Why is Israel repeatedly referred to as Ephraim in the book of Hosea?

Answer 1

I'm amazed at your question. The answer is quite involved and requires more space than this venue provides.

However, the name "Israel" was named on "Ephraim" way back in Genesis 48.

It all has to do with God's "promises" to Abraham. The promises that Christians today may inherit.

"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham... and if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal.3:7 & 29)

The world is basically ignorant of the biblical Truth concerning Israel and God's "TWO" promises to Abraham. The Creator God of the Old Testament, Jesus Christ, made a "material" and a "spiritual" promise to Abraham that remained a single united promise for a number of years before they became separated from each other at the time that Jacob (whose name was changed to 'Israel') passed the promises on to his sons on his deathbed.

"Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a GREAT AND MIGHTY NATION, and ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIM..." (Gen.18:18).

The world is most familiar with the "spiritual" promise of the coming Messiah. The "blessing of all the families of the earth."

The blessing of "national greatness," however, is mostly overlooked. People have heard of the "Promised LAND"... but few understand its ramifications.

The material promise was to make of Abraham a great nation. Abraham's children were to inherit the "fat places" on the earth. That is, the most prosperous lands and Natural Resources that the earth has to offer. He was told they would own the "gate of his enemies":

"...and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies..." (Gen.22:17).

"Enemies" denotes "war." In strategies of war, a "gate" would be a "cutoff" or "pinch-point" that could be opened or closed by the one who "possesses" it, to allow or deny the movement of "supplies" for the war effort. Such "gates" on the earth would be places like the "Panama Canal," once owned by America; the "Gibraltar Straits," the exit from or entryway to the Mediterranean Sea; the "Suez Canal," connecting the Med and the Red Sea; and the "Khyber Pass," between Afghanistan and Pakistan, all of which were once possessed by Great Britain.

God's dual promises to Abraham were inherited by Isaac, then by Jacob (Israel) through a custom called the "birthright." The birthright is the tradition of the "firstborn son" inheriting the greater portion of the father's possessions upon his death.

But, the birthright got screwed up at every turn, and the firstborn sons never got it.

Ishmael was born to Abraham by Sarah's handmaid, Hagar, before Isaac was born. Yet, Isaac received the promise. Ishmael became the father of the Arab nations, and now you know the reason for the Arab/Jew debacle today.

You probably know the story of Jacob's coaxing Esau out of his birthright with a "bowl of lentil soup."

Jacob then had twelve sons by different women, Reuben being his firstborn. Joseph was his favorite son and was sold into Egyptian slavery by his jealous brothers. Yet, when they were later reunited during the "seven-year famine," the dying "Israel" passed the "material" promise to JOSEPH... and the "spiritual" promise went to JUDAH (the father of the Jews).

But Israel "split" the material promise to Joseph BETWEEN HIS TWO SONS, Manasseh and Ephraim. It's recorded in Genesis 48.

"And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee... are MINE..." (verse 5).

"...Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see." (verse 10)

"...Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand..." (verse 13).

"...Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. (verse 14)

Once again, the younger son received the birthright promise over the firstborn son. Joseph tried to correct the "error" but Israel went ahead with it.

"The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and LET MY NAME BE NAMED ON THEM..." (verse 16).

The name of "ISRAEL" is named on JOSEPH... not on the Jews (Judah). Specifically, Israel is named on the descendants of EPHRAIM and MANASSEH!

Israel named "Ephraim" first. That's why Israel is referred to as Ephraim in Hosea (and other prophecies).

"...Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (...forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph...) ... For Judah (Jew) prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the Chief Ruler (the Christ); BUT THE BIRTHRIGHT WAS JOSEPH'S..." (I Chronicles 5:1-2).

Of Ephraim, Israel says: "...his seed shall become a 'multitude' of nations." (Gen.48:19)

Some Bible translations say "company" or "commonwealth" of nations.

Manasseh would become a "single great nation."

Two "brother-nations"... one, a "commonwealth nation" the other "one nation, under God."

Sound familiar? The Truth of God's Word is fascinating. This subject is deep, but I'm running out of room.