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| <p> ' ''''ē´fra''''' -'''''im''''' , '''''ē´frā̇''''' -'''''im''''' ( אפרים , < i> ''''''ephrayim''''' </i> , " double fruit" ): </ p> <h4> 1. The [[Patriarch]] </h4> <p> The younger of the two sons of [[Joseph]] and Asenath, born in Egypt. He and his brother [[Manasseh]] were adopted by Jacob, and ranked as his own sons, each becoming the ancestor of a tribe in Israel. In blessing his grandchildren, despite their father's protest, [[Jacob]] preferred the younger, foreshadowing the future eminence of his descendants ( [[Genesis]] 41:50; Genesis 48:20 ). In the Blessing of Jacob however, the two are included under the name of Joseph ( Genesis 49:22 f). </p> <h4> 2. The [[Tribe]] </h4> <p> At the first census on leaving Egypt, Ephraim's men of war numbered 40,500; and at the second census they are given as 32,500 ( Numbers 1:33; Numbers 26:37 ). See, however, article Numbers . The head of the tribe at the Exodus was Elishama, son of [[Ammihud]] ( Numbers 1:10 ). With the standard of the tribe of [[Ephraim]] on the West of the tabernacle in the desert march were Manasseh and [[Benjamin]] ( Numbers 2:18 ). The [[Ephraimite]] among the spies was [[Hoshea]] (i. e. Joshua), the son of Nun ( Numbers 13:8 ). At the division of the land Ephraim was represented by prince Kemuel, son of [[Shiphtan]] ( Numbers 34: 24 ). The future power of this tribe is again foreshadowed in the Blessing of [[Moses]] ( Deuteronomy 33:17 ). When Moses died, a member of the tribe, Joshua, whose faith and courage had distinguished him among the spies, succeeded to the chief place in Israel. It was natural that the scene of national assemblies, and the center of the nation's worship, should be chosen within the land occupied by the children of Joseph, at [[Shechem]] and [[Shiloh]] respectively. The leadership of Ephraim was further emphasized by the rule of Samuel. From the beginning of life in [[ Palestine]] they enjoyed a certain prestige, and were very sensitive on the point of honor ( Judges 7:24; Judges 8:1; Judges 12:1 ). Their acceptance of and loyalty to Saul, the first king chosen over Israel, may be explained by his belonging to a [[ Rachel]] tribe, and by the close and tender relations existing between Joseph and Benjamin. But they were never reconciled to the passing of the scepter to [[ Judah]] in the person of [[David]] ( 2 Samuel 2: 8 f) . That [[Israel]] would have submitted to the sovereignty of Absalom, any more than to that of David, is not to be believed; but his revolt furnished an opportunity to deal a shrewd blow at the power of the southern tribe ( 2 Samuel 15:13 ). Solomon's lack of wisdom and the crass folly of [[Rehoboam]] in the management of the northern tribes fanned the smoldering discontent into a fierce flame. This made easy the work of the rebel Jeroboam; and from the day of the disruption till the fall of the Northern Kingdom there was none to dispute the supremacy of Ephraim, the names Ephraim and Israel being synonymous. The most distinguished of Ephraim's sons were Joshua, Samuel and [[ Jeroboam]] I. </p> < h4> 3. The Territory </ h4> <p> The central part of Western Palestine fell to the children of Joseph; and, while the boundaries of the territory allotted to Ephraim and Manasseh respectively are given in Joshua 16:1- 10; Joshua 17:1 , it seems to have been held by them in common for some time ( Joshua 17: 14 ). The [[ Canaanites]] in certain cities of both divisions were not driven out. It was probably thought more profitable to enslave them ( Joshua 16:10; Joshua 17: 13 ). The boundaries of Ephraim cannot be followed with accuracy, but roughly, they were as follows: The southern boundary, agreeing with the northern border of Benjamin, started from Bethel, and passed down westward by nether Beth-horon and [[Gezer]] toward the sea ( Joshua 16:3; in Joshua 16:5 it stops at upper Beth-horon); it turned northward to the southern bank of the brook [[Kanah]] ( <i> ''''' Wādy Kānāh''''' </i> ) along which it ran eastward ( Joshua 17:10 ) to Michmethath (the plain of <i> ''''' Mukhneh''''' </i> ); thence it went northward along the western edge of the plain to Shechem. It then bent eastward and southward past Taanath- shiloh ( <i> ''''' Ta‛ana''''' </i> ), [[ Janoah]] ( <i> '''''Yanūn''''' </i> ) to [[Ataroth]] and [[Naarah]] (unidentified) and the [[ Jordan]] ( Joshua 16: 7 ). From Ataroth, which probably corresponds to Ataroth-addar ( Joshua 16:5 ), possibly identical with the modern <i> '''''et''''' </i> - <i> '''''Trūneh''''' </i> , the southern border passed up to Bethel. [[Along]] the eastern front of the land thus defined there is a steep descent into the Jordan valley. It is torn by many gorges, and is rocky and unfruitful. The long slopes to the westward, however, furnish much of the finest land in Palestine. Well watered as it is, the valleys are beautiful in season with cornfields, vineyards, olives and other fruit trees. The uplands are accessible at many points from the maritime plain; but the great avenue of entrance to the country runs up <i> ''''' Wādy esh''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Sha‛ı̄r''''' </i> to ''''' Nāblus''''' , whence, threading the pass between [[ Gerizim]] and Ebal, it descends to the Jordan valley. In this favored region the people must have lived in the main a prosperous and happy life. How appropriate are the prophetic allusions to these conditions in the days of Ephraim's moral decay ( Isaiah 28: 1 , Isaiah 28:4; Jeremiah 31:18; Hosea 9:13; Hosea 10:11 , etc.) ! </ p> | | == Fausset's Bible Dictionary <ref name="term_35368" /> == |
| | <p> Beside which was Absalom's sheep farm, where took place Amnon's murder (2 Samuel 13). Our Lord, when the chief priests plotted to kill Him, retired to "a city called [[Ephraim]] ... a country near to the wilderness" ( John 11:54). "The wilderness" means the hill country N.E. of Jerusalem, between the central towns and the [[Jordan]] valley. Thus, [[Ophrah]] of [[Benjamin]] probably is identical with Ephraim ( 1 Samuel 13:17.) Now Et-Taiyibeh, a village on a conical hill commanding the view of the Jordan valley and the [[Dead]] Sea. </p> |
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| | == International Standard Bible Encyclopedia <ref name="term_3206" /> == |
| | <p> (1) A position apparently of some importance, since the position of Baal-hazor (probably = <i> ''''' Tell ‛Asūr ''''' </i> ) where Abraham's sheep-farm was located, is determined by relation to it ( 2 Samuel 13:23 ). That it lay North of [[Jerusalem]] seems to be indicated in 2 Samuel 13:34 . It may be identical with the Ephraim of Eusebius, <i> Onomasticon </i> , 20 Roman miles North of Jerusalem, and therefore to be sought somewhere in the neighborhood of <i> ''''' Sinjil ''''' </i> and <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Lubbān ''''' </i> . Connected with this may have been the name Aphaerema, a district in [[Samaria]] mentioned in 1 Macc 11:34; <i> Ant </i> , Xiii , iv, 9. </p> <p> (2) The town near the wilderness to which Jesus retired after the raising of [[Lazarus]] ( John 11:54 ). This probably corresponds to Ephrem of Eusebius, <i> Onomasticon </i> (s.v. "Afra") 5 Roman miles East of Bethel. This may be the place named along with [[Bethel]] by [[Josephus]] ( <i> BJ </i> , IV, ix, 9). It probably answers to <i> ''''' eṭ ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Ṭaiyebeh ''''' </i> , a large village about 4 miles North of <i> ''''' Beitı̄n ''''' </i> . The antiquity of the site is attested by the cisterns and rock tombs. It stands on a high hill with a wide outlook including the plains of [[Jericho]] and the Dead Sea. See [[Ephron]] . </p> |
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| | ==References == |
| | <references> |
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| | <ref name="term_35368"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/fausset-s-bible-dictionary/ephraim+(2) Ephraim from Fausset's Bible Dictionary]</ref> |
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| | <ref name="term_3206"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/international-standard-bible-encyclopedia/ephraim+(2) Ephraim from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia]</ref> |
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| | </references> |
Fausset's Bible Dictionary [1]
Beside which was Absalom's sheep farm, where took place Amnon's murder (2 Samuel 13). Our Lord, when the chief priests plotted to kill Him, retired to "a city called Ephraim ... a country near to the wilderness" ( John 11:54). "The wilderness" means the hill country N.E. of Jerusalem, between the central towns and the Jordan valley. Thus, Ophrah of Benjamin probably is identical with Ephraim ( 1 Samuel 13:17.) Now Et-Taiyibeh, a village on a conical hill commanding the view of the Jordan valley and the Dead Sea.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [2]
(1) A position apparently of some importance, since the position of Baal-hazor (probably = Tell ‛Asūr ) where Abraham's sheep-farm was located, is determined by relation to it ( 2 Samuel 13:23 ). That it lay North of Jerusalem seems to be indicated in 2 Samuel 13:34 . It may be identical with the Ephraim of Eusebius, Onomasticon , 20 Roman miles North of Jerusalem, and therefore to be sought somewhere in the neighborhood of Sinjil and el - Lubbān . Connected with this may have been the name Aphaerema, a district in Samaria mentioned in 1 Macc 11:34; Ant , Xiii , iv, 9.
(2) The town near the wilderness to which Jesus retired after the raising of Lazarus ( John 11:54 ). This probably corresponds to Ephrem of Eusebius, Onomasticon (s.v. "Afra") 5 Roman miles East of Bethel. This may be the place named along with Bethel by Josephus ( BJ , IV, ix, 9). It probably answers to eṭ - Ṭaiyebeh , a large village about 4 miles North of Beitı̄n . The antiquity of the site is attested by the cisterns and rock tombs. It stands on a high hill with a wide outlook including the plains of Jericho and the Dead Sea. See Ephron .
References
