Joseph, as the eleventh son of Jacob, was chosen by God for significant purposes, reflecting the pattern of divine selection of later-born sons over firstborns. His two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, born to him in Egypt by Asenath, daughter of Poti-Pherah, priest of On, were named with meanings that reflect their future descendants' characteristics: Manasseh, meaning "made to forget," indicating a forward-looking nature, and Ephraim, meaning "fruitfulness," signifying prosperity and industriousness. Joseph's own name, meaning "He will add" or "increase," underscores the theme of expansion and growth that defines his lineage. Jacob, on his deathbed, adopted Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons, elevating them above his other sons, including Reuben and Simeon, in terms of inheritance. He blessed them jointly and individually, placing Ephraim, the younger, before Manasseh, the firstborn, by crossing his hands during the blessing to signify Ephraim's greater portion. Jacob declared that Ephraim would become a multitude of nations and Manasseh a great people, emphasizing their significant roles among the tribes of Israel. He also bestowed upon them the name Israel, marking them as central to the identity and inheritance of the nation, more so than the other tribes. The blessings given to Joseph's tribes, as recorded in Genesis 49, highlight themes of fruitfulness, strength, abundant blessings, and separateness. Their lands are described as fertile and well-watered, supporting a burgeoning population that constantly seeks new territories, pushing beyond boundaries as branches running over a wall. Despite facing envy and opposition from enemies, their strength is sustained by God, who grants them miraculous victories and stands as their champion. The blessings include favorable climate, abundant water, health, and fertility, surpassing even the greatest blessings of their ancestors, and are placed on Joseph's head as a divine ordination for a purpose. In Deuteronomy 33, Moses reiterates these blessings on Joseph's land, affirming the precious resources, climate, and agricultural abundance, while adding a focus on military might and political influence. Ephraim is likened to a firstborn bull and Manasseh possibly to a wild ox, symbolizing their stubborn, unyielding strength that pushes other nations to the ends of the earth, with Ephraim's influence as ten thousands and Manasseh's as thousands, indicating worldwide dominance. Jacob's act of blessing Ephraim and Manasseh is noted as a significant act of faith in God's purpose, underscoring the monumental importance of passing the birthright and the physical blessings of Abraham to these tribes. These blessings encompass national promises of population growth, abundance, productivity, and authority among nations, positioning Joseph's descendants as key bearers of Israel's identity and destiny.

Joseph's faith reached its pinnacle in the command recorded in Hebrews 11:22 that his bones be carried out of Egypt and returned to the Promised Land, an act rooted in his confidence that God would fulfill the promises first given to Abraham. As Jacob lay dying, he assured Joseph that he would receive a double portion in the land of his fathers, a promise Jacob delivered with certainty that God would bring Joseph specifically back. Joseph lived his entire life in Egypt and died without receiving that inheritance, yet Hebrews 11:39 notes that he obtained a good testimony through faith without receiving the promise. Far from indicating any failure on God's part, this points to the reality that God had provided something better, so that the faithful of earlier generations would not be made perfect apart from those who would follow. Joseph's instructions regarding his bones therefore reflected his contemplation of the resurrection, a hope he drew from the account of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac while accounting that God could raise the dead to fulfill His word. Although no resurrection had yet occurred and no direct revelation on the subject is recorded, the story of Abraham's faith had been passed down, enabling Joseph to reason correctly that only resurrection would allow him to inherit the double portion. Exodus 13:19 shows that Moses later took charge of Joseph's bones in fulfillment of the solemn oath binding the children of Israel to carry them when God visited them. Joshua 24:32 records that those bones were finally buried at Shechem after the conquest. Throughout the Exodus, the Red Sea crossing, forty years in the wilderness, the crossing of the Jordan, and the settlement of the land, Joseph's coffin remained with the people as a continual testimony that God is faithful to His promises and that death is not the end. This enduring witness formed part of the gospel preached to Israel, which centers on the coming Kingdom of God and the resurrection of the dead rather than forgiveness alone. Joseph's final act, given freely rather than under duress, demonstrated a faith that endured trials in youth and then rose to affirm trust in resurrection even when such an event remained theoretical, thereby highlighting the very faith God commends in Hebrews 11.

The tribe of Joseph occupies a central place in the developing search criteria for identifying modern-day Israel, standing out both in Jacob's prophetic blessing over his twelve sons and in the special blessing bestowed upon Joseph's own sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. In Genesis 49, when Jacob gathers his sons to reveal what would befall them in the last days, he devotes considerable attention to Joseph, describing him as "separate from his brothers," a "fruitful bough by a well" whose "branches run over the wall." Though Joseph would be "bitterly grieved in war," his strength would be made strong by "the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob," and he would be blessed "up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills." This prophecy, given explicitly for "the last days," provides solid ground for identifying characteristics of Joseph's descendants in the present age. Even more significant is the blessing Jacob bestowed on Joseph's two sons, born in Egypt, recorded in Genesis 48. Jacob first establishes a crucial legal point: Ephraim and Manasseh, though born in Egypt, are not Egyptians but belong fully to the family of Abraham, sharing in the structure of promises God made to the patriarchs. Jacob insists that his own name, and the names of Abraham and Isaac, be named upon them. Notably, Israel granted none of his own twelve sons the birthright blessing; that blessing passed instead to Joseph's sons, who were to be counted "as Reuben and Simeon" among Jacob's own. The blessing itself carries deep significance through Jacob's deliberate crossing of his hands. Though Manasseh was the firstborn and would normally receive the greater blessing signified by the right hand, Jacob knowingly placed his right hand on the younger Ephraim instead, declaring that Ephraim would become "a multitude of nations" while Manasseh would become merely "a people" and "great." Despite Joseph's objection, Jacob refused to correct what he insisted was no error but a deliberate act performed in full knowledge. This crossing of the hands is presented as vital to understanding the future distinction between Ephraim and Manasseh among the nations. These blessings, given in faith by Jacob concerning "things to come," are prophetic rather than merely historical, pointing toward a future fulfillment rather than events within the patriarchs' own lifetimes. Notably, Joseph himself, despite rising to great power in Egypt, never became a king nor received the land as an eternal inheritance, underscoring that the promises given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph remained unfulfilled in their own days. This unfulfilled character is what makes these blessings, particularly those concerning Ephraim and Manasseh, essential search criteria for identifying the whereabouts of Israel, and especially the descendants of Joseph, in the modern world.