Topical Bible: Ephraim: A Tribe of Israel: Sin of, Remembered by God

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Ephraim, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, holds a significant place in biblical history. Named after the second son of Joseph and Asenath, Ephraim was blessed by Jacob, who placed him before his elder brother Manasseh (Genesis 48:14-20). This tribe became one of the most prominent in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often representing the entire kingdom due to its size and influence.

Sin of Ephraim

The tribe of Ephraim, despite its favored status, is frequently associated with sin and rebellion against God. The prophets often rebuked Ephraim for idolatry and turning away from the covenant established with Yahweh. Hosea, in particular, highlights the spiritual adultery of Ephraim, as they pursued Baal worship and other pagan practices. Hosea 4:17 states, "Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!" This verse underscores the tribe's deep entanglement with idolatry, which led to their spiritual downfall.

Ephraim's sin was not limited to idolatry. The tribe was also guilty of pride and self-reliance, often refusing to seek God's guidance. In Hosea 7:8-9 , the prophet declares, "Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake. Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know." This imagery illustrates Ephraim's assimilation with pagan nations and their ignorance of their weakened spiritual state.

Remembered by God

Despite Ephraim's persistent sin, God did not forget the tribe. The Lord's remembrance of Ephraim is twofold: it involves both judgment and a promise of eventual restoration. In Hosea 8:11-13 , God warns of impending judgment: "Though Ephraim multiplied altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning. Though I wrote for him ten thousand things of My law, they are regarded as a strange thing. Though they offer sacrifices given to Me and eat the meat, the LORD does not accept them. Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they will return to Egypt."

Yet, God's remembrance also carries a note of hope. In Hosea 11:8-9 , the Lord expresses His compassion: "How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboyim? My heart is turned within Me; all My compassion is aroused. I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not man—the Holy One among you—and I will not come in wrath."

This dual aspect of God's remembrance—judgment for sin and a promise of mercy—reflects the broader biblical narrative of God's justice and grace. Ephraim's account serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of turning away from God, yet it also highlights the enduring hope of redemption and restoration for those who return to Him.

Nave's Topical Index

Hosea 13:12
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Assyrian Captivity
... Israel was pronounced the dread sentence: "Ephraim is joined to ... pileser, king of
Assyria, invaded Israel and carried ... the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 23 the assyrian captivity.htm

Psalm LXXVIII.
... "And unto nothing He brought Israel exceedingly" (ver.60). ... 34. "And He rejected,"
he saith, "the tabernacle of Joseph, and the tribe of Ephraim [3645] He ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxviii.htm

Demonstration viii. --Of the Resurrection of the Dead.
... Clearly, because he was of the tribe of Ephraim the son ... benefits did his Lord accomplish
for Moses in not making known his tomb to the children of Israel. ...
/.../aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration viii of the resurrection of.htm

Chapter xlix
... It was among the tribe of Ephraim that one of its sons, Jeroboam, instituted
the calf worship, whereby he "made Israel to sin.". 26. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlix.htm

Six Cities
... at the extremity of a valley among the hills of Ephraim. ... It was in Hebron David was
anointed king over Israel. ... was situated in Gilead, within the tribe of Gad ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/ii six cities.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... crossed the river and raided the highlands of Ephraim. ... Each district and tribe had
its special god or ... sacred mountain whereon the law of Israel was promulgated ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

Canaan
... comparatively late appearance of Judah as a separate tribe in the history of Israel,
as well ... Deborah and Barak, Judah is not mentioned; Ephraim and Benjamin ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

"This Thing is from Me"
... the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin ... Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount
Ephraim, and dwelt ... the wilderness: "Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/this thing is from me.htm

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
... During the whole period of the Judges, Ephraim held the supremacy. ... is my
lawgiver""equivalent to, Judah is my, ie, Israel's ruling tribe"point to ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the blessing of jacob upon.htm

The Prophecies
... all your brethren, even the seed of Ephraim." (Rejected for ... Moses foretold what would
happen to each tribe. ... be His servant, to bring Jacob and Israel again to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section xi the prophecies.htm