Family Lineage
Ephraim was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, a son of Joseph and his Egyptian wife, Asenath. He is remembered as the best beloved of Jacob’s sons; it was Ephraim whom Jacob blessed more favorably than any of his other descendants. Jacob proclaimed in a prophetic blessing said to the Patriarch at his death, “Let my name be perpetuated in him, and let the names of the other sons of Jacob be magnified alongside his” (Genesis 48:16). Ephraim was born after Joseph’s other brother, Manasseh. According to Jewish sources, Ephraim was the founder of several cities and many towns in northernmost Israel, such as Shiloh, Shechem, and Beth-el. It is also said that his own family lived in these places until the destruction of the First Temple.
Biblical Presence
The name “Ephraim” appears in the Bible many times, but in most cases the reference is to the tribe in general rather than to its individual members. The sons of Ephraim, with their brothers, served as the chieftains of their respective tribes in the census taken by Moses. The tribe was also represented in the mystical name given by Moses to the twelve tribes of Israel – “YHVH, the God of Israel” (Numbers 11:23), where his brothers were referred to, among others, as “the house of Joseph” (Numbers 11:27).
The tribe had already a large population when it joined the Exodus and joined the group of tribes camped to the west of the Tabernacle. Here too the sons of Ephraim stood out, described as the first of the host Israelites (Numbers 10:9). The tribe provided several of the participants in the special sacramental service of ordination and spiritual awakening that was performed at Sinai (Exodus 24:9). In the centuries that followed, Ephraim, together with his brothers, formed one of the tribal unions found in the then-existing model of the twelve tribes given in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy. The sons of Ephraim also appear in the narrative of King Saul’s reign, when the leading men of Gilead were figures of the tribe (1 Samuel 29:1).
Military Campaigns and Leadership
The leader of the tribe and the standard-bearer of the reunited tribes after the conquest of Canaan was Joshua, the son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim. He emerged from the wilderness wanderings as Moses’ most potent successor and ultimately the commander of all the tribes in the campaign of conquest. In the end, he fulfilled the promise of the blessing made by Jacob: He divided the land of Canaan among the tribes, giving a slightly larger portion to the descendants of Ephraim (Joshua 16:1-10).
As in the generations that followed, Ephraimites served as leaders of the people of Israel, most notably in the revolt of the prophet-judge Gideon, who served as the tribal leader of Ephraim in the late thirteenth century (Judges 8:1). He was succeeded by the prophet-judge Jephthah who, from his own home in Gilead, led the tribal exodus from the area. He also was instrumental in paving the way for the joining together of all twelve of the tribes in the period of the Deborah Judges.
Symbolism and Prophecy
The prophets of the Israelite nation heralded the greater glory that the sons of Ephraim would receive after the attempted conquest of Canaan. The prophets foretold a “fruitful future” for the tribe. Ezekiel wrote for instance that the name of Joseph “will be reckoned among the names of the great,” and that “he shall be a deliverer and salvation unto Zion” (Ezekiel 48:22).
In its biblical context, the name “Ephraim” became a byword for the entire ideal of the chosen people of Israel. According to the midrash, the opening words “Joseph is a fruitful bough” (Genesis 49:22) allude to the numerous descendants that Ephraim would have. In the vision of Zechariah (Zechariah 10:6-7), the shofar heralding the redemption of Israel is described as “the horns of Ephraim”.
Cultural Representation
Many cities throughout Israel bear the name of Ephraim, each one of them associated with a historical event, or a colorful character from the ancient period. Therefore, it can be said that the name of Ephraim has become a major symbol in the national ethos. The God of Israel is often referred to as the “God of Ephraim,” a phrase that often appears in Hebrew writ.
The array of prominent Ephraimites extends to our times, with the biblical fighter for justice Gilo being selected as the first military rabbi of the IDF (as the Jewish forces were called when Israel was first established). Another famous son of Ephraim was Moshe Dayan, who served as the minister of defense in the government of David Ben-Gurion from 1955 to 1967.
Jewish Education
Ephraim’s name is frequently mentioned in Jewish sources, particularly in the aggregate of traditional commentaries known as the midrash. The midrash comments on the spiritual and intellectual greatness of the sons of Ephraim, who were the first among the Israelites to study and delve into the saving wisdom of the Torah.
In the Talmud, the rabbis are divided into two main branches: The students of Shammai, representing the teachings of Ephraim, and the followers of Hillel, who follows the teachings of Manasseh. The Talmud also asserts that the benefit derived by the tribe of Ephraim was that all of their sons became scholars of the law, with the result that they earned renown as a community of Law givers, teachers and interpreters of the Revelation of Sinai.
Messianic Era
In the messianic era, the prophet Ezekiel wrote (37:19) that the tribes of Israel will be re-united and that “they shall no longer be divided into two kingdoms”. This reunification will include all of the tribes, with the sons of Ephraim once again taking the lead.
The Talmud (Baba Bathra 75b) and Midrash comment that in the time of redemption the Sanhedrin will be led by a descendant of Ephraim. His name will be Eleazar ben Yaqub, a sage of Ephraim. He shall be among the members of the council that will arise in the messianic era, and will be granted the privilege of initiating the proceedings of the new Sanhedrin, which in the course of time will achieve great eminence as the highest spiritual tribunal known to mankind.
Leadership and Leadership
Ephraim and his descendants became, and remain today, an archetype of leadership and courage amongst the people of Israel. His legacy, passed down through the generations of his tribe, is that of faith in God, strength of character, and commitment to the values of his people. This in turn has created an environment where his descendants can, and continue to, contribute to the advancement of both their own Jewish culture and the world at large.
The personalities of the tribe of Ephraim in modern times are some of the most successful and inspiring stories of Jewish history. Its members have emerged as distinguished public figures in both Israel and the Diaspora as leaders and innovators in many essential fields and creative endeavors. They have served on the Supreme Court, chaired governmental boards, established teaching institutions and directed many of Israel’s best-known newspapers, magazines and publishing houses.
Continuing Impact
The modern descendants of Ephraim take pride in their ancestor’s distinguished legacy. At the same time, they recognize the responsibility that is entailed in this heritage to continue the work that their forefathers began. Ephraim and his descendants paved the way for the Jewish people to become a beacon of justice, peace and harmony. Today, the thousands of Ephraim descendants seek to uphold the values of their ancestor and are living embodiments of the impact that he has had on the Jewish people.
In the synagogue and at Jewish gatherings worldwide, Ephraim is remembered as one of the founding fathers of Israel and it is his memory and legacy that serve to inspire generations of Jews to come. He was an example of dedication to both the spiritual and physical wellbeing of the Israelites, and his story remains a cornerstone of Jewish life today. His legacy will no doubt continue to shape the lives of Jews and inspire those who strive for a better world in the years to come.
