Tribe of Ephraim

Tribe of Ephraim (Hebrew alphabet אֶפְרַיִם / אֶפְרָיִם "double fruitfulness", Standard Hebrew Efráyim, Tiberian Hebrew ʾEp̄ráyim / ʾEp̄rāyim) took precedence over that of Manasseh by virtue of Jacob's blessing (Gen. 41:52; 48:1). The descendants of Joseph formed two of the tribes of Israel, whereas each of the other sons of Jacob was the founder of only one tribe. Thus there were in reality thirteen tribes; but the number twelve was preserved by excluding that of Levi when Ephraim and Manasseh are mentioned separately (Num. 1:32-34; Josh. 17:14, 17; 1 Chr. 7:20).

Territory

At the time of the first census in the wilderness this tribe numbered 40,500 (Num. 1:32, 33); forty years later, when about to take possession of the Promised Land, it numbered only 32,500. During the march, Ephraim's place was on the west side of the Tabernacle (Num. 2:18-24). When the spies were sent out to spy the land, "Oshea the son of Nun" of this tribe signalized himself as a member of the Tribe of Ephraim.

The boundaries of the portion of the land assigned to Ephraim are given in Josh. 16:1-10. It included most of what was afterwards called Samaria as distinguished from Judea and Galilee. It thus lay in the center of all traffic, from north to south, and from Jordan to the sea, and was about 55 miles long and 30 broad. The Tabernacle and the Ark were deposited within its limits at Shiloh, where it remained for four hundred years. During the time of the Judges and the first stage of the monarchy this tribe manifested a domineering and haughty and discontented spirit. For more than five hundred years, a period equal to that which elapsed between the Norman Conquest and the War of the Roses, Ephraim, with its two dependent tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, exercised undisputed pre-eminence.

Leaders from Ephraim

Joshua the first conqueror, Gideon the greatest of the judges, and Saul the first king, belonged to one or other of the three tribes. It was not until the close of the first period of Jewish history that God 'refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim, but chose the tribe of Judah, the Mount Zion which he loved' (Ps. 78:67, 68). When the Ark was removed from Shiloh to Zion the power of Ephraim was sequestered."

Subsequent disruption

Among the causes which operated to bring about the disruption of Israel was Ephraim's jealousy of the growing power of Judah. From the settlement of Canaan until the time of David and Solomon, Ephraim had held the place of honour among the tribes. It occupied the central and fairest portions of the land, and had Shiloh and Shechem within its borders. But now when Jerusalem became the capital of the kingdom, and the center of power and worship for the whole nation of Israel, Ephraim declined in influence. The discontent came to a crisis by Rehoboam's refusal to grant certain redresses that were demanded (1 Kings 12).

Non-Jewish sects

The Samaritan sect claims some of its adherents are descended from this tribe. Many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe they are descended from this tribe and fulfill the prophecy of Jacob that "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:" (King James Version, Old Testament | Genesis 49:22) with the interpretation that the "wall" is the "ocean." Latter-day Saints believe that the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh were scattered into many lands and lost their ancestral identity, but that it is being restored in the latter days as prophesied by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, and that both the tribe of Ephraim and the tribe of Judah will play important leadership roles for covenant Israel in the last days. (See Ref.)

No denomination of Judaism (whose adherents are themselves not affiliated with this tribe) affirms the Samaritan or LDS beliefs, nor similar beliefs adhered to by anyone else.

Modern communities claiming descendancy

Many Persian Jews claim to be descendants of the tribe of Ephraim. In addition, the Telugu Jews, relating similar traditions to those of the Bnei Menashe (recognized as descendants of the Tribe of Menasseh), claim descent from the Tribe of Ephraim, and call themselves Bene Ephraim.

References

Holy Bible, King James Version, Isaiah 2:2,3; 5:20,21,25-29; 24:1-5; 28:10,11; 29:4,10-14,18,22-24; 49:22-23; 52:11,12; 54:1-3; 55:5; 56:6-8; 60:1-3,16. Malachi 3:1; 4:5,6.
McConkie, Bruce R, The Millennial Messiah, 1982, Chapter 16.

Tribes of Israel

Tribu d'Éphraïm | שבט אפרים | Efrajim (pleme) | Stam van Efraïm | Efraim