Because of them, all the captives from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: May the Lord curse you as he cursed Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned to death.
That day he blessed them. He said, “Because of you, Israel will speak this blessing, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’ ” In this way Israel put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
All the people who were at the gate, including the leaders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make this wife, who is coming into your home, like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built our family of Israel. So show your strength of character in Ephrathah and make a name for yourself in Bethlehem.