And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are.
#genesis 48:5 #vayekhi

The names of Joseph's two eldest sons were prophetic of their future role in the nation and the world, and Ephraim and Manasseh effectively replaced Reuben and Simeon as first and second born. Although the blessing of Abraham was shared by all of Jacob's sons, the traditional firstborn blessing of double-inheritance, kingship, and priesthood was divided between Joseph, Judah, and Levi, respectively. Reuben and Simeon were demoted to the family's rank and file.

https://soilfromstone.blogspot.....com/2007/12/jacob-h