Ephraim

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Joseph and his Egyptian wife had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim ( Genesis 41:50-52). When the aged Jacob gave his parting blessings to his family, he gave the firstborn’s blessing to Joseph instead of to Reuben (because of Reuben’s immorality with Jacob’s concubine;  Genesis 35:22;  Genesis 49:3-4;  1 Chronicles 5:1-2). This meant that Joseph would father two tribes in Israel instead of one. Jacob therefore raised Joseph’s two sons to the same level as Jacob’s other sons, so that Joseph’s two sons would each have his own tribe ( Genesis 48:5-6). The tribe of the younger son Ephraim was destined to become stronger than that of the older son Manasseh ( Genesis 48:12-20).

Good territory

The tribe of Ephraim received as its inheritance possibly the best part of Canaan (cf.  Genesis 49:22-26). This was the central highland region between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea (Joshua 16). (For information about its more important towns see BETHEL; JERICHO; JOPPA; SHECHEM; SHILOH.)

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

EPHRAIM. — John 11:54 only. After the raising of Lazarus, Jesus departed, in consequence of the plots of the chief priests against Him, ‘unto a country ( Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 ‘into the country’) near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.’

There are scarcely any textual variations. TR spells Ἐφραΐα; Lachmann, Tischendorf, Westcott-Hort spell Ἑφραὶμ; Stephanus, 1550, had on the margin the reading Ἑφρὲμ, which is supported by אL and Latin witnesses, and the name Σαμφουρείμ as to be supplied after χώραν. This is the reading of D, Sapfurim in its Latin part, for which Chase ( Syro-Lat. Text of Gospels , 108) and R. Harris ( A Study of Codex Bezœ , p. 184) suggested that σαμ might be the Heb. שׁם ‘the name’; but more probable is the identification with Sepphoris , which in Jos. Ant. xiv. 91 is spelt Σατφὁροις ( v.ll . Σαμφὸροις and other forms); so Jerome ( s.v. ‘Araba’ in OS 17. 13 f.): ‘Diocaesareae, quae olim Safforine dicehatur.’

Eusebius in his Onomasticon says ( ad Ephron,  Joshua 15:9) καἰ ἔστι νῦν κώμη Ἐφραὶμ μεγίστη περὶ τἀ βόρεια Αἰλίας ὠς ἀπὸ σημείων κ; in the Latin rendering of Jerome: ‘est et villa pergrandis Efrœa nomine contra septentrionem in vicesimo ab aelia miliario’ (ed. Klostermann, p. 86. 1, 90. 18). With this has been identified Afra [=עִפָרָה  Joshua 18:23]: ‘in tribu Beniamin; et est hodie vicus Efraim in quinto miliario Bethelis ad orientem respiciens’ (p. 29. 4; the Greek text [28. 4: καὶ νῦν ἔστι κώμη Αἰφρὴλ ἀπό] is here defective); further,  1 Maccabees 11:34 = Jos. Ant. xiii. 127 [ed. Niese]: τοὺς τρεῖς νομοὐς Ἀφαίρεμα ( v.l. Ἀφέρεμα) καὶ Αύδδα καὶ Ῥαμαθείν; finally, the notice of Josephus ( BJ iv. 551), that Vespasian took Βήθηγά τε (earlier reading Βαιθήλ or Βηθήλ) καὶ Ἐφραὶμ πολίχνια. Since Robinson, the site has been sought at the modern ct-Taiyibeh , 4 miles N.E. from Bethel. Schürer ( GJV 3 i. 233) quotes Robinson, ii. 332–338; Guérin, Judéc , iii. 45–51; Buhl, GAP p. 177; Heidet, art. ‘Ephrem’ in Vigouroux’s Dict. ii. 1885 ff.; cf., further, art. ‘Ephraim’ by J. H. Kennedy in Hastings’ DB , and by T. K. Cheyne in Encyc. Biblica .* [Note: Schürer (GJV3 ii. 163, n. 435) is certainly right in rejecting the identification of Sapfurim with Sepharvaim ( 2 Kings 17:24) put forward by Resch (TU x. 4, pp. 141, 204) and approved by Blass (Ev. sec. Joh. 1902, p. xl), and in finding in Sapfurim the name of the town Sepphoris, which covered a very large area. But it is not vet certain whether Codex D has preserved here a correct tradition.  Luke 9:16 offers similar variations in the text (τολιν καλουμενην, τότον λεγομενον, τότον ἐ͂ρημον, etc). Ἐφραια might itself be derived from Sepphoris, the first letter being dropped after the ς of εἱς.]

Origen compares, for the retirement of Jesus,  Matthew 4:12 f. and then allegorizes: Ephraim, according to  Genesis 41:51 f. ‘καρτοφοριαʼ; ἀτῆλθεν ἑκεϊθεν εἰς τὴν χώραν ‘τοῦ ἁλου κὀσμου,’ ἐλλὺς τῆς ἐρήμου ‘ἐκκλησια’ εἰς Ἐφραΐμ τὴν ‘καρτοφοροῦσαν’ λεγομἑνηντόλιν, etc. (new Berlin edition, pp. 420, 551). About the site he says nothing.

Eb. Nestle.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

EPHRAIM . A grandson of Jacob, and the brother of Manasseh, the first-born of Joseph by Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On (  Genesis 41:50 f. [E [Note: Elohist.] ], cf.   Genesis 41:45 [J [Note: Jahwist.] ]). The ‘popular etymology’ of E [Note: Elohist.] connects the name with the verb pârâh , ‘to be fruitful,’ and makes it refer to Joseph’s sons. In the Blessing of Jacob (  Genesis 49:22 ) there may be a play upon the name when Joseph, who there represents both Ephraim and Manasseh, is called ‘a fruitful bough.’ The word is probably descriptive, meaning ‘fertile region’ whether its root be pârâh , or ’çpher , ‘earth’(?).

 Genesis 48:14 ff. (J [Note: Jahwist.] ) tells an interesting story of how Jacob adopted his Egyptian grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, into his own family, and at the same time, against the remonstrances of Joseph, conferred the blessing of the firstborn upon Ephraim hence Ephraim’s predestined superiority in later history.

P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] ’s Sinai census gives 40,500 men of war ( Numbers 1:33 ), but this is reduced at the Plains of Moab to 32,500 (26:37), which is less than any of the tribes except Simeon, which ‘hardly existed except in name’ (Sayce, Hist. of Heb . p. 77). Contrary to what we should have expected from the Blessing of Jacob, Ephraim, according to P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] , lost in the meantime 20 per cent. while Manasseh gained 40 per cent.

The appearance of Joseph in the Blessing of Jacob, with no mention of his sons, who according to J [Note: Jahwist.] had been adopted as Jacob’s own, and were therefore entitled on this important occasion to like consideration with the others, points to a traditional echo of the early days in the land when Ephraim and Manasseh were still united. In the Song of Deborah ( Judges 5:1-31 ) it is the ‘family’ Machir, the firstborn (  Joshua 17:1 ), the only (  Genesis 50:23 ) son of Manasseh, that is mentioned, not a Manasseh tribe. From   2 Samuel 19:20 (cf. art. Benjamin) it is plain that Shimei still regarded himself as of the house of Joseph; and, despite the traditional indications of a late formation of Benjamin (wh. see), the complete political separation of Manasseh from Ephraim appears to have been still later. At all events, Jeroboam the Ephraimite, who afterwards became the first king of Israel ( c [Note: circa, about.] . b.c. 930), was appointed by Solomon superintendent of the forced labour of the ‘house of Joseph,’ not of Ephraim alone. Ephraim, Machir, and Benjamin were apparently closely related, and in early times formed a group of clans known as ‘Joseph.’ There are no decisive details determining the time when they became definitely separated. Nor are there any reliable memories of the way in which Ephraim came into possession of the best and central portion of the land.

The traditions in the Book of Joshua are notably uninforming. Canaanites remained in the territory until a late date, as is seen from  Judges 1:29 and the history of Shechem (ch. 8 f.). Ephraim was the strongest of the tribes and foremost in leadership, but was compelled to yield the hegemony to David. From that time onwards the history is no longer tribal but national history. Eli, priest of Shiloh and judge of Israel, Samuel, and Jeroboam I. were among its great men. Shechem, Tirzah, and Samaria, the capitals of the North, were within its boundaries; and it was at Shiloh that Joshua is said to have divided the land by lot. See also Tribes of Israel.

James A. Craio.

EPHRAIM . 1 . A place near Baal-hazor (  2 Samuel 13:23 ) It may be identical with the Ephraim which the Onomasticon places 20 Roman miles N. of Jerusalem, somewhere in the neighbourhood of Sinjil and el-Lubbân . If Baal-hazor be represented, as seems probable, by Tell ‘Asûr , the city by relation to which such a prominent feature of the landscape was indicated must have been of some importance. It probably gave its name in later times to the district of Samaria called Aphærema ( 1Ma 11:34 , Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XIII. iv. 9). The site is at present unknown. 2 . A city ‘near the wilderness,’ to which Jesus retired after the raising of Lazarus (  John 11:54 ). ‘The wilderness’ is in Arab. [Note: Arabic.] el-barrîyeh, i.e ., the uncultivated land, much of it affording excellent pasture, on the uplands to the N. W. of Jerusalem. The Onomasticon mentions an ‘Efralm’ 5 Roman miles E. of Bethel. This may be the modern et-Taiyibeh , about 4 miles N.E. of Beitîn , with ancient cisterns and rockhewn tombs which betoken a place of importance in old times. See also Ephron, 4.

The Forest of Ephraim (Heb. ya’ar Ephraîm .) was probably not a forest in our sense of the term, but a stretch of rough country such as the Arabs still call wa‘r , abounding in rocks and thickets of brushwood. The district is not identified, but it must have been E. of the Jordan, in the neighbourhood of Mahanaim. It was the scene of Absalom’s defeat and death (  2 Samuel 18:6 ff). The origin of the name cannot now be discovered. Mount Ephraim , Heb, har Ephraîm , is the name given to that part of the central range of Western Palestine occupied by Ephraim, corresponding in part to the modern Jebel Nâblus the district under the governor of Nâblus . Having regard to Oriental usage, it seems a mistake to tr. [Note: translate or translation.] with RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘the hill country of Ephraim.’ Jebel el-Quds does not mean ‘the hill country of Jerusalem,’ but that part of ‘the mountain’ which is subject to the city. We prefer to retain, with AV [Note: Authorized Version.] , ‘Mount Ephraim.’

W. Ewing.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Second son of Joseph and Asenath. The name is also given to the tribe of which he was the head, and also to the district of Palestine that fell to his lot. When Israel blessed the two sons of Joseph he set Ephraim before his elder brother, saying he should be greater, and his seed should become a multitude (or, 'fatness') of nations.  Genesis 48:17-19 . Little is recorded of Ephraim personally; and of his descendants, Joshua the son of Nun is the most renowned. The tribe on the second year from the Exodus numbered in fighting men 40,500; but had decreased during the forty years to 32,500.  Numbers 1:33;  Numbers 26:37 .

The territory of the tribe was in the heart of Palestine, having Manasseh on the north, Benjamin on the south, and Dan on the west. It has beautiful valleys and noble mountains with many springs and streams. Its two principal towns were Shiloh and Shechem.

Ephraim had the place of the first-born ( Jeremiah 31:9 ), the birthright being taken from Reuben and given to Joseph.  1 Chronicles 5:1,2 . Also the place of the tabernacle was in the tribe of Ephraim, hence we find in the time of the judges this tribe asserting its own importance. They were angry with Gideon for not calling them to the war sooner than he did; but a soft answer appeased their wrath.  Judges 7:24;  Judges 8:1-3 . Again they complained to Jephthah that he had gone without them to fight the Ammonites, though Jephthah declared that he had called them, and they had not responded. They also haughtily said of the Gileadites that they were fugitives of Ephraim, implying that they were not a tribe, but belonged to Ephraim, from whence they had escaped. The conflict was sharp; the Gileadites seized the ford of the Jordan, and then by putting all who wanted to pass to the test of pronouncing Shibboleth (which the Ephraimites could only call Sibboleth) they slew 42,000 of the men of Ephraim.  Judges 12:1-6 . Thus was this proud and envious tribe punished for molesting their brethren, whereas they had not driven out the heathen inhabitants of the land, as they should have done.  Judges 1:29 . Type of many in the church who in pride contend with their brethren, but do not fight God's battles against spiritual wickedness. Later on the Lord forsook Shiloh, and chose, not the tribe of Ephraim, but that of Judah both for the place of royalty and for the sanctuary.

In the kingdom under David and Solomon we read very little of Ephraim, but it is twice called in the Psalms 'the strength (or defence) of mine head.'  Psalm 60:7;  Psalm 108:8 . At the division of the tribes Ephraim took the most prominent place; Shechem and Samaria being in their territory naturally contributed to this, and accounts for the ten tribes being constantly called 'Ephraim' by the prophets. In the same way the two tribes are called 'Judah.'  Hosea 5:3,5,13,14 , etc. Isaiah prophesied that in sixty-five years Ephraim should be broken and should not be a people.  Isaiah 7:8 . This was in B.C. 742, and Samaria was taken and Israel carried into captivity in B.C. 721, so that the prophecy doubtless referred to Esarhaddon planting a colony of foreigners in Samaria in B.C. 678, which fulfils the sixty-five years. This also agrees with the prophecy saying 'the head of Ephraim ' is Samaria.

In the prophecies also that refer to the future blessing of the twelve tribes Ephraim is regarded as representing the ten tribes.  Ezekiel 37:16-22 , where the twelve tribes are to become one nation in their own land, with one king over them: a prophecy which clearly has never yet been fulfilled, but which will surely be accomplished in God's own time.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Ephraim (Ç'Fra-Ĭm ), Double Land, Two-Fold Increase, Very Fruitful. The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt before the famine,  Genesis 41:50-52, and therefore upwards of 20 at Jacob's death. Joseph, when he was apprised of his father's sickness, was anxious to obtain the recognition of his sons Manasseh and Ephraim. Jacob adopted them as patriarchs, or heads of tribes, equally with his own sons. But he placed the younger, Ephraim, before the elder, Manasseh, "guiding his hands wittingly," in spite of Joseph's remonstrance, and prophetically declaring that the posterity of Ephraim should be far greater and more powerful than the posterity of Manasseh.  Genesis 48:1-22. The territory of Ephraim lay in the centre of Canaan, south of Manasseh and north of Benjamin and Dan, extending from the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea. It was about 55 miles long, and about 30 miles in its greatest breadth. It was well watered and fertile, fulfilling the blessing of Moses in  Deuteronomy 33:13-16.

Ephraim, Gate of. One of the gates of ancient Jerusalem,  2 Kings 14:13;  2 Chronicles 25:23;  Nehemiah 8:16;  Nehemiah 12:39; probably on the north side, as the present Damascus gate is.

Ephraim, Mount. A name applied to the hill-country of Ephraim, extending from Bethel to the plain of Jezreel; called also the "mountains of Israel," R. V. "hill country of Israel,"  Joshua 11:21, and "mountains of Samaria."  Jeremiah 31:5-6;  Amos 3:9.

Ephraim, Wood of. A forest in which the great battle was fought when Absalom was killed.  2 Samuel 18:6. It lay east of the Jordan, in Gilead, near Mahanaim. Thick woods of oaks and terebinths still exist in that region.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

E'phra-im. (Double Fruitfulness).

1. The second son of Joseph, by his wife Asenath. (B.C. 1715-1708). The first indication we have of that ascendancy over his elder brother Manasseh, which at a later period, the tribe of Ephraim so unmistakably possessed, is in the blessing of the children by Jacob.  Genesis 48:1.

2. That portion of Canaan named after Joseph's second son.  Genesis 41:50-52. The boundaries of the portion of Ephraim are given in Joshua,  Joshua 16:1-10. The south boundary was coincident for part of its length with the north boundary of Benjamin. It extended from the Jordan on the east, at the reach opposite Jericho, to the Mediterranean on the west, probably about Joppa.

On the north of Ephraim and Manasseh were the tribes of Asher, Zebulun and Issachar. The territory thus allotted to the "house of Joseph" may be roughly estimated at 55 miles from east to west by 70 from north to south. It was one at once of great richness and great security. Its fertile plains and well-watered valleys could only be reached by a laborious ascent through steep and narrow ravines, all but impassable for an army.

Under Joshua. The tribe must have taken a high position in the nation, to judge from the tone which the Ephraimites assumed on occasions shortly subsequent to the conquest. After the revolt of Jeroboam, the history of Ephraim is the history of the kingdom of Israel, since not only did the tribe become a kingdom, but the kingdom embraced little besides the tribe.

3. In "Baal-hazor, which is by Ephraim" was Absalom's sheepfarm, at which took place the murder of Amnon, one of the earliest precursors of the great revolt.  2 Samuel 13:23. There is no clue to its situation.

4. A city "in the district near the wilderness," to which our Lord retired, with his disciples, when threatened with violence, by the priests.  John 11:54.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

was the name of Joseph's second son, by Asenath, Potiphar's daughter. He was born in Egypt, A.M. 2294. Ephraim, with his brother Manasseh, was presented by his father Joseph to Jacob on his death bed,  Genesis 48:8 , &c. Jacob laid his right hand on Ephraim the younger, and his left on Manasseh the older. Joseph was desirous to change his hands, but Jacob answered, "I know it, my son; Manasseh shall be multiplied, but Ephraim shall be greater." The sons of Ephraim having made an inroad into Palestine, the inhabitants of Gath killed them. Ephraim their father mourned many days for them, and his brethren came to comfort him,  1 Chronicles 7:20-21 . Afterward, he had a son named Beriah, and a daughter Sherah. He had also other sons, Rephah, Resheph, Tela, &c.

His posterity multiplied in Egypt to the number of forty thousand five hundred men capable of bearing arms. In the land of promise, Joshua, who was of this tribe, gave them their portion between the Mediterranean west, and the river Jordan east. The ark and tabernacle remained long in this tribe at Shiloh; and after the separation of the ten tribes, the seat of the kingdom was in Ephraim, and hence Ephraim is frequently used to denote the whole kingdom. The district belonging to this tribe is called Ephratah,  Psalms 132:6 . Ephraim was led captive beyond the Euphrates, with all Israel, by Salmaneser, king of Assyria, A.M. 3283.

2. EPHRAIM was also the name of a city, into which Christ retired with his disciples a little before his passion,   John 11:54 . It was situated in the tribe of Ephraim, near the river Jordan. There was also the wood or forest of Ephraim, situated on the other side Jordan, in which Absalom's army was routed and himself killed,  2 Samuel 18:6 .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt,  Genesis 41:52 . Although the youngest, he yet had the chief blessing of his grandfather Jacob, and the tribe was always more distinguished than that of Manasseh,  Genesis 48:8-20   Numbers 2:18-21 . The portion of Ephraim was large and central, and embraced some of the most fertile land in all Canaan. It extended from the Mediterranean across to the Jordan, north of the portions of Dan and Benjamin and included Shiloh, Shechem, etc. A range of mountainous country, which runs through it, is called "the mountains of Ephraim," or "mount Ephraim." This extends also farther south into the portion of Judah, and is there called "the mountains of Judah." Samaria, the capital of the ten tribes, being in Ephraim, this latter name is often used for the kingdom of Israel,  Isaiah 11:13   Jeremiah 31:6   50:19 .

The FOREST of Ephraim, where Absalom lost his life, was on the east side of the Jordan, near Mahanaim,  2 Samuel 18:6-8 .

The TOWN called Ephraim, to which the Savior withdrew from his enemies,  John 11:54 , was probably the same place mentioned in  2 Chronicles 13:19 , and called Ophrah in  Joshua 18:23   1 Samuel 13:17 . See also  2 Samuel 13:23 . It is supposed to be the present Taiyibeh, on a hill overlooking the Jordan valley, five miles northeast of Bethel.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 41:52 Genesis 48:14 Joshua 16:1 Joshua 17:15 Judges 3:27 Judges 4:5 Judges 7:24-8:3 Judges 12:1

Ephraim played an important role in Israelite history. Joshua was an Ephraimite ( Joshua 19:50 ). Samuel was an Ephraimite ( 1 Samuel 1:1 ). Jeroboam I was an Ephraimite ( 1 Kings 12:25 ). The important sanctuary at Shiloh was located in the territory of Ephraim. From the eighth century B.C., Ephraim was often used as a designation for Israel ( Isaiah 11:13;  Jeremiah 7:15;  Hosea 5:13 ). See Tribes of Israel; Patriarchs.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Hosea 7:8 (a) This is another name for the nation of Israel, and was used about Israel when she turned her back on GOD to serve idols and live in rebellion. Israel as "Ephraim" is pictured as "a cake not turned." This refers to the fact that Israel or any individual for that matter might be splendidly related to the things of earth and to fellowmen, which would represent the lower side of the cake where it is well cooked. The upper part, however, which is raw, represents the state of Israel or an individual toward GOD, if that individual is an unsaved, self-righteous person. This is a type of the religious man of the world whose human attitudes are above reproach, but who has not a proper relationship to GOD. (See the thirty-five other times this name is mentioned in Hosea. See also  Psalm 78:9).

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

One of the sons of Joseph. The name is derived from Pharah, fruitfulness. In the after ages of the church, the Lord frequently speaks of the whole church of Israel by the name of Ephraim. (See  Jeremiah 31:20;  Hosea 7:1; Hos 12:1; Hos 13:1) I do not presume to say the cause was, because the ten tribes had the chief city in Ephraim; but I think it probable. The Psalmist, when speaking of looking out a place for the ark, saith, we found it in Ephratah. ( Psalms 132:6)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 41:52 46:20 Genesis 50:23

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) A hunter's name for the grizzly bear.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ephraim, 1

E´phraim (fruitfulness), the younger son of Joseph, but who received precedence over the elder in and from the blessing of Jacob . That blessing was an adoptive act, whereby Ephraim and his brother Manasseh were counted as sons of Jacob in the place of their father; the object being to give to Joseph, through his sons, a double portion in the brilliant prospects of his house. Thus the descendants of Joseph formed two of the tribes of Israel, whereas every other of Jacob's sons counted but as one. There were thus, in fact, thirteen tribes of Israel; but the number twelve is usually preserved, either by excluding that of Levi (which had no territory), when Ephraim and Manasseh are separately named, or by counting these two together as the tribe of Joseph, when Levi is included in the account. The intentions of Jacob were fulfilled, and Ephraim and Manasseh were counted as tribes of Israel at the departure from Egypt, and as such shared in the territorial distribution of the Promised Land (;; ).

At the departure from Egypt the population of the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh together amounted to 72,700 men capable of bearing arms, greatly exceeding that of any single tribe, except Judah, which had somewhat more. During the wandering their number increased to 95,200, which placed the two tribes much higher than even Judah. At the Exode, Ephraim singly had 40,500, and Manasseh only 32,200; but a great change took place in their relative numbers during the wandering. Ephraim lost 8000, and Manasseh gained 20,500; so that just before entering Canaan, Ephraim stood at 32,500, and Manasseh at 52,700.

One of the finest and most fruitful parts of Palestine, occupying the very center of the land, was assigned to this tribe. It extended from the borders of the Mediterranean on the west to the Jordan on the east: on the north it had the half-tribe of Manasseh, and on the south Benjamin and Dan (, sq.; 17:7, sq.). This fine country included most of what was afterwards called Samaria, as distinguished from Judea on the one hand, and from Galilee on the other. The tabernacle and the ark were deposited within its limits, at Shiloh; and the possession of the sacerdotal establishment, which was a central object of attraction to all the other tribes, must in no small degree have enhanced its importance, and increased its wealth and population. The domineering and haughty spirit of the Ephraimites is more than once indicated (;; ) before the establishment of the regal government; but the particular enmity of Ephraim against the other great tribe of Judah, and the rivalry between them, do not come out distinctly until the establishment of the monarchy. In the election of Saul from the least considerable tribe in Israel, there was nothing to excite the jealousy of Ephraim; and, after his heroic qualities had conciliated respect, it rendered the new king true allegiance and support. But when the great tribe of Judah produced a king in the person of David, the pride and jealousy of Ephraim were thoroughly awakened, and it was doubtless chiefly through their means that Abner was enabled to uphold for a time the house of Saul; for there are manifest indications that by this time Ephraim influenced the views and feelings of all the other tribes. They were at length driven by the force of circumstances to acknowledge David upon conditions; and were probably not without hope that, as the king of the nation at large, he would establish his capital in their central portion of the land. But when he not only established his court at Jerusalem, but proceeded to remove the ark thither, making his native Judah the seat both of the theocratic and civil government, the Ephraimites became thoroughly alienated, and longed to establish their own ascendancy. The building of the temple at Jerusalem, and other measures of Solomon, strengthened this desire; and although the minute organization and vigor of his government prevented any overt acts of rebellion, the train was then laid, which, upon his death, rent the ten tribes from the house of David, and gave to them a king, a capital, and a religion suitable to the separate views and interests of the tribe. Thenceforth the rivalry of Ephraim and Judah was merged in that between the two kingdoms; although still the predominance of Ephraim in the kingdom of Israel was so conspicuous as to occasion the whole realm to be called by its name, especially when that rivalry is mentioned.

Ephraim, 2

Ephraim, a city in the wilderness of Judea, to which Jesus withdrew from the persecution which followed the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead . It is placed by Eusebius eight Roman miles north of Jerusalem. This indication would seem to make it the same with the Ephrain which is mentioned in , along with Bethel and Jeshanah, as towns taken from Jeroboam by Abijah.

Ephraim, 3

Ephraim, a mountain or group of mountains in central Palestine, in the tribe of the same name, on or towards the borders of Benjamin (;;;;;; ). From a comparison of these passages it may be collected that the name of 'Mount Ephraim' was applied to the whole of the ranges and groups of hills which occupy the central part of the southernmost border of this tribe, and which are prolonged southward into the tribe of Benjamin. In the time of Joshua these hills were densely covered with trees , which is by no means the case at present.

Ephraim, 4

Ephraim, the forest of, in which Absalom lost his life , was in the country east of the Jordan, not far from Mahanaim. How it came to bear the name of a tribe on the other side the river is not known.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Ephraim'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/e/ephraim.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

One of the 12 tribes of Israel, the one to which Joshua belonged, located in the centre of the land; powerful in the days of the Judges, the chief of the 10 tribes that revolted under Jeroboam after the death of Solomon, and is found often to give name to the whole body of them.