These passages define the land given to the sons of Joseph: Manasseh and Ephraim. The sons of Joseph were given the second largest portion of land. The land was allocated based on each of the tribe’s population. Judah’s population of males over the age of 20 was 74,600. Manasseh’s was 32,200 and Ephraim’s was 40,500, so the sons of Joseph numbered 72,700.
It seems to me that Judah, Ephraim and Manasseh were the most important tribes of Israel. The sons of Joseph were among the 10 northern tribes that later separated from Judah and Benjamin.
Judah has maintained an identity through the centuries. They are today known as Jews. However, the 10 northern tribes were lost after the Assyrian conquest.
There is strong evidence that the 10 northern tribes migrated into Europe. There is also strong evidence that the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh became the British Empire and America.
