Ephraim, one of the tribes of Israel, holds a significant place in biblical prophecy and history. As the second son of Joseph and Asenath, Ephraim was blessed by his grandfather Jacob, who placed him before his elder brother Manasseh, saying, "His younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations" (Genesis 48:19). This blessing set the stage for Ephraim's prominent role among the tribes of Israel.

Prophetic Significance

The tribe of Ephraim is often used symbolically in the Scriptures to represent the Northern Kingdom of Israel, especially after the division of the united monarchy. The prophets frequently addressed Ephraim in their oracles, highlighting both the tribe's significance and its spiritual condition.

Judgment and Restoration

The prophet Hosea speaks extensively about Ephraim, portraying the tribe as having turned away from God. Hosea 4:17 states, "Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!" . This idolatry and spiritual adultery led to divine judgment. Hosea 5:9 warns, "Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of rebuke; among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain" . Despite these warnings, the prophetic narrative also includes promises of restoration. Hosea 14:4 declares, "I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them" .

Isaiah's Prophecies

The prophet Isaiah also addresses Ephraim, particularly in the context of the Assyrian threat. Isaiah 7:8-9 foretells the downfall of Ephraim within sixty-five years, emphasizing the need for faith: "For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all" .

Jeremiah's Vision of Hope

Jeremiah offers a vision of hope for Ephraim, foreseeing a time of reconciliation and joy. In Jeremiah 31:20, God expresses His enduring love for Ephraim: "Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him," declares the LORD" . This passage underscores the theme of divine mercy and the promise of restoration.

Ezekiel's Symbolic Prophecy

Ezekiel 37:16-19 presents a symbolic prophecy involving Ephraim, where the prophet is instructed to take two sticks, one for Judah and one for Ephraim, and join them together as a sign of the future reunification of the divided kingdoms. This act symbolizes the hope of a restored and united Israel under God's covenant.

Conclusion

The prophecies concerning Ephraim reflect a complex narrative of judgment, repentance, and restoration. As a representative of the Northern Kingdom, Ephraim's account serves as a powerful reminder of God's justice and mercy, His call to faithfulness, and His ultimate plan for redemption and unity among His people.Genesis 49:25,26
Even by the God of your father, who shall help you; and by the Almighty, who shall bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
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Isaiah 7:1
And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.
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Isaiah 9:18-21
For wickedness burns as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
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Isaiah 11:13
The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
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Isaiah 28:1
Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!
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Jeremiah 31:1
At the same time, said the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
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Hosea 5:14
For I will be to Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
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Zechariah 9:10
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace to the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
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Zechariah 10:7
And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yes, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.
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Covenanting Predicted in Prophecy.
... may advert to the blessing of Moses on the tribe of Levi ... emblems,"of one stick for
Judah and Israel his companions, and another for Ephraim and all ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xiii covenanting predicted in.htm

Concerning Jehoshaphat the King of Jerusalem and How Ahab Made an ...
... which were taken out of the tribe of Ephraim by his ... The same man was chief of the
tribe of Benjamin, and had ... to kill nobody else but only the king of Israel. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 15 concerning jehoshaphat the.htm

Chapter xlix
... Joseph is blessed by including Ephraim and Manasseh in one ... his people," that is,
within his own tribe, as the ... as any other of the tribes of Israel" will hardly ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlix.htm

Chapter xlviii
... census of Moses' time the tribe "Ephraim had 40,500 men ... numbers received a temporary
alteration, Ephraim counting only ... saying: In thee shall Israel bless, saying ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlviii.htm

The Divided Kingdom.
... (4) The ambition of Jeroboam, of the tribe of Ephraim, a valiant officer ... Lessons
of the Period. (1) Jehovah rules not only in Israel but over all peoples. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiii the divided kingdom.htm

Deuteronomy
... Judah is in at least temporary distress, and the banner tribe is Ephraim, whose
glory ... indirectly to the decline of prophecy, and started Israel upon that ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/deuteronomy.htm

Psalm LXXVI.
... Jacob was Joseph....This Joseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasse ... our King, inasmuch
as born of the tribe of Judah ... 2. "Known in Jud??a is God, in Israel great is ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxvi.htm

Redemption for Man Lost to be Sought in Christ.
... tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;" "But chose the tribe
of Judah ... brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 6 redemption for man.htm

The First Part
... world, the rest of the assembly of Israel, marshalled under ... and receiving its name
from the first tribe of its ... On the west the standard of Ephraim, under the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the first part .htm

Jesus Sets Out from Jud??a for Galilee.
... the country formerly occupied by the tribe of Ephraim and the half tribe of Manasseh ...
without the revelation of God which the prophets of Israel had developed ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxvi jesus sets out from 2.htm

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Ephraim: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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