Ephraim: Double fruitfulness ("for God had made him fruitful in the land of his
affliction"). The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt
(Genesis 41:52; 46:20)
The first incident recorded regarding him is his being placed, along
with his brother Manasseh, before their grandfather, Jacob, that he
might bless them
(Genesis 48:10) comp.
(Genesis 27:1) The intention of Joseph was
that the right hand of the aged patriarch should be placed on the
head of the elder of the two; but Jacob set Ephraim the younger
before his brother, "guiding his hands wittingly." Before Joseph's
death, Ephraim's family had reached the third generation
(Genesis 50:23)
