Then the sonsof Josephspoketo Joshua,saying,"Whyhave you givenme only onelotand oneportionfor an inheritance,since I am a numerouspeoplewhomthe LORDhas thusfarblessed?"
But his fatherrefusedand said,"I know,my son,I know;he alsowill becomea peopleand he alsowill be great.However,his youngerbrothershall be greaterthanhe, and his descendantsshall becomea multitudeof nations."
He blessedthem that day,saying,"By you Israelwill pronounceblessing,saying,'May Godmakeyou like Ephraimand Manasseh!'"Thus he putEphraimbeforeManasseh.
"I giveyou oneportionmorethanyour brothers,whichI tookfrom the handof the Amoritewith my swordand my bow."
"Besidethe borderof Manasseh,from the eastsideto the westside,Ephraim,one[portion].
from the tribeof Issachar,Igalthe sonof Joseph;
"To the larger[group] you shall increasetheir inheritance,and to the smaller[group] you shall diminishtheir inheritance;eachshall be giventheir inheritanceaccordingto those who were numberedof them.
They married[those] from the familiesof the sonsof Manassehthe sonof Joseph,and their inheritanceremainedwith the tribeof the familyof their father.
The sonsof Joseph,Manassehand Ephraim,receivedtheir inheritance.
Joshuasaidto them, "Ifyou are a numerouspeople,goup to the forestand cleara place for yourself therein the landof the Perizzitesand of the Rephaim,sincethe hillcountryof Ephraimis too narrowfor you."
