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From: Ephraim & Rimona Frank (:shevet@netivision.net.il)
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Ezekiel 37: The Two Sticks of Judah and Joseph

EZEKIEL 37: THE TWO STICKS OF JUDAH AND JOSEPH

Shalom Fellow Israelite,

In the famous Ezekiel 37 passage, HaShem tells Ezekiel to pick up a stick, or "a tree", "etz", and to write Judah's name on it. After he completes the task HaShem tells him to take another "stick", and write Joseph's name on it (Eze.36:16). HaShem is clearly focusing here on Israel's Two Houses. Interestingly Judah's stick appears before Joseph's. This order has been true in the family of Jacob all along, as Judah was born before Joseph and had taken the leadership in the family from Reuben, who had lost his firstborn privileges (Chron.5:2).

Subsequent to accomplishing the task, HaShem asks Ezekiel to hold up the two sticks, which he grips in one hand, in front of the eyes of the "sons of his people". Upon seeing the prophet and looking at the two sticks held by him, the people respond: "Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?" (v.18). The very question indicates that they are oblivious to the existence of the "two nations". They had lost all recollection of who they were as an organized society or a civilization. Once the prophet has the attention of the people, and they become aware of his presence, HaShem tells him what to say to them: "Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his companions; and I will put them on [or upon] him the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand'" (v.19). Obviously this union of the two sticks can only take place in the hand of the Almighty. This is the same hand that laid the foundations of the earth and stretched out the heavens (Isa. 48:13). This is the hand that struck Egypt with incredible judgments and brought His armies - His people - the Children of Israel out of slavery. This is the hand that sowed the seed of Israel into all the nations (Hos. 2:23). Now today, this same hand is about to restore these two nations, houses, 'family trees', and kingdoms making them one in the land (Eze. 37:21).

In what way have these two sticks been held 'before the eyes' of HaShem's people? Although scattered into all the nations, the sons of Israel carried with them their identity papers. Judah carried the Tanach, and Ephraim carried what he called the Bible. Both had the words of their One Elohim, and the proverbial eyes of the prophets staring out at them through its pages. Every time they sat down and opened the Book, the two sticks were being waved before their eyes. Their Creator had not forgotten the covenant, nor could He forget His own namesake. For a given period of time His children, these two groups of people, were to live in darkness without the light of understanding as it pertained to their identity. But at the divinely determined time, HaShem, through His great love, compassion and faithfulness poured out His Spirit and began to draw a remnant of 'Judahites' (Jews) from the dispersed House of Judah back to the land. Many lost their lives, in the process of being drawn by HaShem to return to what was then a hostile area. For about one hundred years Zion travailed to give birth to the first of the two nations, and then on May 15th, 1948, after she had reeled in the birth pangs of the Holocaust, she delivered Judah, to be recognized as the first of the two sticks (nations) in the hand of the Almighty. Unfortunately, at that time her beloved Jerusalem and Holy Mountain were out of reach. As HaShem's prophetic plan unfolded though, in a war with the surrounding nations in June of 1967 the City of David, her eternal capital, was liberated.

However, there was still another nation that had to be gathered and placed in His hand; the second stick, the one that has Joseph's name written upon it. Therefore once again the Almighty is pouring out His Spirit, this time "to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers" (Mal. 4:6). The house of Joseph became "not my people" (Hos. 1:9), it had lost its identity under HaShem's righteous judgments. Its branches were burned to ashes ("epher" - to be found in the name Ephraim), and became dead dry bones (bone = "etzem" in Hebrew, with the first two letters "etz", meaning tree or stick). For millennia the Ephraimites have remained in the grave of forgetfulness, buried deep in the dust of humanity. However, within them still smoldered the forefathers'  spark of life, namely "the faith", which had not been totally quenched. Therefore, when the winds began to blow from the four corners of the earth, the ember of the Abrahamic life ignited, and with it a great sound is being heard, as the dry bones of that House of Israel are moving with fervor to be joined one to the other. Sinews are binding bone to bone, flesh is beginning to appear, and skin is starting to cover them as the Divine breath of life is being infused into them. Soon they will stand on their feet, an exceedingly great army (ref. Eze. 37:7-10).

Who is this second stick? Who and where is this nation called Joseph? Who is this exceedingly great army that is to be placed upon the first stick? Where and who is the arrow for the bow of Judah? (Zech 9:13) Yes, there is such a nation in the hand of HaShem, a nation walking alongside their brother Judah at this time, although its people are just beginning to recognize their Israelite roots. One of their apostles, quoting the prophet Hosea, points out that this nation, "was once not my people" (Hos.1:9)...but now you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Pet. 2:9). The birthmark of "the faith" is a reminder to this 'second' nation's of its identity. It is the nation which is fulfilling the blessings given to Joseph (see Gen. 49:22-26; Deut. 33:13-17). It is the stick (nation) in the hand of Ephraim and all the tribes of Israel, his companions" (Eze. 37:16).

As of yet the two nations have not become one in the land, but it will not be long and this miracle will become a reality before the eyes of the entire universe. The mighty hand of HaShem, will move with great judgments upon the surrounding nations; Lebanon and Gilead will be liberated, thus making those lands available to a remnant of the house of Ephraim. "Ephraim shall be like a mighty man...Their heart shall rejoice in Adonai....I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them...They shall remember Me in far countries; they shall live, together with their children, and they shall return... I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, until no more room is found for them" (Zech 10:7-10). If one looks at the northern border of Israel, as it is today, one can see that it forms a perfect graft for the other branch. "I will put them on him, [that is] the stick of Judah, and make them one stick....and they shall live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant" (Eze. 37:19; 25, emphasis mine).

Judah has become a mighty warhorse. "HaShem has visited His flock, the house of Judah, and has made them as His royal horse in the battle. From them come the cornerstone, the tent pegs, the bow for battle, and the leaders. They will be as mighty men, and they will fight because HaShem is with them" (Zech. 10: 3-5). Judah has survived because of the tender mercies ("ruhamah") of HaShem, but he must remember that it was not by bow, sword, battle, horses or horsemen (ref. Hos. 1:7). Judah must humbly accept that it is not by his own might, nor by his own power, "'but by My Spirit', says the Almighty, leader of the armies of Israel" (Zech 4:6).

"The sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together, they will appoint for themselves one leader, and they will go up from the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel" [HaShem's sowing] (Hos.1:11). "Then they shall swoop down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west; together they shall plunder the people of the East; they shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab; and the people of Ammon shall obey them. HaShem will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt" (Isa.11:14-15a).

Shabbat Shalom,

Ephraim Frank
Judea / Samaria / West Bank, Israel

Shevet Achim

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity (Ps. 133)

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