Revelation 7:8 - Exposition

Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand, Ephraim is omitted, while Manasses is inserted. Wordsworth considers that this is on account of the rebellions character of the tribe of Ephraim (see 1 Kings 12:25 ; Isaiah 7:9 , Isaiah 7:17 ; Hosea 5:1-15 ., etc.). But Ephraim is sometimes identical with Joseph (cf. Psalms 78:67 ; Ezekiel 37:16 ), who here finds a place among the twelve.