Who was Ephraim in the Bible?

And to Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, bore to him. And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh (for God made me forget all my toil and all my father's house). And the name of the second he called Ephraim (for God caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction).

When Jacob wished to bless the two boys, Joseph brought Manasseh, his older son, toward Jacob's right hand, and Ephraim, the younger, toward Jacob's left hand. But Jacob laid his right hand on the head of Joseph's younger son Ephraim, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, and he blessed them. Joseph did not like this. He wanted his father to change it, but Jacob said, No, the younger son should be greater than his older brother.

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... Little is recorded of Ephraim personally; and of his descendants, Joshua the son of Nun is the most renowned.

For instance, 1 Chronicles 5:2 tells us, concerning Israel, "the birthright belonged to Joseph," and verse 1 tells us Reuben's (the eldest son) birthright "was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel." We can see why Joseph had two sons and only two — so that he might have the double portion of the firstborn. So in the dividing up of the land, while each of Israel's sons (Levi excluded for obvious reasons) had a single portion, that is one tribe each, Joseph had the double portion, two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh.

Ephraim had the place of the firstborn... Also the place of the tabernacle was in the tribe of Ephraim, so 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 calmed their anger... Thus this proud and envious tribe was punished for troubling their brothers, when they had not driven out the heathen inhabitants of the land, as they should have done. A picture of many in the church who in pride contend with their brothers, but do not fight God's battles against spiritual wickedness.

Here we have clearly a vision of the terrible blow that is to fall on Ephraim, which is not only the name of a particular tribe, but the general designation of the ten tribes who gathered under that leading tribe. Judah and Ephraim are the two chief titles by which the prophets continually contrast the two houses of Israel.

"Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone" (Hosea 4:17). "Joined to idols" — not merely idolatrous, bad as that may be, but definitely joined to them in a fearful and daring unity. Recovery appears hopeless. A long course of tampering with evil has not only blunted the conscience, but turned the evil into a pleasure... The object of his worship gives form to his life and character to his future.

We see too the recovering mercy of the Lord in the prophet Hosea, though there the house of Ephraim is prominent. "How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel?... My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim, for I am God and not a man" (Hosea 11). "I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for My anger has turned from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon."

City near to the wilderness, to which the Lord and His disciples withdrew from the threatened violence of the leaders of the Jews at Jerusalem. John 11:54.