Sticks

In Ezekiel's prophetic sign-acts, two sticks are pressed into service as a symbol of the divided kingdoms.

Two Sticks Inscribed

The prophet is told to take two pieces of wood and label each with the name of one of the divided houses: "And you, Son of Man, take for yourself one stick, and write on it, For Judah, and for the sons of Israel his partners: then take another stick, and write on it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and [for] all the house of Israel his partners" (Eze 37:16). One stick stands for Judah and its associated tribes; the other for Joseph (named here through his son Ephraim) and the northern house of Israel.