an immense palace to house them, children, house keepers etc. most of them non Israelites who got him to worshiping their heathen gods. He built many public works and of course financed it by levying higher and higher taxes.
At his death the ten northern tribes led by an Ephramite named Jeroboam went to his succeeding son Rehoboam and demanded a tax rebate. He refused. And a dreadful civil war followed resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands on both sides. And about 975 B.C. they split into two kingdoms. The Kingdom of Judah which also included the tribe of Benjamin and the others who were called various names such as “the ten tribes,” “Israel,” and the Northern Kingdom.
The next two hundred and fifty years were a continuous battle between the two factions. Finally about 721 B.C. a new rising world power called Assyria attacked the Ten Tribes from the
North. The Northern Kingdom appealed to their former brothers for help only to be laughed at. When the war ended. The survivors were taken Northward as slaves.
The only other record we have of this remnant of the Ten Tribes is found in the Book of
2Esdra found not in the Old Testament but in the Apocrypha.
It records that an Ephramite named Tobias led them in counseling that they should disappear Northward thru rugged mountains, so steep that they were only passable just before spring flooding. That by the time they were found missing the Assyrians would be unable to follow until the following year and so they went saying that they would go northward where never before man had been (since the flood.)
Archaeologically they can then be traced passing by the Black Sea on the East then crossing Southern Russia into Europe up thru the Scandinavian countries and Great Briton and disappearing.
All we know is that they will return, join with Judah who is returning to their ancient home and become a United Kingdom.
Of course as they moved North and West stragglers would have dropped off and settled by the wayside. Hence the blood of Israel is strong thru Russia and Europe.
According to Esdra it took them one and a half years to make the journey and their disappearing into the far North.
The lost tribes are not lost to the Lord. They were led by prophets. They were still a distinct nation many hundreds of years later, for the resurrected Lord following his ministry on this continent among the Nephites said....(GO READ IT in:) (3 Ne. 16:1-4, 17:4) Mormon Doctrine page 457
To this day we haven’t the slightest idea where they are, except they are Northward. But they will return in a series of miracles that will surpass Moses and Israel passing thru the Red Sea. “And they who are in the North countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord; and their prophets shall hear his voice, and shall no longer stay themselves; and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence. And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep (ocean) their enemies shall become a prey unto them. And in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land. And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants.
And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence.
And there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim. (D.&C. 133:27-35
“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power thru out the universe displayed.....
When I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin;.....
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, “My God, how great Thou art.”
Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art, then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee how great Thou art, how great Thou art!
My love Always,
Dad, Grandpa Pratt etc.
