Why does the Torah place Efrayim before his older brother Menasheh, and Efrayim and Menasheh before the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah who were older than them?
R. Bachye: It places Efrayim before Menasheh because that is what Ya'akov did when he blessed them and Efrayim and Menasheh before the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah in honor of Rachel.
Seeing as here, both Efrayim and Menasheh are linked with Yosef, why, regarding the Meraglim (13:11), is only Menasheh linked with him?
Rashi (in Seifer ha'Pardes), Ramban (in Pasuk 32), Moshav Zekenim, Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim (both in 13:11): Refer to 13:11:1:1.
R. Chaim Paltiel (in 13:11): Because Yehoshua's greatness began the fulfillment of Ya'akov's B'rachah - when he told Yosef that he put his right hand on Efrayim because "ve'Zar'o Yih'yeh M'lo ha'Goyim" 1 . And it is because Yosef objected that Yehoshua is not linked with him.
Meshivas Nefesh (13:11): Sometimes Efrayim is linked with Yosef, and sometimes Menasheh - in order to avoid jealousy.
Vay'chi, Bereishis 48:19.
Seeing as here, the Torah links both Efrayim and Menasheh with Yosef, why regarding the division of Eretz Yisrael (in 34:23), is only Menasheh linked with Yosef?
Moshav Zekenim: Having linked Menasheh with Yosef by the Meraglim, 1 it continues to do so afterwards - even though the reason no longer apply.
Chizkuni (13:11): Because, since the spy from Menasheh - Gadi ben Susi - spoke Lashon ha'Ra about Eretz Yisrael, 2 also regarding the division of the land, the Torah links Menasheh with Yosef:
Refer to 1:10:151:3.
P'nei David (based on Sifri Pinchas 133): Because, just as Yosef endeared Eretz Yisrael 3 , so did his descendants - the B'nos Tzlofchad from Sheivet Menasheh. 4
P'nei David (from the Ari Zal): Yosef himself was connected to Menasheh through this Nasi, but not to Yehoshua, the Nasi of Efrayim.
Refer to 1:10:151:1,
When he commanded his descendents to take his bones to be buried in Eretz Yisrael (Bereishis 50:25).
