While the man who led the revolt against Moses is not named, undoubtedly because he worked undercover and no-one could testify who fomented the rebellion, there is only one man who had enough entrenched political power within Israel to lead a revolt against latecomer Moses’ leadership.
A man from the tribe of Ephraim.
Moses’ right-hand man, a man who like Moses, would have been learned in all the administrative wisdom of Egypt’s world-wide government, basically, the Vice President, who did indeed succeed Moses as ruler of Israel was “Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man [of the tribe of Ephraim]…and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.” ((Exodus 33:7-11, Deuteronomy 34:7-9)
Aristocratic families provide unmatched generational wealth and peerless educational, political, business connections to their children beyond the reach of any average individual in one lifetime. In addition to Joseph’s Egyptian holdings, Jacob had bequeathed to Joseph a double portion of inheritance by adopting his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh which translated into a double portion of influence and power within the nation of Israel.
Although the golden calves’ revolt at Sinai was wiped out by Moses’ tribe of Levites, history documents that the Ephraithites continued to smolder under their subordinate position within Israel for generations until in a position to once again seize power.
“Jeroboam…an Ephrathite…was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon…made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph [tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh]…[eventually leading to civil war]…Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day…
And Jeroboam…[repeating his forefather’s method of seizing control] made two calves of gold, and said unto them...behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.. sacrificing unto the calves that he had made.” (I Kings 12)
“So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.” (II Kings 17:22-23)
And the worst of the bad kings of Judah rejected his own ancestral King David to identify with, by taking the name of, Ephraim’s brother and joint-heir.
“Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel…and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols.” (II Kings 21)
So how does the LORD still make good on his covenant without undoing his essentially changelessness?
The scattered individuals can reclaim their essential, fundamental identity as Upright Ones (English) Jeshurun / Jesurun (Hebrew).
“The LORD shall
- judge his people,
- and [also] repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone.” (Deuteronomy 32:36)
“Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not…Jesurun / upright one, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall [future tense] spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
- One shall say, I am the LORD‘s; [the pre-flood ancients and post-flood Hebrews]
- and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob [through his only begotten son Judah]; [Jews]
- and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD AND surname himself by the name of Isra-el / Prince of El / Melchizedek”, i.e. what we call Christians. (Isaiah 44)
Jeshurun / Upright Ones are the international people of YHVH within the Commonwealth of Israel.
“Moses commanded us a law,
- even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob / Israel
- and he was king in [international] Jeshurun / Upright Ones / Hebrews
when
- the heads of the people / international Hebrews
- AND the tribes of Israel
were gathered together.” (Deuteronomy 33:4-5)
The Hebrews pre-existed the establishment of the nation of Israel as a world-wide monotheistic religion worshipping the Creator and Sustainer of Life scattered throughout the world after the breakup into nations at Babel. Some of the mixed multitude of peoples at Mount Sinai maintained their identity as Hebrews while choosing not to become a part of the nation of Israel’s “kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” (Exodus 19:6)
And this logical deduction is confirmed in scripture.
“when he had reigned two years over Israel…Saul blew the trumpet [calling to war] throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear [respond to the call to war, as Israel’s allies]…And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel…some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.” (I Samuel 13)
There were many other people groups allied with Israel through joint worship of YHVH, such as Hiram of Tyre during David’s and Solomon’s reigns, the Queen of Sheba, and others.
“Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him…that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel…I have surnamed thee,- given you my family name – Hebrew Son of God– though thou hast not known [been taught about] me by name.” (Isaiah 45:1-4)
Cyrus must have been practicing, or drawn to, the monotheistic Zoroastrianism, while tolerating the pagan religions of the many nations in his empire.
But the Hebrews did not have to become a member of the nation of Israel to be saved!
“If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” (Genesis 4:7)
The Nation Of Israel Was Never Instituted For Salvation – But FOR LEADERSHIP AS PRIESTS AND KINGS.
After seeing with his own eyes the spirit of God come onto Cornelius, not only a Roman but a centurion in the vicious Roman army, “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But IN EVERY NATION he / INDIVIDUALLY that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:34-35)
Paul, who derived all his theology from scripture, clearly spent a lot of time in Isaiah. Can we not recognize his reference to Isaiah’s promise as he writes to Gentiles? These converts to the King of Israel didn’t just spring up out of no-where!
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints / Upright Ones / Jeshurun which are at Ephesus…According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world [as part of his inheritance won from the Adversary], that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself…wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved…
“God…will render to every man according to his deeds…For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law…shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness. (Romans 2:5-3:1)
- “neither circumcision [or any religious rite] availeth anything, nor uncircumcision [abstaining from legalism]..
- but faith which worketh by love…
- For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Galatians 5:6-15)
Isaiah’s prophecy to Jeshurun proves that after the creation of the nation of Israel for God’s leadership in the kingdom of heaven and earth, the preceding ancient nation under YHVH – the Upright Ones / Jeshurun continued to exist and grow.
Interestingly, Isaiah’s written pronunciation using “s” instead of “sh” matches Ephraim’s regional accent, the northern ten tribes to whom Isaiah is writing.
You don’t get more personal than that. Secret code to Ephraim from God – “I hear you.”
Kingdom Come 