Ephraim

Ephraim (; ʾEp̄rayīm, in pausa: ʾEp̄rāyīm) was, according to the Book of Genesis, the second son of Joseph ben Jacob and Asenath. Asenath was an Ancient Egyptian woman whom Pharaoh gave to Joseph as wife, and the daughter of Potipherah, a priest of ʾĀwen. Ephraim was born in Egypt before the arrival of the Israelites from Canaan. The Book of Numbers lists three sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, Beker, and Tahan. However, 1 Chronicles 7 lists eight sons, including Ezer and Elead, who were killed in an attempt to steal cattle from the locals. After their deaths he had another son, Beriah. He was the ancestor of Joshua, son of Nun ben Elishama, the leader of the Israelite tribes in the conquest of Canaan. According to the biblical narrative, Jeroboam, who became the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was also from the house of Ephraim. Biblical criticism The Book of Genesis related the name "Ephraim" to the Hebrew root פָּרָה (pārā), meaning "to be fruitful". This referring to Joseph's ability to produce children, specifically while in Egypt (termed by the Torah as the land of his affliction). The name Ephraim can therefore be translated as "I will be fruitful", with the prefix of aleph (א‎) indicating the first person, singular, future tense.