Any Ideas of Why Ephraim is Called God's Firstborn?

[mercytruth]

In today’s reading of Jeremiah 31:7-9, verse 9:

"They shall come with weeping: and I will bring them back in mercy: and I will bring them through the torrents of waters in a right way, and they shall not stumble in it: for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn."

 

[erikd]

In today’s reading of Jeremiah 31:7-9, verse 9:

"They shall come with weeping: and I will bring them back in mercy: and I will bring them through the torrents of waters in a right way, and they shall not stumble in it: for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn."

When referring to the “first born” within the Holy Scriptures, it is important to remember that this is primarily a title and a status symbol, for instance the first born was entitled to more of an inheritance then his siblings. The Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary states the following:

“Ephraim shall be treated with all the love and attention shewn to the first-born.”

 

[mercytruth]

When referring to the “first born” within the Holy Scriptures, it is important to remember that this is primarily a title and a status symbol, for instance the first born was entitled to more of an inheritance then his siblings. The Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary states the following:

“Ephraim shall be treated with all the love and attention shewn to the first-born.”

Thank you for taking the time to look it up in Haydock’s commentary.
This Orthodox Jewish website begins to unlock the wonderful mystery of Ephraim.
(the comments made by readers are also suggested.)

chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2692/jewish/The-Inner-Strength-of-Menasseh-and-Ephraim.htm

God’s peace be with you

micah

 

[Bruce_Killian]

Firstborn probably started meaning the first son born in a family, but it came to mean the son who was preeminent among one’s children. Ishmael was Abraham’s son who was born first, but Isaac was his firstborn. Isaac’s son born first was Esau but Jacob/Israel received the blessings of the first-born. Jacob’s son born first was Ruben, but he sinned against his father Judah the fourth child received the blessing of being the ancestor of the Messiah. Joseph was the son born first of Jacob’s favorite wife and was given the robe of many colors presumably identifying his as preeminent. Ephraim was Joseph’s second born, and Joseph wanted his father to bless the older Manasseh, but Joseph blessed the younger and so the choice passed from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Joseph to Ephraim. Later Ephraim really only a half tribe of Joseph but counted as a full tribe became the largest and most powerful tribe (Judah was the second largest). This is at least part of the derivation of Ephraim being the first-born. BTW, a careful reading of the seventy descendants of Joseph who went down to Egypt will reveal that Ephraim’s mom, that is Joseph’s wife Asenath daughter of Poti-phera priest of On was the daughter by rape of Dinah and the prince of Shechem. So when Jacob gave this blessing to Ephraim his daughter by implication received this blessing with Joseph.
Grace and peace,
Bruce

 

[COPLAND_3]

Here is the comment of Theodoret of Cyrus in his commentary on Jeremiah.

“By Ephraim he refers not to the son of Joseph but to the ten tribes; Reuben was the firstborn among them, and Simeon the second, but the ten tribes were called Ephraim since they built the palace in the portion of Ephraim. And just as today we are all called Romans after the city of the Romans, so at that time the ten tribes were named after Ephraim.”

Here is the comment by St. Jerome from his commentary on Jeremiah.

“Scripture speaks of Ephraim as a type of the people gathered in from the nations. For the younger son of Joseph stole the birthright from Manasseh, who was the firstborn by nature. But in the mystery of the cross Jacob’s hands crossed, and he who stood at Jacob’s left hand received the blessing of his right hand, and he who stood at Jacob’s right hand was blessed by the left and was reduced to the second rank. Just as Jacob stole the birthright from Esau, Ephraim stole it from Manasseh. Thus, all the people of the ten tribes are called Ephraim, since Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was from this tribe, was the first to rule in Samaria.”

 

[erikd]

Here is the comment of Theodoret of Cyrus in his commentary on Jeremiah.

“By Ephraim he refers not to the son of Joseph but to the ten tribes; Reuben was the firstborn among them, and Simeon the second, but the ten tribes were called Ephraim since they built the palace in the portion of Ephraim. And just as today we are all called Romans after the city of the Romans, so at that time the ten tribes were named after Ephraim.”

Here is the comment by St. Jerome from his commentary on Jeremiah.

“Scripture speaks of Ephraim as a type of the people gathered in from the nations. For the younger son of Joseph stole the birthright from Manasseh, who was the firstborn by nature. But in the mystery of the cross Jacob’s hands crossed, and he who stood at Jacob’s left hand received the blessing of his right hand, and he who stood at Jacob’s right hand was blessed by the left and was reduced to the second rank. Just as Jacob stole the birthright from Esau, Ephraim stole it from Manasseh. Thus, all the people of the ten tribes are called Ephraim, since Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was from this tribe, was the first to rule in Samaria.”

Great stuff, Copland 3, this really brings the story together. Thanks for sharing the quotes, they’re pretty eye-opening.

 

[mercytruth]

Here is the comment of Theodoret of Cyrus in his commentary on Jeremiah.

“By Ephraim he refers not to the son of Joseph but to the ten tribes; Reuben was the firstborn among them, and Simeon the second, but the ten tribes were called Ephraim since they built the palace in the portion of Ephraim. And just as today we are all called Romans after the city of the Romans, so at that time the ten tribes were named after Ephraim.”

Here is the comment by St. Jerome from his commentary on Jeremiah.

“Scripture speaks of Ephraim as a type of the people gathered in from the nations. For the younger son of Joseph stole the birthright from Manasseh, who was the firstborn by nature. But in the mystery of the cross Jacob’s hands crossed, and he who stood at Jacob’s left hand received the blessing of his right hand, and he who stood at Jacob’s right hand was blessed by the left and was reduced to the second rank. Just as Jacob stole the birthright from Esau, Ephraim stole it from Manasseh. Thus, all the people of the ten tribes are called Ephraim, since Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was from this tribe, was the first to rule in Samaria.”

The crossing of Jacobs hands would then symbolically represent Ephraim as the new Israel, spiritual Israel, that is, the church of Jews and Gentiles who believe in the cross of Jesus Christ. (the blessing in Genesis does not refer to Ephraim as stealing the blessing from Reuben or from Manasseh).

Thanks for the commentary from St. Jerome

God’s peace be with you

micah