Joseph made both of his kids tribes of their own, hence
Ephraim is the 13th tribe, but a whole tribe not a half.
According to the Hebrew Bible, the Tribe of Ephraim was one of the Tribes of Israel. The Tribe of Manasseh together with Ephraim also formed the House of Joseph. As part of the Kingdom of Israel, the territory of Ephraim was conquered by the Assyrians, and the tribe exiled; the manner of their exile led to their further history being lost.
The tribe of Ephraim was one of the twelve tribes of Israel and descended from Ephraim, one of the sons of Joseph and the grandson of Jacob. They settled in the central region of Canaan after the Israelites entered the Promised Land.
Joshua was of the Tribe of Ephraim (Numbers ch.13).See also the Related Link.More about Joshua
It depends how you read the question. What tribe of Israel was given two separate portions? -- The Tribe of Joseph was so populous that the two main divisions (the tribes of his sons Ephraim and Manasseh) were each allocated their own distinct portions. This is alluded to in Genesis 48:8. What tribe in Israel got two separate parcels? -- Manasseh was the only tribe that had lands both east and west of the Jordan River, effectively having two parcels.
The Tribe of Manasseh received half of their inheritance on the east of Jordan; their brothers, the rest of the tribal clans of Manasseh received their inheritance, by lot, on the Western side of Jordan. The two halves, each on either side of Jordan, together make up the Tribe of Manasseh.
Ephraim and Manasseh were given tribe status because they were the sons of Joseph, who was one of Jacob's twelve sons. To maintain the twelve tribes of Israel after Joseph's descendants had grown, Ephraim and Manasseh were essentially recognized as separate tribes with their own territories.
Gen:48:5: And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. Joseph's sons are reckoned as sons of Jacob because Jacob decided to give Joseph a double portion of inheritance or blessing because of all of Joseph's hardships.
There were twelve judges who some were in a different tribe which were named in the book of Judges. The men were: 1. Shamgar, the son of Anath from the tribe of Levi 2. Othoniel, the son of Kenaz from the tribe of Judah 3. Ibzan, from the tribe of Judah 4. Samson, the son of Manoah from the tribe of Dan 5. Tola, the son of Puah from the tribe of Issachar 6. Elon, from the tribe of Zabulun 7. Ehud, the son of Gerah from the tribe of Benjamin 8. Deborah, from the tribe of Ephraim 9. Abdon, the son Hillel from the tribe of Ephraim 10. Gideon, the son of Joash from the tribe of Manasseh 11. Jair, from Gilead 12. Jephthah, from Gilead
It is only the house of Judah (Jews) who refer to all other tribes as Gentiles. Most white races come through Manasseh or Ephraim, while other races of people come through the other nine tribes. The dark skinned races come through the lineage of Ham's wife Egyptus who was of the lineage of Cain who, if you remember was cursed (with a dark skin). Genesis 4:15 gives us some clue as to what the punishment was God placed upon Cain.
Gideon was of the tribe Manasseh (sp) Pronounced Man- nas-suh.
When Ephraim and Manasseh were counted as individual tribes, the tribe of Levi was not included among the twelve tribes of Israel. Levi was set apart for priestly duties and was not given a territorial inheritance in the Promised Land like the other tribes.
The Tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 11:28 and 13:8)