Ephraim

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)

Additional entry

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.

Additional entry

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 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.

Additional entry

(double fruitfulness), 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) ...

Of the tribe of Ephraim; elsewhere called "Ephrathite." (Judges 12:5)

Definition

Ephraim was the younger son of Joseph. His descendants, the Ephraimites, formed one of the tribes of Israel.

• The name Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew word meaning “to make fruitful.”
• The tribe of Ephraim was one of the ten tribes located in the northern part of Israel.
• Sometimes the name Ephraim is used in the Bible to refer to the whole northern kingdom of Israel (similar to how the name Judah is sometimes used to refer to the whole southern kingdom of Israel).

(Translation suggestions: How to Translate Names)

(See also: Joseph, Manasseh, kingdom of Israel, twelve tribes of Israel)

Bible References

• 1 Chronicles 6:66-69
• 2 Chronicles 13:4-5
• Ezekiel 37:16
• Genesis 41:52
• Genesis 48:1-2
• John 11:54

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0669, H0673, G21870