Ephraim Series

Though from the point of view of an increasing majority of archaeologists, there were always two distinct cultures in Canaan, a strong and prosperous northern kingdom and a weaker and poorer southern one, in the Biblical account, the Israelite tribes were initially united in a single kingdom, and only later fractured into the northern and southern kingdoms; the Bible blames this fracture on the jealousy of Ephraim over the growing power of Judah. In the Book of Chronicles, Ephraim's act of splintering from Judah is denounced as forsaking God, and Ephraim is portrayed as becoming highly irreligious, particularly in their resistance to the reforms enacted by Hezekiah and Josiah.

It was not until the close of the first period of Jewish history that God 'refused the tabernacle of Joseph (Hebrew Bible) and chose not the Tribe of Ephraim, but the Tribe of Judah, the Mount Zion which he loved. (Ps 78:67,68) When the Ark was removed from Shiloh to Zion, the power of Ephraim was seized.

Destiny

As part of the Kingdom of Israel, the territory of Ephraim was conquered by the Assyrians, and the tribe was exiled; the manner of their exile led to their further history being lost. However, several modern-day groups claim descent, with varying academic and rabbinical support levels. The Samaritans claim that some of their supporters are descended from this tribe, and many Persian Jews claim to be descendants of Ephraim. Further afield, in India, the Telugu Jews claim descent from Ephraim and call themselves Bene Ephraim, relating similar traditions to those of the Mizo Jews, whom the modern state of Israel regards as descendants of Manasseh.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that a significant portion of its members are descended from or adopted into the Tribe of Ephraim, believing that they are charged with restoring the lost tribes in the latter days, as prophesied by Isaiah. Along with members of the Tribe of Judah, members of the Tribe of Ephraim are believed to be playing significant leadership roles for covenant Israel in the last days. They also believe that the main groups of the Book of Mormon (Nephites and Lamanites) were parts of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, as part of the fulfillment of the blessing of Jacob: "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall" (Genesis 49:22, interpreting the "wall" as the ocean).

Descendants of Ephraim became known as the Tribe of Ephraim, which is designated as one of the twelve tribes of Israel. They settled in central Canaan, just northwest of the Dead Sea. Manasseh bordered the tribe on the north and Dan and Benjamin on the south (Joshua 16; 19:50). Ephraim became the leading tribe of the northern kingdom (Joshua 17:15; Judges 3:27), and the capital, Samaria, was located in Ephraim's territory. Scripture sometimes refers to Israel as simply "Ephraim" due to the size of the tribe (e.g., Isaiah 11:13 and Jeremiah 31:6).