Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh - the two sons of Joseph. So closely united as to form between them but one tribe; but now about to be rent into factions, thirsting for each other's blood.
(And) they together (shall be) against Judah. Disunited in all things else, but united "together against their brother Judah" (2 Kings 15:10; 2 Kings 15:30). Contrast Isaiah 11:13, in the happy day to come.
Remarks: It is the divine way often to choose places and persons that are despised of men to be honoured of God. Galilee, which had become a name of contempt among the Jews, because of its connection with the Gentiles, was chosen as the favoured resort of Jesus of Nazareth. The region by the Sea of Galilee, which had been the tint to suffer from the Assyrian enemy, was the first to hear the message of spiritual deliverance. They who had dwelt "in the land of the shadow of death" were selected as the foremost 'upon whom shined the light of Him who is the Light to lighten the Gentiles.' The multiplication Gentile converts to the Christian Church, though a matter of joy at first, soon proved to be attended with the development of corruption from within, out of which Antichrist takes his rise. But Antichrist must at last fall utterly and forever before Messiah. As Gideon with a few men overthrew the countless hosts of Midian by the mighty interposition of Yahweh, so shall Messiah give Israel literal and spiritual, in its weakness, complete deliverance from the yoke of the oppressor.