Ephraim

E'PHRAIM (double fruitfulness), a territory named after Joseph's second son, Gen 41:50-52; its boundaries are given in Josh 16:1-10. It lay in the centre of Canaan, south of Manasseh and north of Benjamin and Dan, extending from the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea. It was about 55 miles long, and about 30 miles in its greatest breadth. Physical Features. — It may be divided into three groups:1. The valley of the Jordan; 2. The hill-country; 3. The plain of Sharon, on the sea-coast. All these were well watered and fertile, fulfilling the blessing of Moses in Deut 33:13-16. History. — For the early history of this territory, see Canaan. For more than 400 years Ephraim, with Manasseh and Benjamin, exercised undisputed preeminence. Joshua and Samuel were Ephraimites. In its territory, at Shiloh, the tabernacle was set up. Josh 18:1. The territory was prominent during the reigns of David and Solomon; but after the revolt of the ten tribes from Rehoboam, Jeroboam selected Shechem in Ephraim as his capital, 1 Kgs 12:25, when this territory became the chief portion of the northern kingdom of Israel. See Israel, Kingdom of. It was desolated by the Assyrians at the time of the Babylonish Captivity, and the country was repeopled by colonists, and later its name was changed to Samaria. See Samaria. Ephraim, Gate of, one of the gates of ancient Jerusalem, 2 Kgs 14:13; 2 Chr 25:23; Neh 8:16; Neh 12:39; probably on the north side, as the present Damascus gate is. Ephraim, Mount, a name applied to the hill-country of Ephraim, extending from Bethel to the plain of Jezreel; called also the "mountains of Israel," Josh 11:21, and "mountains of Samaria." Jer 31:5-6; Am 3:9. Ephraim, Wood of, a forest in which the great battle was fought when Absalom was killed. 2 Sam 18:6. It lay east of the Jordan, in Gilead, near Mahanaim. Thick woods of oaks and terebinths still exist in that region.