+- Radix Fidem (https://radixfidem.org)
+-- Forum: About Radix Fidem (https://radixfidem.org/forum-5.html)
+--- Forum: Sermons, Teachings, Blog Posts (https://radixfidem.org/forum-13.html)
+--- Thread: OT Background: Ephraim (/thread-119.html)
OT Background: Ephraim - Ed Hurst - 05-25-2018
Wrap this into your reading of Old Testament History: Ephraim's tribal leaders were often frightfully arrogant, always seeking to dominate decision-making in the nation of Israel. They were a primary source of discontent and internal rivalry.
They came by it honestly. Consider: Who was Jacob's favorite son? Who had visions of saving the whole family and them bowing down to him? And who eventually did save the household from famine by bringing them down to Egypt? Who became the viceroy of Egypt and locked in for Pharaoh his feudal power over the ancient Egyptian nobles? Joseph.
Joseph wasn't particularly arrogant, but his job required him to act in an overbearing manner in public. He was most certainly very self-assured because of his faith. He had two sons in Egypt and Jacob was able to bless them and to promote them forward as his own heirs, making them fathers of their own tribes. And in the process, he promoted Ephraim over the elder Manasseh. Try to imagine how all of this would impact Ephraim as a boy, and later as a man. His father was viceroy of Egypt and savior of Israel's household. Ambition was built into situation.
Granted, during the Exodus and Wandering, Reuben was a major problem. This was related to the fact Reuben was the first born son who lost his ranking. He slept with his father's concubine at some point. It took a while for the tribe to absorb their loss of stature. And we bear in mind that Jacob also said that Simeon and Levi, as the next two in line for primogeniture, both committed a crime back in Canaan Land that could have gotten the whole family killed -- they murdered a whole city through trickery. This put every pagan nation in Palestine on edge about Jacob's household. It's a good thing they moved to Egypt for a few centuries.
Once we get past all of that and into the Conquest, right away Ephraim starts making trouble. Joshua was an Ephraimite, but a rare humble one. Still, his leadership elevated his tribe's political stature. During the period of Judges, Ephraim remained pretty pushy. And who was the first king of Israel? Saul was an Ephraimite. He wasn't so much chosen by God as it was that God tolerated Saul's election by the nation. Saul was a nobleman and stood physically head and shoulders above most everyone else. This, when the biggest need of Israel was a warlord, not an actual "king."
But the prophecy said Judah was the royal tribe, and eventually things had to be corrected. The Tribe of Ephraim resented their loss of stature yet again. Consider that well before they even had a king, the Ephraimites and the rest of the northern tribes had already developed a somewhat different culture. Their pronunciation of words had drifted away from that of the southerners. Look up "shibboleth." That symbolizes a cultural drift that saw the northern tribes so quickly and easily drift into idolatry, far more so than in the south.
When David rose to become king, Ephraim led the northern tribes in delaying by seven years their acceptance of him as king. When Rehoboam acted a fool and provoked the nobles of the tribes, it was Ephraim that led the revolt. What you need to understand here is that we should be surprised at how long it took. All of the tribes engaged in some manner of rivalry, but Ephraim led the way in being the biggest headache of anyone trying to rally the nation for anything at all.
RE: OT Background: Ephraim - jaybreak - 05-26-2018
It makes you wonder how kings (or tribal leaders) managed to keep things together with all the internecine-type stuff going. I guess it's daunting to me maybe because I don't have the mind for dealing with high-level political strategy, so at times it feels like too many moving parts.
RE: OT Background: Ephraim - Ed Hurst - 05-26-2018
Keep in mind what the prophets said about Israel, that it was easily the worst nation God could have chosen out of all the earth. They were the most hard-hearted people who cowered in fear at the first sign of trouble, were genuinely reluctant to face competent enemies, were too lazy to actually conquer Canaan Land, but didn't hesitate to enslave anyone who was unfortunate enough to need their help. They barely managed to remain together as a nation, with tribal petty rivalries always boiling under the surface. And it's not that they discovered legalism after Alexander's conquest; it was simply the best excuse for something already in their cultural nature. They kept trying to pull shenanigans throughout their history based on semantic excuses and shallow logic.
Several times the prophets said any other nation on this earth would have been more faithful. Any other nation on this earth would have welcomed the Messiah, and would still be under the Covenant today. You won't face such complications as Israel presented to her leaders.
RE: OT Background: Ephraim - jaybreak - 05-27-2018
Quote:You won't face such complications as Israel presented to her leaders.
I'm not sure what you mean by this. Could you elaborate?
RE: OT Background: Ephraim - Ed Hurst - 05-27-2018
During those times when we lead, we deal with all kinds of Western folks. The mixture itself brings headaches. There will always be a few knotheads and you'll have to work around that. However, at no time will you struggle nearly as hard as Hebrew elders had to struggle with Hebrew people. Particularly in the business of moral eldership; Jews are far more difficult than most any other ethnic group you'll encounter. There are a few that will strive to be as difficult, but most will not quite rise to that level. Jewish culture imparts a load of peculiarities that make it difficult for everyone who isn't Jewish. If someday the Lord calls you as elder of a church, unless the entire congregation is Jewish Christians, you won't have to worry about the hassles that Israel's elders faced in the Old Testament.
We welcome them because they usually bring unique advantages, too.