Ephraim Is Joined to Idols; Let Him Alone

Hosea 4:17(KJV)

Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Sadly, this verse is very much misinterpreted today.

Note this: it was not Ephraim, the son of Joseph that was being referred to here.

Genesis 46:20(KJV)

And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.

Many quote Hosea and teach that the same Ephraim that was blessed by Jacob above his elder brother in Genesis 48 was later cursed by God.

That's not true!

Hosea's prophecy was over 900 years after Ephraim's time. He was referring to THE TRIBE OF EPHRAIM—the tribe that descended from him. Ephraim and Manasseh became part of the tribes of Israel—i.e., Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, Gad, and Naphtali (according to the order in Numbers 1)—replacing Joseph and Levi, after Levi was chosen for priesthood.

Hosea 5:3,5,9(KJV)

[3]I know EPHRAIM, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O EPHRAIM, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

[5]And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and EPHRAIM fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.

[9]EPHRAIM shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: AMONG THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL have I made known that which shall surely be.

Notice in verses 3 and 5 that the prophet mentioned Israel and Judah alongside Ephraim; this shows he wasn't referring to individuals but groups of people.

So, don't get confused because he used "him" (singular object pronoun) for a tribe, instead of "them".

See a few other instances of similar expressions:

Isaiah 56:8(KJV)

The Lord God, which gathereth the outcasts of ISRAEL saith, Yet will I gather others to HIM, beside those that are gathered unto HIM.

Jeremiah 2:3(KJV)

ISRAEL was holiness unto the Lord, and the firstfruits of HIS increase: all that devour HIM shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 50:17(KJV)

ISRAEL is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven HIM away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured HIM; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken HIS bones.

Hosea 12:2(KJV)

The Lord hath also a controversy with JUDAH, and will punish JACOB according to HIS ways; according to HIS doings will he recompense HIM.

Moreover, singular and plural pronouns were used interchangeably in this book.

Hosea 4:17-19(KJV)

[17]Ephraim is joined to idols: let HIM alone.

[18]THEIR drink is sour: THEY have committed whoredom continually: HER rulers with shame do love, Give ye.

[19]The wind hath bound HER up in HER wings, and THEY shall be ashamed because of THEIR sacrifices.

One salient thing we can learn from this book of one the earliest Jewish writing prophets is that God has nothing to gain or lose from our faithfulness or unfaithfulness respectively, we do. Also, in spite of whatever consequence we face for our unfaithfulness, God always yearns to preserve us.

So, the tribe of Ephraim was overly given to idolatry, hence the prophecy.

Blessings.

Victor Ibosiola © 2017